Overview

• Samantha Highfill’s book, I Was Feeling Epic, compiles firsthand accounts from Dobrev and creators about pay disputes on the series.
• Dobrev says she, Candice King and Kat Graham were the lowest‑paid series regulars during the first two seasons.
• Her contract covered Elena only, yet she also played Katherine, which she says doubled her workload without equal compensation.
• After a season‑3 renegotiation, she received a raise but not parity with Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, and Julie Plec says the studio told writers to limit Katherine’s appearances.
• For the 2017 finale, Dobrev initially declined an offer she says was five times less than her prior pay before Plec secured her requested rate for one episode.