Huge Salaries of Movie Stars & Athletes
By debrakcarey
@debrakcarey (19887)
United States
June 19, 2009 12:44pm CST
Do you think it is good for stars of Hollywood and sports to receive the HUGE salaries and payments that they get? It has to be why it is almost out of reach for regular people like you and I to attend games and even to go regularly to the movies? Are they encouraged by these huge sums of money to act like royalty and to act above the law? I would like some opinions on this.
5 people like this
18 responses
@jules67 (2788)
• Philippines
19 Jun 09
I remember watching Julia Roberts in one interview saying that, "We are just ordinary people with extra-ordinary lives". I guess that is true. They are just simple like you and me before they became stars. And what makes their lives extra-ordinary is the huge amounts of salary that they get. The sad part is that, they may have all the money but they have sacrificed their privacy and yes,it is part of being a celebrity.
1 person likes this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
19 Jun 09
I don't know...if I had that much money, I'd have all the privacy I wanted. I think those who desire privacy get it....and those who don't have privacy, secretly want it that way. :) just my opinion.
@dogsnme (1264)
• United States
19 Jun 09
I think it is outrageous. I mean, there are athletes and movie stars who make more than the President. I don't much trust our politicians but their job is more important than that of an athlete or other celebrity. I believe even our military men and women should make more than athletes. And, especially when you consider that many pro athletes and celebrities make horrible role models. I can't explain it, but I don't think it's right.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
19 Jun 09
I didn't even consider the terrible role models most of them are. But then, you know...if WE didn't flock to them like flies to poop maybe they wouldn't draw such huge salaries.? What do you think...is it cause us poor folk actually PAY them by going to their shows and games, that gives them their 'worth'.
@dogsnme (1264)
• United States
19 Jun 09
I agree. We do contribute in some way. But, it would take a vast majority of the fans to say enough is enough and boycott the sports and entertainment industries until they come back "down to earth." And I doubt that will ever happen. Same goes with the steroids issue. If everyone said to the athletes, "we're not going to be patrons to your sport until you give up the banned substances" the problem would be resolved virtually overnight. But will that ever happen? I doubt it.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jun 09
The greed is on both ends of it. Greed for money and greed for fame....maybe that's why I don't like competition of any kind. :)
@marciascott (25529)
• United States
20 Jun 09
Yo they are so Lucky, I wish I had there money, everyone tells me I love like Oprah Winpray I wish I had her Money!
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jun 09
Marciascott...we ALL wish we had Oprah's money! lol She at least tries to do something to better the world with her wealth. Kudo's to Oprah!
@biggerb (2024)
• India
20 Jun 09
I think all these filmstars from all over the world and sports persons too all recieve such huge sums of money.The amounts are truly mind boggling.They all come from ordinary families like you and me.Once they get so much of money I think it goes to their heads and they all begin to act like royalty.Some of them do such outrageous things.Many of them start taking the law into their hands and misbehave in public.I wish these people could be role models.We know that many of these people are worshiped by their fans.These people can use their mass appeal to do some good to society instead.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jun 09
Some of them do take their responsibility seriously. Unfortunately, they don't get the recognition they deserve...which further proves my point about what we value as a society. :)
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
19 Jun 09
Hi, debrakcarey! Some of them deserve this kind of money and others don't. People like us whom really need the money that they are making can use this kind of money... The rich squander their money on expensive things... And all of that money that they spend their money on could be used to things that we could use... If you really think about it, they don't know how to spend their money right. If they give me some of that money, I will use it wisely and then have some of the side..
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
19 Jun 09
An artist is worth paying well...we do benefit from their talents in a lot of ways.
But to get $75,000,000 for one movie is just immoral when there are so many doing without a job even! I'm not a socialist...everyone deserves to keep the money they earn...but what we value as a people is so out of whack! Healthcare workers giving direct care in nursing homes...have to be specially trained to do what they do, yet they are paid just above minimum wage to start...and yet someone who does nothing for the bettement of the human race...and needs no training to do their job...gets higher wages often times...it's not just the entertainment industry...it's every industry that our values are messed up.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jun 09
Many of them do donate to charities...and return money to their communities. They're not all bad..:) But I still don't agree with them making so much to begin with.
@tundeemma (894)
• South Africa
20 Jun 09
there is nothing anyone can do about that because if you find yourslef in their shoes you will like people to pay huge ammount of money to come and watch you, you look so pretty though and you can natuerally pass for one of those stars, i think its the waty it has been arranged
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jun 09
I aged well...when I was young I was very selfish....and vain. I've learned much in the years between now and then. But thank you for the vote of confidence. :)
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jun 09
LOL...thank you for the compliment. :) I wanted to be a dancer when I was young...I am sort of glad it never happened. I would not have done well with the fame or money at that stage of life. lol
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
20 Jun 09
I have bad news for the sports stars and Hollywood stars. Just as 0bama and his politics of envy set its sites on huge salaries in business, so will 0bama's crowd of micro-managers eventually get around to declaring "It is not FAIR" that these celebraties make so much money. I promise, this is where the kind of thinking exhibited by 0bama leads.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jun 09
I am not advcocating redistributing the wealth...my point is WE make these huge salaries possible with our out of whack thinking....that somehow they are 'worth' all this money....yet we cry out against high wages for 'working' class people...saying it drives up expenses and the cost of living?
