However......Who's the most overrated person in the entertainment business (ie Sports, Movies, TV, etc.)?
My answer will come a little later but the point of this post is to demonstrate the inconsistencies that are being fed to us by the media.
Everyone knows how much athletes make. The media loves to point out their ridiculous salaries. The media can't believe that athletes get paid what they do. A few years ago, Alex Rodriguez (3rd baseman of the New York Yankees) signed a contract for 10 years at $250 million. Can you believe that?!?! Unbelievable right? Quick, do the math: 10 into 25 goes.....2 times, carry the 5, bring down the zero, then 10 goes into 50....5 times with no remainder. You end up with....
$25 million dollars a year!?!? To play baseball!?!? For only 7 months out of the year!?!?
Shocking...isn't it? But most of you already knew that. It was well publicized when it happened. There was outrage. There was the slow-shake of the head. There was the crinkled forehead and attempt at making one's eyebrows touch (well, unless you are like some of my friends, then your eyebrows already touch with no extra effort on your part).
What about the NBA or NFL???
Highest NBA player?
Shaquille O'Neal....20 million a year.
Highest NFL player?
Peyton Manning.....12 million a year.
The question out of everyone's mouths: How could someone who plays a game we all played as youth be making that much money?!?!
Guess what? That is chump change. Peanuts. Pennies in your couch.
Do any of you know how much Will Smith made in 2008? How about Johnny Depp? Mike Myers? Jennifer Aniston? Eddie Murphy? Charlie Sheen? (that's right Charlie Sheen...)
These are salaries that are not well publicized but even when they are, what is John Q. Public's reaction???? No outrage. No shake of the head. No unibrow. (see below...gotta love W's unibrow).
These are salaries that are not well publicized but even when they are, what is John Q. Public's reaction???? No outrage. No shake of the head. No unibrow. (see below...gotta love W's unibrow).
How come? Why do actors deserve their money but not athletes? After seeing what the previous actors and personalities made in 2008, I now believe that AROD and other athletes are UNDERPAID!!!! That's right, you heard me....UNDERPAID!!!!!
Less than 1% of the world's population will go on to become a world class athlete. They are few and far between. However, I can become a movie star overnight.....and most do....especially in today's "reality" world.
Riddle me this.....If I created a reality show highlighting the best baseball players in the world who were NOT professional, would the winner of my show be immediately signed by The New York Yankees for millions of dollars and be their starting shortstop tomorrow?
Ridiculous concept right? If the athlete was that good, he'd already be signed. He'd already be making his money. The reason why he's still an amateur is because he sucks!
However, a few years ago, Jennifer Hudson goes on American Idol. She sings a few songs. She gains notoriety because of her voice. Her friends and family wear out their phones calling in and voting for her to advance to next week's show. She doesn't even win. BUT WHAT HAPPENS? Not only does she sign a million dollar singing contract but stars in a blockbuster movie called Dreamgirls. Not only does she star in the movie, she earns 29 awards from film critics!?!?
Un-freaking believable.
My point: Anyone can act. Anyone can be on TV. Anyone can be on a reality show and become a star. BUT less than 1% can be a world class athlete and no one becomes one overnight.
So who should get paid more? In my mind...the one that is the most impossible to attain.
So.....(back to my original question):
Who's the most overrated person in the entertainment business? (I'll let you decide).
Salaries in 2008 (this is no joke)
Alex Rodriguez: 25 million a year (the "material girl" knows what she's doing.)
Charlie Sheen: 20 million a year (I guess it pays to sleep with prostitutes?)
Jennifer Aniston: 25 million a year (what movie was she in again in 2008? that's what I thought BUT if based on looks......)
Eddie Murphy: 55 million a year (dude...are you serious? Did he come out with another Beverly Hills Cop movie or something?)
Mike Myers: 55 million a year (goes to show you that the exploitation of midgets will get you far in life).
Johnny Depp: 72 million a year (look where cross-dressing gets you!)
Will Smith: 80 million a year (Who'd have thought he'd actually become a real "Fresh PRINCE" 20 years later).
and the kicker.......
Oprah Winfrey: 260 million dollars a year. Yep 260 million in one freaking year!!!!
Alex Rodriguez overpaid?????
Yea right!
10 comments:
Sorry Dro, but they are all over paid. If I were paid $20 million, I'd totally be worth it :). On the other hand if they weren't getting paid that much, producers and owners would be accused of exploitation. So as long as the public gives too much attention to meaningless matters such as sports and entertainment they will continue to make these outrageous amounts of money. Anyway, excuse me, now I have to go and get ready to watch the "So You Think You Can Dance" elimination show, where 2 dancers will be go home and America will be that much closer to know who their favorite dancer is :).
Here's the rub. Pro sports generate billions of dollars each year. The fans and advertisers happily pay, so the money is there - the only question is whether we give it to the athletes, the owners, or refund it to the advertisers.
In my opinion, give it to the athletes. Why ruin a good thing?
(sidenote: $s from NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL is less than $ from Porn. Sad).
Great post Dro. You make a good arguement. I agree with Jim. It's all relative. Think of a world without sports, TV, movies, music or other forms of entertainment. It would suck. What would we do? Read? Yeah. That sounds fun. Chaddyshack would definitely be bored. (BTW - In case you haven't noticed, my goal is to rip on Chaddyshack in all my comments.) But, if all we had to do was read, you'd be listing authors as those highly paid individuals. So the entertainment industry generates billions, so it can pay out millions. But I'm grateful for the athletes and entertainers, and if someone is lucky enough to break into the entertainment industry and make the millions, good for them. I wish it was me. Truth is, I probably can't sing and act as good as they can. One day, I hope my dancing skills are discovered though.
Cort, Jumping Turtle? Dude, please change your name immediately before someone looks on Dro's blog and starts making fun of you for being a skinny little malnourished terd.
Dro, I see your point. Only difference is that Girls like my wife call me a Perv when I mention "A-ROD" in our home. She has no idea who he is. However, both of us know who "Jenna Jamison" is.......uhh, I mean "Will Smith". Actors generate more $$$ so they will always earn more unfortunately.
Cort would be miserable without actors such as Pee wee herman, Matlock, Clay Aiken, Barney, Teletubbies, and Hannah Montana.
Chaddy, your wife knows who Jenna Jamison is? Nice.
Matlock?!? That's hilarious. When Loubige and I first got married, she loved that show.
Sometimes (to spice things up), I put a pillow in my shirt and break out the white hairpiece and waddle around the bedroom acting like an insane old man.
Does the trick every time!!!
Oh, my gosh. You are SUCH a DORK.
Chad, you nerd, I know who A-ROD is!!
Yes, but do you know who "my- rod" is? That dude is sweet! He hits em out of the park almost every night.
oops, last one from chad..my bad.
(the "material girl" knows what she's doing.) Nice pun.
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