Paparazzi have always been a controversial topic in Hollywood, often slammed for their aggressive and intrusive tactics. But despite the criticism, they still very much remain a crucial part of the entertainment ecosystem, making sure that both the industry and its stars stay in the public eye, because at the end of the day, it is a business after all.
Therefore, it is no secret that all celebrities have a market value attached to their name, with their photos fetching different prices based on their relevance at the time. Some might despise the constant camera flashes, but others understand that visibility is part of the game.
How much are celebrity photos really worth?
Being a Paparazzi can be a serious money-maker. Some of the biggest paydays in the business come from landing the right shot at the right time.
Mark Karloff, professional photographer and host of Paparazzi Podcast, knows this firsthand.
Over the years, he has captured Hollywood’s biggest names. Speaking about the serious money he has made off of just one picture, he revealed to FruitySlots.com,
I generated up to $80,000 for a shot of Tom Cruise on a motorcycle filming Top Gun 2 with Jennifer Connelly on the back. That was a photo that went everywhere. And Charlize Theron when she was playing Megyn Kelly, that was sold to multiple outlets, probably up to $30,000.
But not every star is easy to catch. Brad Pitt is notoriously hard to capture. However, even Pitt doesn’t compare to one particular star Karloff remembers, someone so determined to avoid the cameras that they would lead paparazzi on high-speed chases through Los Angeles just to stay out of sight. And that is none other than David Beckham.
Why are paparazzi every celebrity’s worst nightmare?
Paparazzi have been lurking around Hollywood for as long as it has existed, snapping stars in their best, worst, and private moments. One particular incident that made this culture blow up happened in the early ’60s when two of the biggest names of the era, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, were rumored to have had an affair while filming Cleopatra. Since both were married to other people, they denied everything.
But in 1963, while sneaking off to Italy for a secret getaway, a paparazzi caught them in swimsuits on a yacht, looking very” couple-y“. Those black-and-white shots are how paps came to be, or at least the culture.
Paparazzi, in their quest to capture rare celebrity moments, often cross the line, that’s where the real conflict begins. Thus, some stars go to great lengths to outsmart the paparazzi. Princess Diana had a clever trick, she’d wear the same outfit repeatedly so the photos would lose their value. Tobey Maguire, on the other hand, had a less subtle approach and is known for losing his cool at photographers. But then there’s the other end of the spectrum, the celebrities accused of tipping off the paparazzi and striking a pose, all to keep themselves in demand.
Because believe it or not, attention is the most valued currency. Social media apps work overtime to keep people glued to their screens, and for celebrities, it’s the same game as well, the more eyes on them, the better.
Whether it’s praise, drama, or a full-blown scandal, publicity is still publicity. Celebs may roll their eyes at the constant flashes, but let’s be real, they know that staying in the spotlight keeps them relevant. Because at the end of the day, in Hollywood, there’s no such thing as bad publicity.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
