JD Vance's mother Beverly Vance addresses 'Hillbilly Elegy' movie pay and if a sequel is possible

Beverly Vance Says She Was Satisfied With “Hillbilly Elegy” Payout After Initial Low‑Ball Offer

In a recent conversation on OutKick’s “Tomi Lahren is Fearless,” Beverly Vance – mother of Vice President J.D. Vance – confirmed she was content with the final payment she received for the rights to her life story that became the 2020 Netflix film Hillbilly Elegy. The film, based on her son’s 2016 memoir, featured Amy Adams in the role of Vance and Glenn Close as her mother.

During the interview, host Tomi Lahren asked whether Vance felt she had been adequately compensated. “Do you think you made enough money off of ‘Hillbilly Elegy’?” Lahren questioned. When the host pointed out that studio executives had initially offered her a lower sum, Vance replied, “Um, I'm happy with what I made.” She added that she had declined the first, smaller offer.

Vance explained that the negotiations followed a pattern that Hollywood often employs when purchasing life‑rights deals. “They wanted to low‑ball you,” she said. “I was not going to take a little amount and be fine with that; that wasn't going to fly with me.” After rejecting the lowball, Vance said she ultimately reached a settlement she felt was fair.

The interview also touched on the possibility of a follow‑up film. Lahren asked whether a “Hillbilly Elegy 2” could be produced. Vance indicated that the decision would ultimately rest with J.D. Vance, who wrote the memoir. “I think that should probably be J.D.'s decision, since he wrote the book and it's based on his life,” she said. She added that she would be open to a sequel, especially if it could showcase her own recovery from addiction, saying, “It would be nice for people to see that I got clean and stayed clean.”

The Netflix adaptation, released in 2020, starred a high‑profile ensemble and garnered a mixed reception. Vance’s portrayal, which was played by actress Amy Adams, was praised by some reviewers as a powerful depiction of the challenges she faced while raising her son, J.D. Vance, in a working‑class Kentucky family.

As Vice President, J.D. Vance has been in the national spotlight for several years. His memoir, which chronicles his upbringing and the economic hardships of the Rust Belt, became a bestseller in 2016 and was later adapted into the film that brought his family’s story to a wider audience.

The conversation with Vance highlighted the negotiation dynamics that often accompany media rights deals and underscored the personal satisfaction she feels with the outcome, despite the initial pushback from the studio. Whether a sequel is produced remains to be seen, but Vance’s openness to the idea suggests that the Vance family’s story may continue to resonate with audiences in the years ahead.