Lana Rhoades has undergone a complete transformation—not just in her career but in her stance on the industry that made her famous. Having initially risen to prominence as one of the most searched names on PornHub, Rhoades has since distanced herself entirely from pornography, condemning it and even wishing all her content could be
erased from the internet.
From Porn to Panic Attacks
Rhoades entered the adult film industry at 19 in 2016 and quickly became a household name. However, her meteoric rise came at a cost. By the time she left the industry at the end of 2017, she was struggling emotionally and mentally. In an interview on the
Curious Mike podcast, she revealed that she began experiencing severe panic attacks before shooting scenes, dreading the work but feeling powerless to say no.
“Towards the end of it, I started having panic attacks before scenes because I really didn’t want to do them,” she confessed. “I didn’t know how to say, ‘No, I don’t want to do this.’”
Her departure marked not just an end to her career in adult films but the beginning of a much more lucrative and personally fulfilling chapter.
Porn Paid Peanuts—OnlyFans Made Her Millions
Despite her massive popularity in the industry, Rhoades insists that the financial rewards of porn were nowhere near as glamorous as many assume. Speaking on Barstool’s
BFFs podcast in 2022, she shocked listeners by revealing that she made as little as $1,200 per scene and had only around $100,000 in savings when she quit.
“In the industry, I did not get paid s**t. I probably had $100,000 when I quit shooting porn. Now, I’m a multi-millionaire,” she declared.
Her financial turnaround came from pivoting to platforms where she had complete control over her content, particularly OnlyFans and social media. With over 15 million Instagram followers, she leveraged her brand for mainstream modeling opportunities and lucrative sponsorships. However, she cautioned that fans expecting explicit content on her OnlyFans would be sorely disappointed.
“I’m going to be honest, my OnlyFans is really disappointing. I probably post on it like once a month,” she admitted. “I just don’t care… It’s just like lingerie.”
The Hypocrisy Question: Cashing in While Condemning
Rhoades' dramatic reversal on the adult industry has sparked criticism, particularly from those who see her current wealth as a direct result of the fame she gained through porn. While she denounces the industry as exploitative, she continues to benefit from the notoriety it gave her.
Some argue that her stance is hypocritical—vilifying adult entertainment while leveraging her past fame to build a fortune elsewhere. Others defend her, citing her personal struggles and the realities of an industry that often leaves performers with little control over their careers.
Regardless of the controversy, Rhoades’ financial success is undeniable. Estimates of her net worth vary widely, with some sources placing it as high as $24 million. Whatever the figure, it’s clear that leaving porn was one of the best financial decisions she ever made.