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jun 09
I admire rags to riches stories....but despise those who make it to the top and then abuse those who made it possible. :)
@rickiely (257)
• Australia
20 Jun 09
Stars of Hollywood and sports earn their money like we do, it's just the matter of fact that they have a special talent in which may benefit them. Through movies and sports, they also however, earn responsibilty in which they must act as role models for children of all ages and in my opinion, it would be quite difficult to control your actions everywhere you go.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jun 09
Again...we make all that possible. The fame going to their heads...the irresponsible spending...they should be rewarded for their talents...but isn't a nurse or therapist just as valuable in what they do....and just as deserving of fame? lol
@maezee (41997)
• United States
20 Jun 09
As the first responder said..It's RIDICULOUSLY outrageous! It's not fair to begin with, not to mention NOW, considering the "economic recession" we're in. It's totally unfair that the unemployment rate (at least in the US) is up to almost 10%, yet celebrities and actors are still getting several MILLIONS per movie they make. It's sickening to think that a lot of us work our butts off to put bread on the table and to make our minimum payments - while a select "elite" group are enjoying the high life. It's kind of depressing.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jun 09
I agree..but as some have said...we make it so by patronizing their movies and games. I personally don't go to the theatre..can't afford to go. So, I rent movies or wait for them to come out on DVD. Then at least I can watch them more than once.
As for sports..I watch the Olympics...and I like to watch the individual sports on TV, like gymnastics, dancing, ice skating etc. So games are of no interest to me.
I think it is very depressing too.
@my_name_is_coco (4334)
• Philippines
20 Jun 09
for a celebrity to earn a lot,he or she must be proven a big hit.celebrities and athlete receive huge salaries mostly from their endorsements.the only thing that irritates me is when fame and fortune go to their head and act as if they're too important.it doesn't mean that he is earning money more than me,he should be given the best treatment.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jun 09
Thanks coco...like I said, our society is way out of whack...we value our 'entertainmen' more than we value what actually makes society work. We put 'money' up on a pedestal.
@zzyw87 (1254)
• Philippines
20 Jun 09
I don't like the huge salaries of movie stars. Athletes are better with me. I think movie stars just act and it is not such a hard thing to do. Athletes exert more effort. what is unfair is that a lot of movie stars are not that intelligent yet they are richer than us who work so hard to have a decent life and who are more intelligent than them. But that is the way the world works. But they should not act as divas or be superior than us because they are absolutely not. They should not be held above the law and excused from punishments and sanctions if they made a mistake.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jun 09
I think they just have money for real good lawyers..as for the athletes...they do have a short 'life' span to make their living...five years is a long career..but I still feel that they make way to much...and besides, they can fall back on coaching, endorsements...etc.
@FinanciallySMART (41)
• Jamaica
20 Jun 09
Isn't it that this is their careers and they have invested in it and so they are now reaping the rewards. We all have a choice if we noticed that attending the games or going to the movies are too expensive then you don't go. This is their careers and just as how we would like to be financial well from our chosen field they also would like to have this as well. Going to the games or the movies is not a every week event and so we need to budget and save towards entertainment. If it's that this cannot be placed in our budget then we need to re-organized and find something that can fit inside of it.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jun 09
What about the nurse who invests hundreds of thousands of dollars in her/his career and struggles to pay back student loans while working three or four 12 hour shifts in a row... on her/his feet....to go home and still not have enough to pay her/his mortgage?
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jun 09
So...who gives the big stars of Hollywood their big salaries? Where does the sponsors get all those millions to pay the athletes with? OUR POCKETS?
@thedailyclick (3017)
•
19 Jun 09
I think the current wages that these stars and athletes can demand is stupid. You just have to look at the transfer of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo from Man United to Real Madrid, the transfer will cost £80,000,000 and Ronaldo will earn £200,000 a week. I am sorry but no one who acts or plays a sport is worth that sort of money.
I can appreciate that because of being good at what they do, they do live their lives in the spotlight but even so it is their choice to go down this route. In fact there are many successful film stars and sportsmen who are successful but manage to live their lives away from the camera.
All I can say is the world's gone crazy.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
19 Jun 09
Ya think? lol...it most certainly has. But I think it will ALL come crashing down pretty soon.
@blue65packer (11826)
• United States
19 Jun 09
The more you make the more money they take out for taxes! These stars,of Hollywood and Sports, alot of their salaries go to taxes! I'm not saying it is fair they make all the money and we don't! it isn't fair that we have to pay outrageous prices to see movies and get snacks there! Same goes with seeing a ballgame and paying for food,too! I know it isn't fair they act like royality and act above the law! As long as we treat them as royality they will like idiots and above the law! When it comes to the law it catches up with everyone! Normal people and stars! That is my opinion!
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
19 Jun 09
Yes, like I said..when the bottom falls out of their make believe world..what then? I doubt very many of them can survive out in the world without their bling and their mansions....and servents and fans to adore them.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
20 Jun 09
I honestly don't think anyone is worth the money they make in either sports or Hollywood. The athletes make millions and then they don't even have the hits or homeruns. How they can look themselves in the mirror at the end of a game? It's all too crazy. As for the stars I feel the same because its just gotten totally out of hand the amount of money each star makes for a movie or an episode on TV. No one is worth that kind of money.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jun 09
...and then turn around and complain that 'we' won't let them have their privacy!
@charlenmendoza (922)
• Philippines
20 Jun 09
here in the philippines, those known actress and actors, they receiving not lower than 1 million pesos. where did that money came from, its from us who patronize their movies and products that they endorse. so funny that us working so hard and yet not well compensate.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jun 09
And we have trouble feeding ourselves....and get depressed and need to relax reading all about their 'glamourous lives'. Crazy huh?
