Oscars' Biggest Loser? Jimmy Kimmel's Salary Unveiled and It's Not Pretty
The Oscars, the biggest night in Hollywood, has always been an event that celebrities would kill to be a part of. But is the gig really worth it?
Jimmy Kimmel and Wanda Sykes shared their experiences about hosting the prestigious award show, and let's just say the numbers are not pretty.
"I was real excited about [the gig], but then I realized, out of all the jobs that I have, this one is actually gonna cost me money," Wanda admitted.
Kimmel, who has hosted the show a number of times now, revealed that he only made $15,000 for each appearance. Now, while for some of us that may seem like a decent amount of money, for someone of Kimmel's caliber, it's a mere drop in the bucket. And let's not forget that this is a gig that involves months of preparation, rehearsals, and a lot of stress (or, at least, a very real risk to actually get slapped. Yes, we're still not over it, Will Smith. )
But Kimmel isn't the only celebrity to have spoken out about the lackluster pay. Back in 2013, Alec Baldwin, who co-hosted with Steve Martin, said that the Oscars pay "like chicken feed." Ouch.
Alec told THR at the time, "They don't pay you any money; the Oscars pay you like chicken feed. It's all about the honor of helping to extol film achievement."
So, the question remains: is $15,000 enough for hosting the Oscars?
It's hard to say. On the one hand, the exposure that comes with hosting such a high-profile event can be a huge boost for a celebrity's career. On the other hand, with the amount of time and effort that goes into hosting the show, it seems like a paltry sum.
And let's not forget the fact that no one seems to want to host the Oscars anymore. In recent years, the show has struggled to find a host, with many celebrities declining the offer. Maybe it's the lack of pay, or maybe it's the fact that hosting the Oscars has become more trouble than it's worth.