How Much Do Oscars Hosts Get Paid? The Surprising Paycheck Revealed

The memories of hosting the Academy Awards are priceless.

While it might seem like Conan O’Brien received a huge payment for hosting at the Oscars this year, that’s not quite the case. He’s probably only getting a modest five-figure sum for his work.

Jimmy Kimmel, who has hosted the Oscars four times, previously shared that he earned $15,000 for the job. He felt the pay wasn’t quite worth the massive amount of work involved, which is why he declined to host again in 2025.

The comedian admitted it’s challenging to balance hosting his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, with preparing for the Oscars. He explained that when he’s heavily focused on the Oscars, the quality of his show dips a bit. He decided not to host this year because last year’s workload was simply too much.

He explained that things tend to get delayed until after the Oscars, and then there’s a rush to catch up on all the commitments that were put on hold.

Jimmy isn’t the only famous person who’s talked about how much the show’s hosts earn for their efforts.

Wanda Sykes, who hosted in 2022, has said her pay was based on the minimum hourly rate guaranteed by the SAG-AFTRA union.

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live the year she hosted the show, Wanda mentioned she realized being a host would actually end up costing her money, more so than any of her other jobs.

Despite the relatively low pay—at least by Hollywood standards—Conan decided to host the ceremony for the second year in a row in 2026.

The comedian has talked about the significant effort involved in hosting the show, particularly the writing process. He even performed at several LA comedy clubs beforehand to test out his jokes and refine his material.

You know, I’ve always been someone who really dives deep into things – some might even say I get obsessive! It’s something I’ve struggled with for a while, this inability to just switch off my brain. It’s not always easy, let me tell you, but I’ve come to accept it as part of who I am. At my age – 62 – I finally understand that’s just how my mind works, and I’m learning to live with it.

As for why Conan continues to get back on the ride?

He described having a determined, adventurous side, jokingly calling it an ‘inner Viking’ that’s been with him since childhood. He explained that when this part of him sets his mind to something – like taking on a challenge with no prior experience, such as replacing David Letterman, tackling a difficult ski run, or even hosting the Oscars – he’ll see it through, no matter what.

Before Conan O’Brien hosts the Oscars, check out the best red carpet fashion moments from this year’s ceremony.