By Sohaib Shams
Actor Dylan Sprouse has disclosed that he received only a single residual payment for his work on the hit Disney Channel series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody – a check for five cents from a crossover episode with Hannah Montana.
Only One Residual Check in Years
Speaking on his podcast Wildmen with Dylan Sprouse and Brendan Columbus, Sprouse told former co-star Phil Lewis, who played Mr. Moseby, that the five-cent check was the only residual he had ever received for the show, which ran for three seasons from 2005 to 2008.
Show's Popularity vs. Pay
Sprouse expressed surprise at the meager amount given the show's success, noting that at one point it outperformed The Sopranos in ratings. He said the lack of residuals was particularly striking because the show aired before streaming services existed, when traditional TV residuals would have been significant.
Child Labour Comments
In a previous podcast episode, Sprouse described his time on the series as "child labour." He and his twin brother Cole were 11 when they began filming and wrapped on their 18th birthday. Sprouse said he still faces mental hurdles as an adult actor in the same industry.
Personal Life and Career
Sprouse, who has since starred in films such as After We Collided, Under Fire, and Beautiful Disaster, is married to Hungarian model Barbara Palvin. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Sylvie, in September 2026.
