Touchy Topic/Escort Income or Earnings and Career Trajectory

[RockyHardon]

To Begin,

 

Most of my adult life I have been acquainted with working (escort) boys and tgirls. I have often assumed that because real girls usually have pimps, the reason real girl escorts are not all retired at 40 is because their pimps take all their money. But I'm at a loss to explain or understand why my working friends are not seemingly retired members of the rentier class after a few years.

 

Is anybody willing to share their experience with the financial aspects of escorting with me. It seems like an attractive enterprising guy could retire in a 5 to 10 years if he could charge $150 per hour (tax free essentially), and work full time (assume 2 clients a day/five days a week), and invest his money wisely. Just getting two dates a day (@$150 per date, five days a week would be $72K tax free a year. )

 

So I guess my question is: Can a rentboy retire after 5 to 10 years in the game, and does anyone have any such stories. This of course assumes that escorts actually want to retire, but for me retirement means having other sources of income sufficient to not work if you so desire.

 

Strange question, but any feedback, especially from my working friends would be appreciated. Also, if you want to send confidential income information to me pm, that is cool.

[Kevin Slater]

You are mistaken about escort income being tax free. That self-employed income isn't reported on a 1099 doesn't change one's obligation to report and pay taxes on it. I would be leery of any retirement planning predicated upon tax evasion.

 

Kevin Slater

[RockyHardon]

You are mistaken about escort income being tax free. That self-employed income isn't reported on a 1099 doesn't change one's obligation to report and pay taxes on it. I would be leery of any retirement planning predicated upon tax evasion.

 

Kevin Slater

 

Kevin,

 

You are absolutely correct - Internal Revenue Code Section 62 requires a person to report any income from whatever source derived. So thank you for correcting and clarifying my post. I was assuming (probably incorrectly), that most escorts don't report 100% of their income and I was also assuming that most income/earnings of escorts is in cash. But, I am sure everyone declares every penny of escort earnings...

 

Any success stories to share with me? or income estimates.

[jimboivyo]

saving, investing and an inheretance or two can make a world of differnce for a escort

 

to truly retire, you have to have millions in the bank. for many escorts the lure of being young and having easy money is too strong to not spend

[RockyHardon]

"an inheritance or two..." i think i have a different understanding of this phrase than the norm....an inheritance can be viewed as longbterm earnings in escortcommunity.

[marylander1940]

You are mistaken about escort income being tax free. That self-employed income isn't reported on a 1099 doesn't change one's obligation to report and pay taxes on it. I would be leery of any retirement planning predicated upon tax evasion.

 

Kevin Slater

 

Yes, but as Huckabee says: "pimps, prostitutes and drug dealers live on cash, and don't pay anything else but the sales tax. Let's hike it and make it fair for all Americans". I can't believe I just quoted him, LOL

 

The 9% income, 9$ sales and 9% corporate tax guy use to talk about the same issue and offer the same solution.

 

You can always hide money under the mattress, but you can't use it to buy a house. I know a few escorts who declare their income as "personal trainers", one of them even has a work out area in his house in case the IRS shows up one day asking questions. He deposits cash and some money orders (with fake names of alleged clients) in his bank accounts, his landlord is also very happy to get paid in cash at the beginning of the month and use it to buy groceries, gas, etc and other thing you can buy with just cash.

 

I'm sure Kevin Slater has been is very careful with his income all his life, and he's very successful as a businessman in and out of the bedroom. Unfortunately I know a lot of escorts who retired with absolutely nothing but the tale... while some try to pull a Jarec Wentworth that backfired on them, or lost their ways doing drugs, spending all their money and becoming unable to work.

[+ not2rowdy]

First of all, I’d be surprised if anyone will share anything other than just very general income information. In some cultures it is considered downright rude to even ask such a question.

 

I’m not an escort. But have been a regular “site troller” for several years now and gleaned a little info from between the lines. I certainly would be hard pressed to find those tidbits of info again. So these are just my remembrances and impressions.

 

I think some very successful escorts make a very comfortable six figures.

 

Probably the highest income escorts are those who don’t even advertise. Like those who are some wealthy individual’s exclusive boytoy. Especially when you add in the extra benefits of travel, maybe a subsidized apartment, car, etc.

 

I think averaging two sessions a day for five days a week might be too high.

But maybe throw in an overnight once per week.

 

The most successful escorts are also pretty business smart. These savvy guys are probably not avoiding income taxes, social security or medical insurance payments. They are self employed. In and of itself there is nothing illegal about being an escort. I don’t know what they list as their occupation on their Form 1040.

 

Keep in mind you need to report a minimum of 24 quarters of sufficient income to qualify (barely) for minimal Social Security benefits at your retirement age. But please - let’s not let this thread get off the OP’s main question.

