Conan O'Brien takes center stage at the Academy Awards tonight, hosting the Oscars for the first time. For all his hard work, he'll pick up a paycheck that is expected to be a drop in the bucket for the late-night TV legend.
O'Brien takes over hosting duties from Jimmy Kimmel, who ran the show the past two years. Kimmel and O'Brien met after Conan got the gig, and Kimmel shared some very specific advice for his late-night TV friend.
Chances are Kimmel didn't tell O'Brien to do it for the money. According to Business Insider, O'Brien should get paid something in the neighborhood of $15,000 for hosting the 2025 Oscars.
That amount is the minimum negotiated by the SAG-AFTRA actors' union. Kimmel earned that much per comments he made in 2022. The comedian argued while it sounds like a lot for one night, it actually covers the months of preparation that goes into hosting the show.
However, Kimmel turned around and cited the low pay as one of the reasons he passed on hosting this year. And unlike other comedians or entertainers with a lower profile, Kimmel doesn't need the Oscars. He's got a very comfortable salary from ABC that has created a sizeable net worth.
The same can be said for Conan O'Brien. He's been in front of the camera for over 30 years and hosts one of the most popular podcasts in the world. A $15,000 paycheck is pennies compared to where his net worth stands in 2025.
So why host the Oscars if you're Conan O'Brien? As he told Kimmel during his visit to Jimmy Kimmel Live!, O'Brien is all about doing things that put him out of his comfort zone these days.
"I wrapped up my late-night show ... three years ago, I think. When it ended, I was done and I thought now I just want to try things that scare me." It's part of the reason why he chose to take a dramatic turn opposite Rose Byrne in the film If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, too.
Whatever motivates O'Brien these days, all that matters is that we get to see more of him. Whether its films, his travel show, Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, or hosting the Oscars, the more Conan content the better.