Drea De Matteo'S Onlyfans Success: How The 'Sopranos' Star Turned Crisis Into Cash

Drea de Matteo's Bold Move to OnlyFans

The Sopranos' alum Drea de Matteo has opened up about her surprising decision to join OnlyFans as a lifeline. In a candid chat with People, de Matteo, 54, revealed her financial struggles that led her to the adult platform. The COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike left her facing foreclosure on her home, prompting her to explore OnlyFans as a last resort.

“At first I was petrified,” she confessed. “I was like, holy s***. I just black listed myself. But all I really cared about was the implications it might pose on the kids."

Thankfully, her children stood by her side. Drea shares daughters Alabama, 18, and son Waylon, 14 with ex-fiancé Shooter Jennings. Her kids encouraged her venture, noting the prevalence of celebrities like J. Lo and the Kardashians flaunting themselves online.

A Financial Windfall from Fans

De Matteo, who captured hearts as Adriana La Cerva on The Sopranos, experienced a financial turnaround thanks to her OnlyFans debut. "I made $75k in 75 minutes and was able to pay off the lien on my house," she shared, attributing her fan base largely to devoted Sopranos followers.

Embracing her new role, de Matteo jokes about her age and new lifestyle: "But I was 50 at that time. Now I’m 54. It's like Granny Sports Illustrated! But it keeps me in shape. It turns out I like prancing around in panties and high heels!"

Navigating New Ventures and Criticism

Initially considering a "controversial" OnlyFans podcast with Robby Staebler, de Matteo eventually launched her page in 2023. At the time, she had just $10 in her bank account, balancing care for her ailing mother, raising two kids, and dealing with a house flood.

Despite the backlash, she remains firm in her decision. "Anybody that wants to condemn me and put me down, go for it," she stated, underscoring her resilience and determination to provide for her family.

De Matteo's journey underscores the unpredictable paths life can take and the surprising avenues to success that emerge when least expected.