 

Anyone, escort or not, who draws the attention of the IRS had better be able to show reported income that supports their lifestyle. Nice home? Nice car? Nice banks accounts? Well, unless you have a nice inheritance you’d better have reported income that can justify those assets. Otherwise you will be having a very bad day with IRS. And they may take it all away.

[+ azdr0710]

as the old money WASPy industrialists of the late 19th century used to say, "Never complain, never explain"

[+ DERRIK]

The sword cuts both ways for clients and providers.

 

If I hire a baby sitter or lawn person and pay them more than a minimal about over a 12 month period ($600) then I am obliged to report these payments to IRS via the 1099. Alternatively if I gift money to a person - I have other reporting requirements to the IRS.

[Scorpio]

If I hire a baby sitter or lawn person and pay them more than a minimal about over a 12 month period ($600) then I am obliged to report these payments to IRS via the 1099.

 

That is incorrect. Form 1099s are issued in the course of one's "trade or business". A parent hiring a baby sitter or a home owner hiring a lawn person is not doing so in the course of a "trade or business." The baby sitter and the lawn person are still required to report the income on their tax return, even though they didn't receive a 1099. In some instances, the baby sitter or lawn person could rise to the level of being your employee. In which case a Form W-2 would be issued with various payroll tax obligations being involved. The threshold in that instance is currently $1900.

 

If I hire a lawn person to maintain the lawn at my business, then I would issue a 1099 from my business if the $600 threshold is met. If I hire a lawn person to care for my rental properties, then I issue a 1099 if the $600 threshold is met.

[instudiocity]

It is indeed a touchy topic and a bit of a creeper alert popped up when the OP starts quoting Chapter and Verse from the IRS Code. It was just too soon in the thread. Made me think OP is working with the US Attorney for the Eastern District of NY.

 

OP, I suggest you answer you question by becoming friends with escorts or becoming one yourself.

[Kevin Slater]

If I hire a baby sitter or lawn person and pay them more than a minimal about over a 12 month period ($600) then I am obliged to report these payments to IRS via the 1099. Alternatively if I gift money to a person - I have other reporting requirements to the IRS.

 

Not so. That requirement is only for businesses. So as long as hiring escorts, baby sitters, and lawn people is a personal expense and not part of your business, there's no need to file a 1099.

 

Kevin Slater

[RockyHardon]

It is indeed a touchy topic and a bit of a creeper alert popped up when the OP starts quoting Chapter and Verse from the IRS Code. It was just too soon in the thread. Made me think OP is working with the US Attorney for the Eastern District of NY.

 

OP, I suggest you answer you question by becoming friends with escorts or becoming one yourself.

 

Hahahah...I guess I am a bit of a creeper...lol...actually, I have been intrigued by this for a long time. I have been a client, friend, and sometime extra hand for my various escort friends for the past 20 years out here on the west coast. But I have never been close enough to see where their money goes (although I have had a couple who spent all their money on 1)drugs 2) gambling and 3) cute never do well boyfriend.)

 

Anyway, I'm just curious if anybody really gets comfortably properous in this game. And I guess the answer it is like any business - Some people do well, and others not so well, but I'm wondering if this a business more like music, art, and film, where more do poorly than well, or if it is more like a trade of being a carpenter or painter where once you learn your craft you can expect to be able to buy a house, raise two puppies, and even aspire to a vacation home in Palm Springs.

 

P.S. I took an accounting class years ago and remember the IRS section from the the first day presentation.

 

.

[RockyHardon]

I think the better question is where in the world are you retiring to where you can retire in 10 years making 72k a year...

 

Great point...but, since most quoted rates are $250 per hour, I should have changed the numbers to $500 per day time 20 days working per month and arrived as an aspirational income of $120K per annum. Although many people would disagree (which goes to the expense side of the equation), most single guys earning $120K in cash should be able to convert that to real money after 10 years.

 

Anyway, if I had the temperment to be a working boy, I might give it a try, but I know from seeing my friends over the years...it is actually hard work...although like any professional it clearly has its financial and emotional awards as well.

[Scorpio]

Kevin,

 

You are absolutely correct - Internal Revenue Code Section 62 requires a person to report any income from whatever source derived.

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. I took an accounting class years ago and remember the IRS section from the the first day presentation.

 

 

Actually it's IRC 61.

[maninsoma]

Great point...but, since most quoted rates are $250 per hour, I should have changed the numbers to $500 per day time 20 days working per month and arrived as an aspirational income of $120K per annum. Although many people would disagree (which goes to the expense side of the equation), most single guys earning $120K in cash should be able to convert that to real money after 10 years.

 

Anyway, if I had the temperment to be a working boy, I might give it a try, but I know from seeing my friends over the years...it is actually hard work...although like any professional it clearly has its financial and emotional awards as well.

