The Lawnmower Man: What Jon Stewart Makes

Jon Stewart: Just your average, lawn mowing,
concerned American millionaire. Sincere, too.

Yesterday, "Right Wing Notes" or something like that over at Salon ** linked to American Digest: Dear Jon Stewart, I Want You To Be Honest Too. Since that time we've had a few visits from the Salonistas irate that I should note Jon Stewart is becoming a very rich man off his "Hey, It's Not Really a News Show for John Kerry, It's Just a Joke" daily "Aw, Shucks" strut on "The Comedy Channel, " and his number one best-seller, America. It would seem that, in their cry for "facts," these refugees from a blighted secondary and collegiate school system can't do the math in their heads.

So, here's a back of the envelope look at what Jon Stewart and company are making from the book they've spun off the show:

America First printing: 700,000 copies See:USATODAY.com - Stewart's 'America' offers textbook laughs

Cover price: 24.95

Number one on NYT Best Seller List
Number one on Amazon
Number two at Barnes and Noble

All of which tend to say that they'll blow right through the 700,000 copy first printing.

So let's just say net sales of 700,000 copies hardcover.

700,000
x
24.95
x 15%
----------
$2,619,750 Gross Royalties

A sale this large would mean, should the publisher wish to auction the paperback rights, that the paperback rights would go for something in the region of $4,000,000 of which Stewart and company (agents, co-authors) would receive 50%. How the share-out with co-authors would be is something that can't be known without looking at the agreements, but it is safe to say that Stewart gets the lion's share, since without his name this book would be an instant remainder.

Total gross proceeds from America would then be somewhere around
$4, 619, 750

That's before revenue from world English language rights, as well as film, tv , translation, audio and other rights.

A hit of this magnitude also brings the sales of Stewart's previous books back up so you can look for several hundred thousand of money to Stewart coming in that door. It also assures that he will receive an advance for his next book, even it it is comprised solely of photographs of his sock drawer, of at least $2,000,000, most likely much more.

As I said, Stewart's got "Millions" of reasons to push his little "Oh, I'm so concerned about America" grass-mowing, just a regular guy American routine. it may be many millions less than Michael Moore, but it comes from the same self-interest that so many buy as "concern." That's nonsense, it keeps the Stewart gravy train rolling.

As for what Stewart makes as host of The Daily Show, I'd be surprised if his agent let him walk on the set for less than $500,000 per annum.

Based on these figures, I stand by my original assertion: " The closest people like Stewart come to mowing their lawn is telling their personal assistant to drive to some Southern California crossroads and hire an illegal alien to work the Weedwhacker."

===
Update: ** Sorry, that was Right Hook at Salon. Written by somebody called Mark Foolman, who has had his ass fact checked into the ground on regular occasions by Jeff Goldstein over at protein wisdom.

Update 2: I was wrong about the $500,000 yearly salary for The Daily Show. Very, very wrong.

In May, Stewart agreed to a four-year contract extension at Comedy Central that will keep him anchoring the mock newscast through 2008.

"A lot of people like to get out when their show's still going well," Stewart said in a statement. "This gives me the opportunity to beat this thing into the ground."

For his efforts, Stewart will reportedly receive a raise upping his current $1.5 million salary, which will buy plenty of Pampers.
-- E! Online!

Posted by Vanderleun at October 20, 2004 1:51 PM