Does Candace Bushnell get royalties?

Candace Bushnell’s journey from a column in The New York Observer to the cultural phenomenon “Sex and the City” is a tale of literary success, adaptation, and, for Bushnell, a complex relationship with royalties.

In the early nineties, Bushnell, in her thirties, embarked on a writing venture that would change her life. Her column, “Sex and the City,” offered a candid and humorous look at her singleton life in the vibrant landscape of Manhattan.

The column’s success was immediate, prompting publishers to seek an anthology of Bushnell’s intriguing tales.

The subsequent book, titled “Sex and the City,” not only solidified Bushnell’s status as a bestselling author but also became the source material for the immensely popular HBO television series of the same name.

The show, which aired from 1998 to 2004, catapulted Bushnell’s narratives into the mainstream, introducing the world to the iconic character of Carrie Bradshaw.

However, as the show’s success soared, Bushnell found herself in a less-than-ideal position regarding the rights to her work. In an admission of naivety, she revealed that she had signed away the rights to her book, including a less-than-lucrative deal for the screen rights.

Despite being the creative force behind the material that fueled the series, she does not receive any royalties from the vast “Sex and the City” franchise. The circumstances surrounding the deal left Bushnell feeling as though she had limited negotiation power.

Producers conveyed an attitude of “take it or leave it,” leaving her with a sense of inevitability. This sentiment, she noted, is not unfamiliar to women in the entertainment industry, reflecting broader challenges faced by women in negotiating deals.

While Bushnell may not directly benefit financially from the ongoing success of “Sex and the City,” she emphasizes that her fortune predominantly comes from her success as a best-selling novelist. Her subsequent novels, including “Four Blondes,” “Trading Up,” and “Lipstick Jungle,” have contributed significantly to her financial well-being.