Maitland Ward left Disney for a porn career

“I’m pitching my memoir into a TV format and talking with people. They’re so respectful, and they’re so positive about my story, especially younger people and different people that I speak to in Hollywood and stuff,” she continued. “They’re just much more receptive to the story. And I really feel like I have a lot of positivity around it. I’m able to create my own brand, my own content, the way I want to create it.”

What happened next surprised even her. While she had gotten good “feedback” after starting to post challenging content on Instagram, OnlyFans was a huge financial step up. Ward now earns up to 10 times as much as she did during her time in traditional TV and film.

According to reports, she earns five figures monthly because of a sex toy partnership. Moreover, she receives an annual six-figure payment under a contract with the adult site Deeper. According to Celebrity Net Worth, she has a net worth of $4 million.

While she had her prejudices, the response she received wasn’t what she expected.

“I didn’t get anybody coming out hating me for it or anything,” she told Fox. “I really got a lot of positivity overall, which shocked everyone I knew. Everybody thought people were just going to rip me apart, and I was going to be judged and raked across the coals, but I got so much positivity, and I think it’s because I was so positive about it, and I was so happy about it.”

‘Happier than ever’

But for Ward, now 45, it’s not just about the money. Maitland Ward says her new career has given her something she never truly had before: control.

Instead of being told what roles she could or couldn’t play, she now decides everything herself — from content to creative direction. She has also spoken about feeling more respected and empowered in her new industry, despite the stigma many expected her to face.

Looking back, Ward admits she never imagined this path. But today, she says she’s happier than ever — embracing a career that allows her to express herself fully and connect directly with fans.

And while her journey may shock some, one thing is clear: She has no plans to go back to making movies and television series, at least not in the way many might expect.