Who's the Most Overpaid TV Star?

by SodaHead Slideshows Posted 2012/07/17 15:46:55

Snooki

Snooki makes $1.2 million for "Jersey Shore," according to The Los Angeles Times. That's a heck of a lot of money just for being … Snooki.

Snooki

Snooki makes $1.2 million for "Jersey Shore," according to The Los Angeles Times. That's a heck of a lot of money just for being … Snooki.
Judge Judy

It's astounding to note that "Judge Judy" still makes $45 million a year -- $5 million more than Simon Cowell.
Tyra Banks

Love her or hate her, Tyra Banks makes $4 million a year for "America's Next Top Model."
Ashton Kutcher

Kutcher makes a whopping $17 million for "Two and a Half Men," but the Los Angeles Times thinks he's underpaid, making only $1.16 per viewer.
Christina Aguilera

Xtina makes $2.1 million for "The Voice" -- "only" $0.17 per viewer.
Simon Cowell

Cowell earns $40 million for "The X Factor," even though it was a ratings disappointment last year.
Ryan Seacrest

Seacrest earns $15 million for saying "dim the lights" on "American Idol."
Jennifer Lopez

Are you sure you made the right decision to quit, J-Lo? Lopez made $12.5 million to be a judge on "American Idol."
Chelsea Handler

Handler earns $12 million for her late-night talk show -- a hefty $16.70 per viewer.

Who's the Most Overpaid TV Star?

7,921 votes
Read all 276 opinions
Lightning Report View Results and Demographics + View Demographics

	Snooki
	Judge Judy
	Tyra Banks
	Ashton Kutcher
	Christina Aguilera
	Simon Cowell
	Ryan Seacrest
	Jennifer Lopez
	Chelsea Handler

Loading Demographics... Click an icon to see demographic results Display unknown and private
	Snooki	3,675 votes	46%
	Judge Judy	1,318 votes	17%
	Tyra Banks	193 votes	2%
	Ashton Kutcher	830 votes	10%
	Christina Aguilera	221 votes	3%
	Simon Cowell	251 votes	3%
	Ryan Seacrest	509 votes	6%
	Jennifer Lopez	406 votes	5%
	Chelsea Handler	518 votes	7%

It's no secret that TV stars get paid a lot of money. But when you do the math, sometimes it makes sense ... and sometimes it doesn't.

According to The Los Angeles Times, Snooki makes $1.2 million for "Jersey Shore." That's a heck of a lot of money just for being ... Snooki, but when you crunch the numbers, she only gets $0.16 per viewer.

Compare that to Chelsea Handler, who earns $12 million for her late-night talk show -- that's a hefty $16.70 per viewer.

It's astounding to note that "Judge Judy" still makes $45 million a year -- $5 million more than Simon Cowell. And love her or hate her, Tyra Banks makes $4 million a year for "America's Next Top Model."

From Snooki to Simon, click through our slideshow and let us know: Who is the most overpaid TV star?

+20

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Sinister Ken Doll™ 2012/07/17 16:48:10

Snooki

+21
i would pay her to go away
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More polls by SodaHead Slideshows

Simms 2012/07/19 12:23:56

Snooki

+1
Not even close! If Snooki is getting paid to be on television, then it is too much!

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beach bum 2012/07/19 10:31:36

Snooki

snooki

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Michele Annicchiarico sciimo 2012/07/19 10:15:28

Chelsea Handler

opere@vertigolibri.com ( I GIOVANI CHE TI SORPRENDONO NEW city ) MY POETRY

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Christine 2012/07/19 10:11:18

Judge Judy

+1
Judge Judy is a bitch and ruins people's lives. Snooki is just a bitch.

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Garciat... to Christine 2012/07/19 13:21:11

I notice that whenever it's a man vs a woman in a trial, she'll always side with the woman, no matter who's the plaintiff and who's the defendant.

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edlie 2012/07/19 09:10:25

Snooki

+2
who is she?!?

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Christian 2012/07/19 09:04:39

Snooki

+1
What crap.

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A Lionheart 2012/07/19 06:10:57

Ashton Kutcher

Mitt Romney!!!

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PortaPocketGal 2012/07/19 05:35:29

Snooki

+1
hands down.

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Marlene Wilkins 2012/07/19 05:34:01

Snooki

Snooki just....irritates me like having fiberglass insulation put under my skin.
Can't help but wonder what kind of Mother she's going to be...I'm hoping for the best, but....

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Nikki<3 2012/07/19 05:15:50

Snooki

+1
She gets paid to not work, live in a huge house for free, and have sex with anyone willing.. Why is she being paid for this? I don't know why MTV hasn't taken her off the air yet...

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Mikayla Morgan 2012/07/19 04:47:37

Snooki

mainly because i just dont like her. but also judge judy, even though i actually DO like her. and any host that makes over 1.5 (million)

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The Mosher 2012/07/19 04:13:43

Snooki

+1
terrible terrible, and atleast most of the others on the list have some kind of talent

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Demiann 2012/07/19 03:35:23

Snooki

+2
Not sure why she's even allowed on tv

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mikeeonly 2012/07/19 03:08:26

Judge Judy

She's a rude bitch

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RepubliTurd Hater 2012/07/19 03:03:53

Simon Cowell

+1
Snooki and Cowell are tied for overpaid. He is such a dick to the contestants and she is such a bitch to everybody thinking she's better when she's not. That's why I won't watch either of those shows "reality" tv is anything but and it's dumb

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ironhat 2012/07/19 02:23:59

Judge Judy

+1
Judy makes an ass of herself muliple times a day when she determines that someone is lying when she is ignorant of some point - perhaps it's a technical point of an occupation - because, as she says, "I'm smarter than you are. I'm waaay ahead of you". She is sooo condescending of everybody that II don't know why anybody would subject themselves to the torture by being on her pathetic show.

