Why Rob Lowe Left The West Wing

A Montvale, New Jersey-based entrepreneur and startup advisor, David Mindich founded Thermal Paper Direct and is the president of Minda Supply Company, the latter of which is among the world's largest dry cleaning and laundry wholesale distribution centers. A fan of The West Wing TV series, David Mindich is writing a book about the show in his free time.

The West Wing aired for seven seasons on NBC and featured cast members such as Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford, and Rob Lowe. While Lowe's character Sam Seaborn, an optimistic speechwriter, was originally intended to be the primary protagonist of the series, the beloved actor left the show after only four seasons due to a combination of his diminishing role and disagreements over salary.

In a statement following his departure, Lowe cited that "there was no longer a place for Sam Seaborn on The West Wing," but Entertainment Weekly insiders noted money was also a major factor. Lowe was one of the series' highest-paid actors at the outset of production, with earnings of $70,000 per episode. By season four, Sheen had renegotiated his contract to make more than four times Lowe's salary. Other actors, including Whitford and Janney, threatened to leave the show in July 2001 if they didn't receive raises to equal Lowe's salary.