Actor Omari Hardwick is best known for his breakout role as James St. Patrick, a New York club owner and drug kingpin in the crime series Power. The 48-year-old appeared on The Pivot podcast and shared details about his career and being compensated for his work.
While Hardwick’s resume includes notable films, such as Next Day Air and Gridiron Gang, he explained that his role in Power is when he realized he made it as an actor. However, the Georgia native said he never made nearly as much money as he expected during Power’s six-season run.
“I still haven’t made what I should have made. I still never made the money, no, the money, I never made what I should have made. Never,” said Hardwick.
Hardwick also revealed that he wasn’t paid for his work in previous projects, but his larger payouts are “happening now, finally.” Host Channing Crowder appeared stunned at the actor’s revelation, asking if he was paid for his roles in movies before the Starz series.
“I made five dollars,” Hardwick responded. The former Being Mary Jane love interest explained that he had to borrow money from Power executive producer 50 Cent a few times due to his financial struggles.
Hardwick, who paid back the Queens native with interest, said, “I think he forever just really, really respects the s**t out of me for that. We just not taught that in our community.”
He added, “For me to give it back to 50 with interest, I was just so proud to be able to do that, and it was early. He felt like, ‘D**n O, you can’t be messed up. You need money.’”
“It was the summer after season 1, and then it was the summer after season 2,” Hardwick recalled. “He gave me $20,000, and then the next summer he gave me $23 [thousand] — and absolutely he adores J and the kids, he might like them more than me. It was absolutely given in a way you know, ‘Take care of the family, bro.’”
Despite his financial setbacks during his time on Power, Hardwick said he had no feelings and remained humble about the experience.
“Starz, I’m still super humble. 50 and Courtney, I’ll thank you forever, but all of them know, ‘He didn’t really make no money.’ They know it before I know it.”
Watch the full interview below.
