Pete Davidson recently stirred conversation on the internet by disclosing his earnings per episode for his stint on Saturday Night Live.
Saturday Night Live (SNL) stands as one of the most legendary programs in American television, with notable Hollywood figures frequently appearing as guest hosts and a team of comedians poised to showcase their talents.
Davidson, among the many prominent figures to have been part of SNL’s cast, shared insights during a discussion with New York Magazine. Along with his co-stars, he talked about what they spent their earnings on after receiving their paychecks from the show.
Cheri Oteri, an SNL cast member from 1995 to 2000, recalled buying a couch, while Julia Louis-Dreyfus mentioned purchasing a pair of shoes that were ‘out of [her] budget.’
She commented: “I’ve got to tell you, I think they were $75.”
This detail might be surprising, as $75 doesn’t seem excessive for someone on television. However, Davidson’s response to the query provided more clarity on SNL salaries.
In the video, Davidson remarked: “Do you guys know what they pay us? It’s like three grand an episode, so I think I got dinner!”
The notion of $3,000 for a week’s work seems quite favorable, yet Davidson’s comment resulted in mixed reactions from the audience.
One Reddit user said: “Yeah 3k a week in NYC isn’t bad by any stretch but it’s not exactly living it up in luxury either.”
Others pointed out that cast members don’t always have weekly episodes, and highlighted the substantial living expenses associated with residing in or near New York City.
“Managers & agents take a cut. Taxes take a cut,” noted one commenter, while another added: “They only do like 20 episodes a year.”
Jason Sudeikis, another former cast member, supported these points by noting: “I mean you don’t really make enough money to make big purchases. So, I think New York rent was probably the biggest purchase I made after writing on SNL the first year.”
Nonetheless, some individuals on the show opted to spend on more extravagant items. Sarah Silverman confessed to buying a $300 cashmere sweater with her earnings, while Bowen Yang splurged on Gucci shoes.
Davidson joined the SNL cast in 2014, participating in sketches like ‘Chad’ and ‘Jasmine and Aladdin,’ before departing in 2022.