Jimmy Kimmel Reveals How Much He's Getting Paid to Host the Oscars

Comedian and late night TV host Jimmy Kimmel is hosting the 89th Academy Awards in February. Now, he's revealed how much the job pays--and it might be lower than you think.

Appearing on LA radio station KROQ this week, Kimmel told the hosts of Kevin & Bean that he's being paid $15,000 to host the annual awards show, according to Deadline.

Kimmel joked about the figure,"I think it's illegal to pay nothing." As for whether he should have disclosed the figure in the first place, he said, "Nobody told me not to. I consider this their fault." Kimmel went on to say that $15,000, to his knowledge, is the typical payment every year.

Kimmel hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC, which is also the network that has aired the Oscars since 1976. According to The Hollywood Reporter, when the Academy and ABC inked a contract extension through 2028, there was an implicit understanding that Kimmel would get the hosting gig.

This won't be Kimmel's first time hosting an awards show, as he also did that job for this year's Emmys. Only nine people in history have ever hosted both shows, and Kimmel will be the first to do so for the same season.

Oscar nominees are historically announced in January, so it won't be much longer until we find out which movies are in the running. For its part, Sony Pictures said in October that its R-rated animated movie Sausage Party should be considered for Best Animated Feature because it's "bold, original, and risky."