How Much Money Super Bowl Halftime Performers Really Get Paid

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Does the big game translate to big bucks?

Surprisingly, Bad Bunny, who won the Grammy for Album of the Year, won’t be paid to perform at the Super Bowl 51 halftime show in 2026, even though he’ll be entertaining fans during the game between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks.

According to an NFL spokesperson in 2016, the league doesn’t directly pay the artists involved in its events. Instead, they cover the costs of travel and production.

Even though the NFL has recently featured huge stars like Beyoncé, Usher, and Rihanna during the Super Bowl halftime show, they still don’t pay these performers a standard fee for their appearance.

Artists often accept exposure in lieu of payment, as seen with the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show featuring Kendrick Lamar, which was watched by more than 127 million people.

Performing at the Super Bowl halftime show is still a major goal for many musicians,” explained entertainment lawyer Lori Landew in a 2019 interview with Forbes. “For some artists, it’s simply a chance to perform for a huge audience and share their music – they don’t necessarily see it as making a political point or getting involved in a cultural debate.

Beyond covering the costs of putting on the show and travel, the NFL also pays performers a standard fee, as required by their union. Reports estimate past Super Bowl costs between $12 and $15 million. For Usher’s recent performance, this meant $671 for the show itself and about $1,800 for rehearsals, according to Sports Illustrated.

The NFL has always insisted on not paying Super Bowl halftime performers. In 2015, they tried a different approach with Katy Perry, asking her to pay them to perform. However, Perry didn’t want to be the only performer paying for the opportunity and ultimately performed without a fee.

She explained to Forbes in 2015 that she didn’t want her Super Bowl appearance to be seen as anything less than earned. She wanted to be known for her skill and hard work, not for any other reason.

The halftime show is a great deal for viewers, costing very little to produce. Commercials, however, are a different story – companies spend huge amounts of money to advertise during the broadcast. Here’s a look at some of this year’s most famous commercials.

Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Littrell – the members of the Backstreet Boys – are starring in a new ad for a wireless network provider. You can watch their performance in the ad here.

The comedian from Saturday Night Live is using his humor—and his expertise from the show Is It Cake?—in a Super Bowl commercial for the beauty brand. You can watch it here.

Slip-in to this amaing ad featuring the Modern Family alum. Watch here. 

This commercial for YouTube TV features a lot of well-known celebrities! Keep an eye out for appearances by Gordon Ramsay, Christian McCaffrey, David Blaine, and others.

Pop sensation Beabadoobee is starring in a new commercial with Rachel Sennott, which will air during the Super Bowl. You can get a sneak peek of the ad here.

Okay, seriously, I don’t even care about the delivery fees because George Clooney is advertising for Grubhub! Yes, the George Clooney, like Danny Ocean himself, is in a Grubhub ad and I need to see it right now! It’s amazing!

Get ready to be inspired! This TV personality is giving a fun group a major fashion makeover, showing them how to revamp their style. Check it out here.

Pop star and actor—known for a hit song and a famous comedy film—play brothers in a new ad who compete in a flipping challenge. You can watch the full ad here.

Kristen Wiig, known for her role in Bridesmaids, shows how the beauty brand enhances her dramatic performance in a comedic telenovela-style video. You can watch it here.

Imagine if Jurassic Park was a reality! Xfinity playfully explores that idea in this Super Bowl ad. Check out the cheerful outcome here.

Instead of answering a call to battle like in The Lord of the Rings, an actor from the films is now being called by a Skittles Horn in a new, 60-second commercial for the popular candy. You can watch the ad here.

The singer behind “Espresso” is starring in a Super Bowl ad where she creates a man out of Pringles chips! She’s been working late on the campaign, building her ideal companion from the snack itself. You can watch the ad here.

Barbie might manage the perfect home, but Ken is taking charge of planning the ideal vacation. Find out how he pulls it off with Expedia in this sponsored message.

Make way for the rapper! He’s partnered with a popular hot sauce company for their new “Eat the GOAT” campaign. You can watch the ad here.

The stars of The White Lotus and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days are talking about a surprising conspiracy theory involving food and football. You can watch their conversation here.

Emma Stone, known for her role in La La Land, is starring in her first Super Bowl commercial, and it’s directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, who she’s worked with before. You can watch it here.

It’s a shame Ramp wasn’t available when the show The Office was on air! The actor demonstrates how much simpler managing expenses can be with this platform. Check it out here.

Tax season can be stressful, so this year, a famous actor is helping out with his first Super Bowl commercial in over a decade. You can watch the ad here.

A Kardashian confirmed the long-standing rumor that men who date members of her family tend to face bad luck…and she’s playfully using that idea in a new Super Bowl ad. You can watch it here.

A Grammy-winning musician, a famous comedian, and an NFL star all agree: Bud Light is a must-have for any great party. Check out the video here.

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2026-02-08 16:18