Jimmy Kimmel isn’t afraid to talk money. During a Wednesday interview on KROQ’s “Kevin & Bean” morning show, the late-night host revealed how much money he’ll earn as the host of the 89th Academy Awards. If you assumed it would be an insanely high amount, think again. According to Kimmel, he’ll walk away with only $15,000.
Though we’re sure most people would love to receive that kind of paycheck, the amount is relatively low when you consider just how prestigious and popular the Academy Awards are; however, according to Yahoo! News, Kimmel insists he’s happy to earn anything at all.
“I think it’s illegal to pay nothing,” he said. “I’m not sure I was supposed to reveal this. But nobody told me not to. I consider this their fault.”
Kimmel, who reportedly earns about $10 million a year as the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, was announced as the Oscars host earlier this month. Though he has never emceed the awards show before, Kimmel has hosted an Oscars aftershow on ABC for the last several years.
During an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! last week, the 49-year-old shared the news with his viewers in a typical Kimmel way.
“The producers and the Academy went through a long list of names, and in the end, they decided that—since I am already right across the street from where they do the show—I was the closest person to host,” he joked.
The 89th Academy Awards will broadcast live Feb. 26 at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.
