When Jenny Han is running the show, you can trust that old-school gender pay gaps won’t stand a chance — especially not in a story all about a teenage girl stepping into womanhood, learning to love, and figuring out who she is.
The Summer I Turned Pretty is no exception. And if a now-viral Instagram reel is anything to go by, the top five earners from the beloved series seem to reflect just that — with fair recognition for the characters who carried the story through sun-soaked heartbreaks and unforgettable summers.
Let’s start with Rain — Belly’s charming and ever-loyal sidekick. Though she flew under the radar in early episodes, her character arc quickly became a fan-favourite.
Reportedly, she earned $5,000 per episode in Season 1, which doubled to $10,000 in Season 2. By the third season, she was pulling in $15,000 per episode, bringing her total alleged earnings to $280,000 — not bad for someone who often gave Belly a run for her emotional money.
Then there’s Sean, who played Belly’s dependable elder brother. Even without a meaty storyline, he managed to make his presence felt. His reported pay rose from $7,500 per episode in Season 1 to $15,000 in Season 2, and $20,000 in Season 3 — a total that adds up to around $392,500.
Next up is everyone's golden boy: Chris. It might surprise fans to see him in third place, but his sharp climb in earnings tells a story of his own. He reportedly earned $10,000 per episode in the first season, doubled that in the second, and ended strong with $50,000 per episode in Season 3 — totalling $780,000.
The Summer I Turned Pretty — Reported Cast Salaries
| Actor / Character | Season 1 (per ep.) | Season 2 (per ep.) | Season 3 (per ep.) | Total Estimated Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain (Belly’s sidekick) | $5,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 | $280,000 |
| Sean (Belly’s elder brother) | $7,500 | $15,000 | $20,000 | $392,500 |
| Chris (Golden boy) | $10,000 | $20,000 | $50,000 | $780,000 |
| Gavin Casalegno (Jeremiah Fisher) | $15,000 | $30,000 | $50,000 | $895,000 |
| Lola Tung (Belly) | $15,000 | $40,000 | $60,000 | $1,085,000 |
But it’s Gavin Casalegno, our complex and emotionally layered Jeremiah Fisher, who comes in second. His earnings started at $15,000, then jumped to $30,000, and finally matched Chris at $50,000 per episode, reportedly racking up $895,000 by the show’s end.
And finally, sitting at the top — just as it should be — is Lola Tung, the heart and soul of the show. Her journey as Belly began with $15,000 per episode in Season 1, soared to $40,000 in Season 2, and peaked at $60,000 in Season 3. That brings her total payday to a cool $1.085 million.
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