Parade Magazine has compiled a list of the salaries that celebrities made when they first started working (before they were famous)…and then what they’re making now. Let’s just say we’re only jealous of the latter salaries (except maybe for Suzanne Collins, Jeff Kinney and Sarah Palin).
Ryan Seacrest: When he first went out to L.A., he wasn’t looking to cash in right away; in fact, he made $10,800 as a 20-year-old radio DJ in Los Angeles in 1995. This year? He’ll make $15 million from American Idol alone.
Johnny Depp: He made $13,500 selling pens over the phone as a 20-year-old in 1983 (glamorous life)…and he’s set to make $50 million this year.
Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins made $31,300 in 1991 writing for Nickelodeon, but this year? She’ll make $10 million.
Carrie Underwood made $15,980 as a waitress in Oklahoma when she was 20. Now, post-American Idol, she’ll rake in $20 million.
Jeff Kinney, author of Wimpy Kid made $52,000 in his first job working on video games at 29 (just us, or does this sound like a fun job?), but this year, he’ll make $25 million.
Everyone’s favorite politico, Sarah Palin, made $64,000 as the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska at 32-years-old in 1996 and now she’ll make a cool one million this year.
Mad Men’s Jon Hamm was a waiter in the 90s and made around $14,350 and this year, his tv salary will come in at $2.3 million.
