Power Rangers Cast Reveals How the Iconic TV Show Left Them Financially Strained

Power Rangers: A Look into Earnings and Legacy

Power Rangers generated over $1 billion annually from its licensing and merchandise.
Original cast members Walter Emanuel Jones and Austin St. John faced financial hardships despite their fame.
They disclosed earning significantly more from car shows than from their acting salaries.

Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, which aired from 1993 to 1995, quickly became a cultural phenomenon. In addition to its memorable characters and vibrant costumes that captivated young audiences, the franchise also launched a highly profitable merchandise empire, which included toys, video games, and clothing lines. Reports indicate that Power Rangers amassed more than $1 billion each year through licensing and related products, fueling the show’s enduring popularity and leading to three successful seasons, comprised of 145 episodes, as well as a feature film release, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995).

However, in a recent discussion, two prominent figures from the original cast, Walter Emanuel Jones (who portrayed the Black Ranger, Zack Taylor) and Austin St. John (the Red Ranger, Jason Lee Scott), reflected on their experiences during the show’s run and revealed the financial challenges they faced. Despite the franchise’s enormous financial success, the actors struggled to make ends meet.

Walter Emanuel Jones noted on Fanward, “The experience was amazing, although it wasn’t something that made us wealthy.”Austin St. John added, “We were broke.”The constraints of working on a non-union show meant that both cast and crew members received considerably low salaries. As a result, the actors had to seek additional sources of income to support themselves, ultimately discovering that appearances at car shows provided them with much higher compensation than their roles on Power Rangers.

“We started doing car shows,”Walter recalled. “Right now, we’re doing comic cons, back then we were doing car shows. Because now we were understanding our worth. In a weekend we would make what we would make in an entire season, which was crazy. It was like, ‘Hey, we just made that in a weekend? Signing autographs? Just signing my name?”

Walter further highlighted how astonishing it was to earn more money in a weekend than they had for an entire season of filming, remarking on the disparity in pay for their rigorous work. This realization, alongside ongoing salary issues, led Walter, Austin, and fellow cast member Thuy Trang (who played the Yellow Ranger, Trini Kwan) to depart from the show. Notably, the franchise transitioned to union status only in 2018, following Hasbro’s acquisition, ensuring better remuneration for its performers moving forward.

It is disheartening to learn that the cast of such an iconic show experienced underpayment for their enduring roles. The dynamic personalities and palpable energy contributed significantly to the immense popularity of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. Meanwhile, the extensive array of merchandise—including action figures, Megazords, and apparel—underscored the franchise’s strong fan engagement, even if the financial rewards were not equitably distributed among all contributors.

Fortunately, both Walter and Austin have returned to the Power Rangers franchise and are now receiving compensation that reflects their contributions and legacy. The evolution of the franchise into a unionized entity marks a crucial step towards ensuring fair payment for its talented cast and crew.

Source: Fanward

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