Pete Davidson Just Shared His Incredibly Low Salary On SNL, But There’s More To The Story Than He Revealed

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As a long-time fan of Saturday Night Live, it’s truly fascinating to delve into the lives and experiences of the cast members who bring laughter into our homes week after week. The recent Instagram reel by New York Magazine featuring SNL cast members answering burning questions has been an absolute treat!

For over half a century now, Saturday Night Live has become an essential part of our weekly entertainment lineup. Incredibly, Kenan Thompson himself has been a vital component of this show for a significant portion of its long history! As Saturday Night Live marks its fifth decade, we’re captivated by intriguing tales from current and former cast members about their experiences on the show, and the legends and misconceptions that often accompany it.

New York Magazine has been doing a fun Instagram reel where they interview Saturday Night Live cast members about burning questions, from the most famous guests as SNL after parties, to the current one about the biggest splurges people made after their first paycheck arrived. Even though Pete Davidson has gone on to buy the Staten Island Ferry with SNL co-star Colin Joest, he makes it seem like he didn’t earn all that much when he started working on SNL. Listen to Pete Davidson lay it out in the below reel:

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Pete Davidson estimates that Saturday Night Live pays its team approximately $3,000 per episode. It’s important to note that there are various roles and corresponding pay scales at Saturday Night Live. The exact earnings of performers on SNL can be difficult to determine. According to CelebrityNetWorth, first-year cast members earn around $7,000 per episode, which amounts to approximately $147,000 annually after the 21 episodes in a season have been broadcasted. The earnings for second-year “players” can go up to $8,000, and it’s said to increase from there.

Simultaneously, it is well-known that several prominent Saturday Night Live performers, including Adam Sandler, initially began their careers as writers and worked their way up to participating in skits, on-camera appearances, and eventually becoming full-time cast members. There’s a significant distinction between featured players and permanent cast members. Furthermore, I can assure you that certain cast members will earn (or request) higher salaries as they gain more popularity.

In this discussion, I’ll avoid mentioning specific names. However, it’s reasonable to infer that an individual like Pete Davidson likely earned more as he stayed longer on Saturday Night Live (SNL). Initially, his recognition was minimal, and he himself acknowledges struggling to find his place on the show. Yet, as time progressed, he became a sensation, setting records for the most viewed pre-taped skits, proposing to Ariana Grande, and essentially surpassing the show that catapulted him into stardom.

However, according to what he expressed in an interview for New York Magazine, he believes he essentially paid for a meal with his initial earnings. Quite a classic move!

I get a kick out of the other answers there, with Ted Lasso superstar Jason Sudeikis admitting that Manhattan rent prevented him from doing much of anything, and a surprising number of SNL cast members saying that they used the paycheck to purchase a couch. Remember when SNL comedians were addicted to cocaine? Now, it’s Pottery Barn. What would you buy with your first SNL paycheck? I hope it’s something wild, and something you absolutely did not need.

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2024-12-05 19:38