Fans of Netflix's latest reality dating experiment, Age of Attraction, finally have an answer to a burning behind-the-scenes question: Do the contestants actually get a paycheck?
The truth came out during a tense exchange on The Viall Files reunion episode, where host Nick Viall confronted 26-year-old contestant Chris Dahlan. Chris, who parted ways with 51-year-old Leah Woolfolk in the season one finale, accidentally sparked the financial debate while discussing his mindset during filming.
Recalling his urge to quit the series early, Chris stated, "It didn't matter the money, it didn't matter the time, it matter[ed] the screen."
Nick immediately zeroed in on the comment, abruptly interjecting to ask, "What money?"
Attempting to backtrack, Chris argued that appearing on television usually implies some sort of compensation, but insisted his main point was simply about his mental state at the time.
"I said it doesn't matter what we're out here for, I don't want to be here anymore and I'm struggling with this," Chris explained, noting that the morning after his breakdown was his most difficult day on set.
To prevent any viewers from misinterpreting the exchange, Nick took the opportunity to officially clear the air regarding the reality stars' bank accounts.
"I do want to clear up for anyone listening or watching, no one here got paid except for us," the host clarified, referring to himself and his wife and co-host, Natalie Joy. "People truly showed up sincere, wanting to meet real connections and real people and see what they had in common."
While the first season yielded plenty of heartbreak—including multiple post-finale breakups—the drama was a massive streaming success. Ahead of the reunion, Netflix announced that Age of Attraction has been officially renewed for a second season.
Executive producers Jennifer O’Connell and Rebecca Quinn celebrated the renewal, noting that the show's "messy" and "real" dynamics are exactly what make it such an impossible-to-ignore hit.