Do Super Bowl Halftime Performers Get Paid ... - The Pioneer Woman

There are two kinds of people when it comes to Super Bowl Sunday: those who care about the game and those who are really here for the snacks and halftime show! 😂

But that's the beauty of the Super Bowl—it's an event for everyone. Whether you're hosting a Super Bowl party, snacking on the best game day foods, or laughing at all the Super Bowl commercials, there's something for every kind of fan. While football fanatics will be glued to the score, the rest of us will be counting down the minutes until Kendrick Lamar makes his first solo debut on the Super Bowl LIX halftime stage.

Curious how much performers like Kendrick get paid for putting on a show watched by millions? Read on to find out how much he and other Super Bowl headliners are paid for their performances.

How much do Super Bowl halftime performers get paid?

Believe it or not, Super Bowl halftime performers don't get paid much.

"There is not an appearance fee," NFL Vice President of Communications Brian McCarthy tells ThePioneerWoman.com. "But the artists are paid union scale." This refers to the lowest hourly wage that a union contract requires its members must be paid. And, according to Forbes, it's "a fraction of the six- and seven-figure sums" the artists typically earn.

Of course, this doesn't mean the sports league isn't spending any money to make the production happen. "The NFL covers all costs associated with the show," McCarthy confirms, including production and travel expenses. For a "million-dollar-a-minute" performance that typically lasts around 13 minutes, that price adds up quickly.

For reference, the NFL spent around $13 million in 2020, getting everything ready for the performer's of that year, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.

Will Kendrick Lamar be paid for his Super Bowl halftime show?

Nope! Just like his predecessors, Kendrick Lamar will not be paid for his Super Bowl halftime show this year. But that doesn't mean he won't be ringing in some serious cash after the Super Bowl.

While the Super Bowl halftime performers don't get a big paycheck, the rare exposure they historically earn from the show has made it a coveted position. Last year—following the most-watched Super Bowl of all time—Usher's hit song "Yeah!" rose to the number one spot on two separate Billboard charts. The year prior, Rihanna saw a 390% increase in song sales after her performance. In 2021, streams of The Weeknd's songs rose nearly 69% after he headlined Super Bowl LV, even with an unexpected drop in viewers that year. And Spotify reports that JLo and Shakira's streams surged by 335% and 230% respectively following their joint performance in 2020.

How's that for Super Bowl trivia? (Check out how much money the Super Bowl winners and losers make next!)

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Kelly O'SullivanSenior EditorKelly O’Sullivan is the senior editor for The Pioneer Woman and manages the website’s social channels, in addition to overseeing content strategy and news.