Lance Bass has revealed that he earned just $35 a day during the early years of *NSYNC, despite the boy band’s growing international popularity, sold-out tours and successful albums. The singer discussed the group’s financial history during an appearance on The Zach Sang Show, explaining that the money he received at the height of the band’s rise did not match the public perception of their success.
During the interview, published in October 2026, Bass recalled that the group received a daily allowance, or per diem, of $35 while traveling for performances. He said their first significant payment came after years of working together, with each member receiving a $10,000 check despite the group’s commercial achievements.
“Our first check was a $10,000 check after years of No. 1 albums, sellout tours,” Bass said, describing the contrast between the band’s success and the money he personally received. He also recalled being told to appreciate the payment after spending approximately two or three years working without pay.
Bass said the group’s merchandise business generated substantial revenue, although he could not estimate how much money the members personally received from those sales. The singer explained that the band’s popularity created the impression that all five members had accumulated significant wealth, an assumption he disputed during the interview.
“It’s so weird how people think I’m so filthy rich from *NSYNC. No, not at all,” Bass said. He added that he had made very little money directly from the group during its most successful period, although he continues to receive some residual income from his work.
The revelation offers a look at the financial arrangements behind one of the most successful pop groups of the late 1990s and early 2000s. *NSYNC consisted of Bass, Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick. The group became an international sensation with songs including “Tearin’ Up My Heart,” “It’s Gonna Be Me” and “Bye Bye Bye,” while its albums reached the top of major music charts.
The band’s financial difficulties were previously linked to its relationship with manager Lou Pearlman, who also managed the Backstreet Boys. In 1999, *NSYNC became involved in a legal dispute with Pearlman and his associated business interests over the group’s management and financial arrangements. The dispute was settled, and the group subsequently moved forward under different management.
Pearlman later pleaded guilty to conspiracy, money laundering and bankruptcy fraud in connection with a large-scale Ponzi scheme involving investors and financial institutions. He was sentenced to prison in 2008 and died in custody in 2016. His business dealings and management of boy bands have continued to attract attention in discussions about the financial treatment of young performers.
Bass also reflected on the challenges faced by the members as teenagers entering the music business. The group achieved success while its members were still young, leaving them dependent on adults and industry professionals to handle contracts, finances and business negotiations. Bass’s comments highlighted his view that the band’s earnings did not reflect the scale of its commercial achievements during those early years.
After *NSYNC went on hiatus in 2002, the members pursued individual projects in music, television, film and other areas of entertainment. Bass has worked as a television and radio personality, actor, producer and podcast host. He said he generated more income from activities outside the group after its hiatus, while continuing to receive residuals from the band’s music.
The comments come as interest in *NSYNC remains active, with the group’s legacy continuing to attract attention through its music catalogue, appearances by its members and discussions about possible future projects. Bass has previously spoken about the band’s history and the possibility of documenting its story, including the business challenges surrounding its early success.
In his October 2026 interview, Bass reiterated that the financial rewards he personally received during *NSYNC’s peak were far smaller than many fans might expect. His account adds to longstanding discussions about contracts, management and compensation in the boy-band industry, particularly during an era when record sales, touring and merchandise helped turn groups into global entertainment brands.
