The darned thing is that they won't be able to take it with them when they are done here on Planet Earth.

I want a raise. :-)

In my opinion they are grossly overpaid especially Kelly Ripa. Matt has a 2 hour show daily. She has an hour show daily. Bring Regis back. lol
Mary

why in the world would regis come back?? he's got it made...shows up as a guest on several different shows, ect...

So much for so little.

How can we find out what they pay in taxes? There should be some public benefit in this excess.

For years, I've thought all these so called "stars" are way over payed ...And I feel the same about the athletes....I honestly don't think anyone is worth that much money.....
and I've always thought, they could be doing so much good in a country that has so many needy...
I agree with chisue, there should be some public benefit....

But, we all agree, they can't take it with them......

And then so many of these WAY over paid people do commercials too!!!

Shirley

It's not just celebrities and athletes who are grossly overpaid. How about CEO's who are paid obscene bonus amounts, regardless of their performance.

I agree, both TV celebrities and athletics. I know they have to pay for managers, insurance, security, but maybe if some of them stopped acting like immature creatures, give up the drugs and alcohol etc they might not need as much as requested

They only make as much as the public allows. If people stopped watching the shows, buying the products, watching and going to the games, going to the movies, renting the dvd's, etc. these athletes, television personalities, actors, etc. would not make as much as they are.

People don't like the salaries but keep supporting the franchise so it's not going to change. These people aren't just randomly paid huge amounts out of good will but it's a calculation of the value they bring to the brand by people watching, buying and supporting their products.

Do ya figger that the U.S. Dollars'd be operable in the great beyond?

Or should the transitioners convert it to gold prior to departure?

Or ... who knows ... maybe we won't need money in ... (heaven?).

Being very responsible people ... we'll all work hard.

And make few demands: only what we need.

So ... there'll be a surplus of goods, before long a big surplus.

When there's a surplus ... the price goes down.

And if there's a big enough surplus ... maybe no one'll be willing to pay much at all ... so they'll be giving the stuff away free.

It's shortages that cause price rises.

(Or price fixing).

Another insurance company just got bought out in Canada ... by one o' the biggies.

Corporations love competition among their suppliers - gives them more bargaining power.

They love it among their customers - they can set the prices.

And they hate it on their own level ... will do whatever they have to, to get rid of it: buy out the competition, squeeze 'em out ... do whatever you have to, to get rid of them.

Corner the market (in a heavily desired product or service) ... and you can pretty well charge what you please.

The market economy works ... when there really is competition.

ole joyful

Well put, Chi83. And one of the proofs of that is that Kelly Ripa, who talks about trivia, makes $10 million more than Matt Lauer, who (sometimes) talks to world leaders.

I heard recently that the new contracts for the stars of The Big Bang Theory are now making a million dollars each per episode. I don't know if that is a fact but good grief that's a lot of money for a few minutes work!

If they can find someone to pay them those high salaries, then good for them. You are worth what someone will pay you.

Well apparently it is a fact at least for 3 of them so far, deals have not been firmed up for all of them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Big bang bucks!

I get around 850 bucks a month for the work I do. I honestly feel like I work to hard for it... but I got the job because of the benefit of off time. No school, I am off!

Overall, I think

I am enough

I have enough

and I do enough

All I can say is "It Must be NICE" !

Joann, I don't think it is. They are driven by MORE! and can't get enough! And are often totally broke, and can't pay their taxes. I am glad, not to be in their shoes.

Their in this case is celebrities.

Moni

I dunno Moni, I'd sure be willing to give it a shot!!!!!

'You are worth what someone will pay you.'

While it's a good rule of thumb for tangible assets (real estate, gallon of milk, etc), I don't think it holds true for human beings.

If you're making zillions, it doesn't mean you're worth more than everybody else or anybody else, & if you can't find a job, it doesn't mean you're valueless.

I don't get it because who the heck watches all that cr*p anyway? If they had to depend on me for their income, they'd be working at the mall like the rest of us working stiffs.

Well said Chi and abellabedella. They only make what the employer is willing to pay them. If you don't watch, they won't get the big bucks.

I don't need $20 million. I would take $1 million and be crazy happy with that, haha. You know, they negotiated the deal, the company agreed to it, so that's that. How many of us would want to have a contract for $20 million and because the "public" didn't like it, it's taken away?

I truly wish they would do more good with their money. There are so many people they could help. But it's their money. What I absolutely hate is when celebrities participate in the fund raising shows, like Farm Aid, Haiti, etc. They are the ones wealthy beyond imagination, they should each donate a million, or two, or three.

I guess they help stimulate the economy?

In all fairness, we don't know how much wealthy people give. However, I very much like what Sylvia has to say and believe no one should make these gargantuan amounts of money. I truly believe those who do, have a kind of mental illness.

Well said, Moni!

As Chi said, it's what the market will bear. If people didn't care so much about celebrities or sports, the salaries wouldn't be out of this world. It's all relative. Suppose the going rate for a given job is $100,000....how many people in an interview would say " I'll be happy to do the job for $50,000 because that's all I need to live comfortably." We all want the highest salary we can get. On the flip side, we all work with people who aren't worth their salaries....the slackers, brown nosers.......