Jimmy Kimmel discloses his Oscars pay: ‘I’m not sure I was supposed to reveal this’

It's a lot less than you'd think

(Getty)

Chat show host Jimmy Kimmel was recently announced as the host for this year’s Oscars, but he certainly won’t be taking home primetime money.

Appearing on KROQ’s morning radio show on Wednesday, he revealed he will be paid $15,000 (£12,000) for his role in proceedings.

Not bad for one night’s work for most of us, but for a major presenter hosting a lengthy ceremony that requires a lot of rehearsals, that’s a surprisingly low fee.

“I think it’s illegal to pay nothing,” Kimmel joked. Presumably, the Academy feels the job pays in prestige.

“I’m not sure I was supposed to reveal this,” the host added. “But nobody told me not to. I consider this their fault.”

Kimmel wasn’t exactly the most exciting of choices, and to his credit he’s been quite humble and self-deprecating about it.

“They asked like 14 people and they all said no and then there was me,” he said, “I absolutely was surprised.”

Announcing his gig on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last Monday, he added: “The producers and the Academy went through a long list of names, and in the end, they decided that - since I am already right across the street from where they do the show - I was the closest person to host.”

The 89th Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood on 26 February, 2017.