Dylan Sprouse has discussed the financial arrangements behind his time on Disney Channel’s The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. The actor commented on the issue with former co-star Phill Lewis during an appearance on the Wildmen Podcast on November 3, 2026.
Sprouse revealed, “In terms of the channel higher-ups, we were also kind of weirdly the ugly duckling. We were extremely popular, but also extremely underfunded.” Additionally, Lewis, who played Marion Moseby, claimed that their contracts allowed Disney to film as many episodes as it wanted within a calendar year and count them as a single season.
Lewis added, “They called it one season because they didn’t have to pay us bumps.” The comments highlight the contrast between the show’s popularity and the compensation Sprouse and Lewis say they received.
Dylan Sprouse reveals the only residual check he ever received
Sprouse, who played Zack Martin in the Disney show, revealed details about his only residual check. The actor said, “I don’t ever think I’ve said this like out on an interview, but the only residual check I’ve ever received for The Suite Life at all was a crossover episode with Hannah Montana for five cents. I’m not joking.”
He continued, “In a time when residuals would have been great, not a single paycheck for being arguably one of the most popular shows. Back then there weren’t any streaming services, right? The only things you could watch were a certain amount of channels. And Disney Channel itself prided itself on being a channel where you could turn it on safely for kids, where there’s no advertisements, there’s no anything to cross over, and all you’re going to watch are shows at that age demographic.”
Entertainment Weekly reached out to Disney for a comment on the issue but received no response. The television show The Suite Life of Zack & Cody ran from 2005 to 2011 and produced about 190 episodes. The show and its spinoff, The Suite Life on Deck, are available on Disney+.
Originally reported on ComingSoon.