 

I'd still suggest that your math is off unless one is earning that $120K/year in a place that's cheap to live. But if the place is cheap to live, the guy probably wouldn't have enough clients to have two people per day willing and able to pay him $250/hour five days per week. And I sincerely doubt that many escorts' schedules actually involve seeing 10 different clients every week.

 

$120K/year is a decent salary where I live, but by no means would you have a lot of extra cash to invest if that was your only income and you had an average mortgage or rental payment; paid the income and self-employment taxes required; and had expenses that the average person has. You might have some money left over to invest, but not so much that you would have such a huge nest egg at the end of 10 years that you could retire the rest of your life.

[BaronArtz]

You want numbers? Here is an illustration. I had a relationship with a guy who escorted for about 18 months in NYC. He was a body builder type who provided muscle worship and some foreplay for $225/hour. At the beginning of his career, he experimented with anal sex but it was not his thing. There were limitations to what he would do and not do. While he has a number of reviews on this website, all believable and positive, he never was a 'major' escort like Zeb Atlas, although his physical presence was absolutely stunning.

 

He lived in a modest apartment in Hells Kitchen, costing about $2,000/month. Did not own a car. Did not shop at fancy places and bought his clothes at TJ Max and stores of that natures. A frugal guy in other words. He went to a bargain basement gym, costing $45/month. His main expenses were food and supplements to support his body building lifestyle. Buying HGH from the gym's manager was about $500/month.

 

He was a bit picky about clients he would see - keep in min he offered a limited repertoire of services. If he didn't like somebody, that client would not get a second appointment. His self-imposed quota was 8 to 10 hours billable hours per week. Attending graduate school and spending long hours at the gym also limited his available time.

 

While an escort, he developed a relationship with 3 different sugar daddy types who continued to support him after the took down his ad.

 

Bottom line: after 18 months, after expenses (including grad school), he had $150K in cash. He is using this to start a small consulting business.

 

I am not saying this is a 'typical' scenario. It is just a scenario that I happened to know.

[+ DERRIK]

Guys

 

I stand corrected

 

I plan to shred the 1099's I created so far this year

 

[Irtwo]

assume 2 clients a day/five days a week...

 

I think that assumption is where the analysis breaks down a bit. I think many escorts go through periods where there are no clients in a given week. In the Lounge section, in the New Yorker article that was cited in a thread re Rentboy, had many working guys revealing their annual income; it was a lot less than many assume.

 

Interesting topic by the way.

[RockyHardon]

i wonder what percentage of tax filers have an Adjusted Gross Income or even plain gross income of $100k. Anyway, thanks for all the comments to this post. Especially BaronArtz,..that was a useful example/annectdote and confirms some thoughts i had.

[Nebost]

Just some additional data points.

 

I had a conversation with a top notch escort (model handsome, lots of great reviews) and he said because he did not travel , he made enough to live comfortably, but not for signficant savings. He said there were only so many regular repeat clients, and most locals only see a guy once or twice and move on to try someone new. This was in LA, the second largest escort market. I would guess an non-traveling escort in a smaller market would have a harder time making a living exclusvely on escorting, though the larger markets (LA and NY) have a high cost of living.

 

He has a buddy (also a top notch escort) who makes considerably more because he travels regularily. Of course, with travel there comes greatly increased expenses (flights, hotels, increased advertising , incidentals) but I still got the impression that the traveling escort made considerably more.

[instudiocity]

Guys

 

I stand corrected

 

I plan to shred the 1099's I created so far this year

 

Might as well, they're already funny papers! What escort is going to give you his legal name and SSN on a W-9?

[rvwnsd]

...most single guys earning $120K in cash should be able to convert that to real money after 10 years. ...

 

There are a few issues with this theory:

 

1) You are assuming the escort has two hours worth of appointments five days a week.

2) You are not taking into account expenses such as lube, condoms, laundry expenses (ten changes of sheets plus what he sleeps on adds up), massage oil/creme, travel, etc (granted, they are netted out of gross revenue to derive net income, on which taxes are paid, but still...)

3) Unlike a salaried employee, the escort is paying the full burden of FICA and health insurance, does not receive vacation, sick, or holiday pay and does not have an employer-sponsored retirement plan

[+ purplekow]

Good escorts make good money. Great escorts make great money. Mediocre escorts have other jobs.

[jawjateck]

Might as well, they're already funny papers! What escort is going to give you his legal name and SSN on a W-9?

 

You might be surprised ISC! I've hired escorts who actually believe I should or am required to report the payments. One of my April 15 jokes is the letter I mail every tax season:

 

Dear Revenuers,

 

The following individuals were contracted for services and received payments for which reporting is required, however, I was unable to obtain their personal taxpayer information. Please cross reference this list as necessary to ensure accuracy in tax reporting.

 

Jon Jock Masseur

"Ian"

Sexy Atlantaboy

Italian Stallion

Chance & Hunter

TylerD

9in Pleasure

 

Warm regards,

jjt