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(NewsNation) — NBC and NBC News just suffered through “double-digit” layoffs earlier this year, perhaps in a cost-cutting move to spend big on the Olympics.
As I reported last month, Celine Dion’s opening ceremony performance cost NBC and the Olympics a cool $4 million — and now word is out that the network is paying Snoop Dogg a whopping $500,000 per day, plus expenses.
As the Olympics are 18 days, Snoop’s base pay is $9 million, but that doesn’t include expenses that the network is also covering. Major expenses include hotel (at $25,000 a night, that adds up to $500,000 with taxes), travel by private jet ($250,000), food, private security and transportation. The bill will likely be over $10 million.
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PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 28: Snoop Dogg (R) attends the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Qualification on day two of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 28, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images) -
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 28: Tom Cruise attends day two of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the artistic gymnastics event with Simone Biles of USA at Paris Arena on July 28, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images) -
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 04: (BROADCAST-OUT) (L-R) Mike Tirico, Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg pose on the set of NBCUniversal’s Primetime in Paris during the Paris ’24 Olympics on August 04, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)
Other celebrities that NBC is likely footing the bill for: Martha Stewart (who joined Snoop for several days during the horse back riding events), Lady Gaga (who also performed during the opening ceremony), Kevin Hart, Colin Jost, Kenan Thompson and Tom Cruise (who makes around $20 million a movie). Cruise is said to be part of the “dystopian” closing ceremonies this Sunday in which he will perform a “death-defying” stunt.
Another high-priced celebrity rumored to perform at the closing ceremony is Beyonce 1 who is not cheap. The “Cowboy Carter” singer is said to have pocketed $24 million when she performed at the opening of the Atlantis The Royal resort in Dubai last year.
Let’s also not forget that the epic four-minute film shown before the opening ceremony was produced by Steven Spielberg, who charges an upfront fee of $10 million per movie.
While these numbers probably irk the rank and file at NBC, it is important to note that the Olympics have reportedly brought in $1.25 billion for the network in ad sales. So, even with all the talent, the network will still likely made a handsome profit.
NBC didn’t return emails requesting comment.