Ser Baffo/Netflix
"Love Is Blind" season two stars Deepti Vempati and Natalie Lee revealed that they've made over $500,000 each in their roles as content creators after appearing on Netflix's hit dating show.
According to Fortune Magazine, Natalie, 31, made $234,000 a year as a management consultant, a job she kept while filming the show but has since quit to become a full-time influencer. Deepti, 32, made just over $100,000 as a data analyst at a tech company, according to Fortune. She quit her job when the show began airing to pursue content creation full time.
The former costars — who also host a Netflix reality show rewatch podcast together called "Out of the Pods" — told Fortune that a large percentage of their respective earnings come from brand deals. Natalie revealed that about 95% of her income comes from paid partnerships. Deepti said she's more selective about partnerships, but has supplemented her income with a book deal.
"I won't share the brand, but the most I've gotten paid for a brand deal is around 50k," Natalie said. She added that it was a brand she uses in her everyday life and that she was able to create authentic content using the product for her social media platform.
Deepti has over a million followers on Instagram and has posted ads for the SoFi finance app, Eventbrite, Lee Jeans, and Dynamite Clothing so far in 2023. She previously told podcast listeners that a brand paid her $60,000 for a single Instagram reel.
Natalie has over 700,000 Instagram followers and has posted ads for Astral Tequila, Tree Olives Vodka, the SoFi finance app, Fidelity, and Burt's Bees lip balm so far in 2023.
The two are also expanding their joint business empire. They told the magazine they're in the process of signing a deal with a podcast network that will help them expand their "Out of the Pods" show.
"Deepti and I are both daughters of immigrants. Something that we've talked about often is like the money that we save is really for our family. To kind of give back in what they put in on us," Natalie said.
She added that she has a detailed investment plan for all of her earnings, while Deepti said she's learning how to manage her money responsibly and looking forward to investing in real estate soon.
Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Netflix
"I have no idea how long this content creation or influencer life is going to last, but as long as I show up authentically, create good content for brands, I feel like I can keep it going," said Deepti. "And if at any moment I can't, I literally will go back to training, get well-versed in technology again, because that's where my roots are."
Deepti would like to keep making money as an influencer for as long as possible, while Natalie said she sees it more as a short-term career path before she eventually goes back into management consulting.
