Walt Disney Co.'s ABC network said on Monday that the Academy Awards broadcast on Sunday night drew its largest TV audience since 2020, attracting an audience of 19.5 million viewers, with a 4.3% increase from last year's ceremony.
According to a recent report from personal finance company WalletHub based on its projections, news reports, and data from the Academy, Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony costs $56.9 million. From host Jimmy Kimmel to trophy's worth, here's a cost breakdown of the biggest night in film.
Oscars 2024 Hefty Price Tags
On Sunday evening, Kimmel will make his fourth appearance on the Oscars stage as the night's host. His wife, Molly McNearney, will return for the second year as the show's executive producer.
Warner Bros.' 'Barbie,' another nominee for best picture, and Universal Pictures' Oppenheimer brought in nearly $1 billion in domestic ticket sales, which helped ensure a higher turnout for last night's event. When Titanic won the major prize in 1998, 55.2 million people watched the Oscars at its peak.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, which runs the awards, has made an effort to increase viewership by expanding the field of nominees for best picture from five to ten, giving more widely-known films a chance to compete.
This year, ABC started broadcasting at 4 pm, an hour early in Los Angeles. Most of the nonprofit organization's $143.5 million revenue came from Oscar-related events last year.
According to WalletHub, Oscar winners do not receive a cash prize, and the 24-karat gold-plated statuette they receive is only worth roughly $400. On the other hand, those who are fortunate enough to win best actor or best actress can demand a 20% pay increase on their next project.
Some Oscar "losers" receive a consolation prize in the infamous goodie bag. CNBC reported that 25 acting and directing candidates and host Kimmel will get a "Everybody Wins" gift bag worth over $180,000.
Notably, for the 22nd year in a row, the bags will be delivered by Los Angeles-based marketing business Distinctive Assets.
The most lavish gift in this year's gift bag is a $50,000, three-night stay at Chalet Zermatt Peak, a ski resort in the Swiss Alps. For the exclusive use of the chalet, nominees may invite a maximum of nine guests.
A $24,000 seven-night stay at the California spa Golden Door, a $25,000 live concert by mentalist Carl Christman, and a $10,000 Cynosure microneedling treatment are among the other expensive experiences included in the bag.
Furthermore, the gifts on the lower end of the price range include a $1,350 portable Schwank Grill, a skincare set from Miage valued at $515, a $139 red-light sleep therapy device from Helight, and a $15 retro-themed Rubik's Cube.
Jommy Kimmel's Oscars Earnings
In an interview with Wanda Sykes in 2022, Jimmy Kimmel disclosed the $15,000 he had received for his previous hosting duties. That's a great price for a one-night gig, but hosting the Oscars takes months of preparation and commitment.
Although Kimmel's specific salary for the role at this year's event is unknown, it is reasonable to believe he will be compensated similarly.
Even if most viewers at home make far more than that $15,000 a month, it still only makes up a small part of the television hosts' overall net worth. Celebrity Net Worth reported Kimmel's estimated net worth is $50 million.
Furthermore, the same publication said he earns an annual salary of $15 million for hosting the ABC late-night comedy show 'Jimmy Kimmel Live.' He is also well-known for his roles in productions like 'The Man Show' and 'Win Ben's Steins Money.'
He was awarded an Emmy for Best Variety Special for 'Live In Front Of A Studio Audience' in May 2019, which attracted 10.4 million viewers.
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