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beth weisleder 2012/07/19 02:04:13

Snooki

+2
I don't need to see the rest of the list - it is Snooki aka POS & an embarrassment to NJ. Go HOME Snooki - & stay there. I have never watched that show but she is everywhere when she should be NO WHERE.

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cddjmikey 2012/07/19 01:41:46

Snooki

+2
Was there really EVER any question ?

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newhon63 2012/07/19 01:20:08

Snooki

+2
I would have said anyone with the name Kardashian, but since there is none of those useless pieces of meat mentioned I have to go with Snooki. But I want to say that anyone on a reality show is way over paid. They have no talent whatsoever but people watch them and that is why these shows continue to flourish. If everyone would just stop watching these shows that are empty of valuable content, it would be a good thing.

I mean who really cares if Kim Kardashian can get her big butt into her jeans? Or who is really surprised that Kloe is not really a relative to the family? The woman is a beast compared to any of the others. Why would anyone want to watch These people shop, so you can dress like them?

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May 2012/07/19 01:06:11

Snooki

+2
Never watch the show but just from what I hear, it is way overblown.

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Pele Emerging 2012/07/19 01:04:36

Snooki

+1
My real vote would be any of the Kardashians. I think they should pay the viewers.

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Michael S. 2012/07/19 00:50:33 (edited)

Chelsea Handler

+1
I don't have enough facts to say who's the "most overpaid," but the per-viewer figures clearly show that Chelsea Handler is more overpaid than Snooki by a factor of more than 100, so I went with her. In the end, it doesn't really matter how talentless or inane someone is: If their pay is commensurate with the number of viewers (and amount of advertising revenue) they attract, then they're being paid exactly what they're worth to the producers, networks, viewers, etc. Snooki may be ridiculous, but she gives legions of people exactly what they want and brightens their lives with her shenanigans.

(Sports players are another story though: Taxpayers subsidize the stadiums, so the owners don't have to pay for them out of pocket via their ridiculous ticket and drink prices like they should. Because of this, the teams are flooded with surplus money that should have gone toward the stadiums, and they use it to bid up player salaries.)

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cash.flagg.3 2012/07/18 23:35:52

Snooki

+2
What the F#*K is a Snooki!!!!!

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Kingarthurup 2012/07/18 22:51:39

Ryan Seacrest

+1
Next to Obama.

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Dave 007 to Kingart... 2012/07/22 11:39:12

Wait till obama get's out of office (hopefully this year), he will make billions.

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Frank 2012/07/18 22:38:34

Snooki

+2
All overpaid, especially Snooki. Are there actually people that watch that show?????

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Bookworm 2012/07/18 22:29:43

Snooki

+1
She is ridiculous! And the word "star" does not apply here.

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Michael S Smith 2012/07/18 22:07:07

Snooki

I wish that there was an all of the above for they are all over paid no one should be paid ( in salary or wage) more then the POTUS

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Royo 2012/07/18 22:04:33

Judge Judy

45 Million for being an irritating judge on TV? WHAT? I'd rather have Snooki than her. Jeez.

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KLTLUVRLT1 2012/07/18 22:00:14

Ryan Seacrest

In the following descending ordert: Ryan Seacrest, Simon Cowell, Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Lopez, snookie, Judge Judy, Tyra Banks, Christina Aguilera, Chelsea HANDLER

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MOMMA THOMAS 2012/07/18 21:56:53

Snooki

+1
SNOOKIE'S "PERFORMANCES" ARE OF NO VALUE OF ALL. I ALMOST CHECKED JUDGE JUDY, (THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY!) ....BUT AT LEAST YOU CAN LEARN SOME THINGS FROM HER PROGRAM.

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Edie 2012/07/18 21:46:23

Snooki

+2
This gal is tops in potty mouth and trash.

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MartiniJean 2012/07/18 21:37:11

Snooki

+2
She shouldn't get paid at all.

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DANNY59 2012/07/18 21:22:39

Snooki

+1
The rest of the people are actual performers or are professionals. She gets 1.2 million when there's people who actually save lives that don't earn a tenth of that, that's messed up.

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Dimon 2012/07/18 21:20:32

Snooki

All of these people get paid way too much for providing entertainment, which serves no real importance in the big scheme of things.

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Heisenberg 2012/07/18 21:11:13

Christina Aguilera

+1
They're all overpaid.

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Tennessee3501 2012/07/18 20:56:19

Snooki

+1
Not only Snooki, but all people who, like the Kardashians, are performing scripted reality shows!

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Donn Wright 2012/07/18 20:49:23

Judge Judy

+1
Really? 45 million a year? It's not that bad but geez, I wouldn't have thought she was worth anywhere near a 1 mil a year, 45 blows my mind!

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Neetrab25 to Donn Wr... 2012/07/19 19:20:03

well, I knew she had at least about 10 million viewers, so I figured her salary would be somewhere around that figure, but dang 45 mill is so much. More power to her because I watch her make fools out of people that try to get out of PAYING UP! My vote goes to Snooki. She literally does nothing. She doesn't even come across as educated. I'm wondering if she even graduated high school.

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