In case you haven't heard, Howard Stern is leaving radio. Well, not exactly leaving. He's moving from traditional radio to newfangled satellite radio, the kind of radio very few of us currently own. Why would he be doing this? First and foremost, because his show will be subject to less FCC scrutiny on satellite. His creative opportunities will be wide open. But secondly, because a satellite radio company has offered him a five-year deal worth $100 million a year.
Yes, that's right. $100 million a year. Not $1 million. Not $10 million. $100 million. Each year for five years.
Now, to be fair, that money also has to cover the production costs of his radio show. So you've got a producer, a sidekick, maybe an intern or two. Perhaps a part-time engineer or attorney. And then there's the snacks – donuts, bagels, bottled water. But even if he's a generous employer and spends $1 million per year on overhead, that still leaves him with $99 million. Each year.
So, you might ask, what amazing skill does he possess that warrants such a windfall? He talks dirty. He has a potty mouth. That's his skill. That's his talent. When his mother asked him why he wasn't focusing on his homework as a young boy, he said, "But mom, I don't need to study because I'm going to make $100 million a year talkin' dirty."
When I think back to my days in the boys' locker room in junior high, I remember lots of fellas who could talk dirty. Some that were even amusing when they did it. If they only knew the value America would one day place on males who successfully retain they're potty mouths into adulthood… whoo! Boy, did they miss the boat!
Is it just me, or is it a pretty good sign that we've collectively lost our minds when an 50 year-old juvenile delinquent is rewarded with a salary 100x greater than our foremost brain surgeons? 200x greater than the President of the United States? 2000x greater than the average American family, where, typically, two parents each work harder than Mr. Stern on any given day?
Is it just me, or are we losing it?
Oh, by the way. The Olsen Twins made $23 million last year.
Don't get me started.
Yeah, that’s absurd. How hard -working people get paid so little and yet this guy comes along and makes MILLIONS doing nothing for the good of the people. The opposite, actually. Seriously.
I know how you feel.
I have to look at passages like Psalm 37.
1 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
it should be noted that Pat Robertson and the CBN made $186,000,000 in 2004 and Robertson-led groups raised over $424,000,000 in the same year.
$100,000,000? Chump change.
Hey Phil how much do you make a year??
Phil,
While i realize this is disheartening it shouldn’t be all that surprising when you recognize two things;
1) We live in a fallen, sinful world
2) America is a (largely) capitalist society and sin sells.
It doesn’t matter how worthwhile your talent is, it matters how IN DEMAND it is. This is the way of the world until our Lord comes again. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t demand better from our society, but it does mean we shouldn’t be surprised at the levels of depravity humanity can sink to.
Keep fighting the good fight, and God Bless.
Dear Don’t Be too Stern: How in the Sam Hill can you compare what Pat Robertson makes per year to what Howard Stern is going to make? Why not compare MTV to Joel Osteen while you’re at it?? The point is HS’s getting paid alot of money for contributing WHAT to the world?? Pretty much nothing but smut and whatever else he can get away with — and I guarantee he’s laughing all the way to the bank.
It’s a sad, sad world we live in sometimes.
Thanks for the quote Joel. Made me feel better.
If you don’t like him, change the channel. As far as making 200X more than GWB, that sounds about right…
To Hellzapoppin:
Man, did you miss the point…!
We have indeed lost our minds. Our priorities are all askew. We are spiritually bankrupt. Darkness is everywhere.
What an exciting time to be salt and light!
PS. The Olsen twins only made 23 million last year? The injustice of it all!!!
In reguards to the comments of comparison between Pat Robertson and Howard Stern.
1 Timothy 6:17 says
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who righly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
In reguards to how much he makes, who cares really, it says in the word that the world stores and hordes their money, not knowing that it’s ultimately going to end up in the hands of those that Love the Lord anyway! So we should be saying go Howard Go! As far as him getting paid alot, deffinitely not in his character or lack there of. I believe we are supposed to pray for him when it comes to that. Just some more perspective…
Too many great things to think about than to worry about him or anyone else for that matter.
I cannot believe the comments on here. Look folks, we live in a more-or-less free market economy. You can sell you talent for as much as the marketplace is willing to pay. I have no problem with Stern making 200 times what Bush makes, because Stern is at least 200 times brighter than Bush and much less hypocritical. Why do we pay mediocre entertainers and athletes as much as we do? There is no correspondence between worth and value, nor between talent and income. After all, Fox News Corp pays Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity a lot of money, and they are next to worthless as either commentators or thinking individuals. So what’s your beef?