If you’ve tuned into the Olympic Games this summer, you may have noticed a familiar celebrity face among the crowds. The ever-energetic Snoop Dogg has made his way to the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Grammy-nominated rapper has appeared on screens across the world as both a torchbearer in the opening ceremonies as well as a special correspondent for NBC.
Fans have loved spotting Snoop popping up at various events to provide coverage, solidifying him as one of the most recognizable faces there beyond top athletes like Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles. So how much is the beloved rapper making for his special appearances?
How Much Was Snoop Dogg Paid To Be At The Olympics?
While the exact amount that Snoop is being paid by NBC hasn’t been publicly disclosed, one can imagine it doesn’t come with a small price tag. The Olympics are far from cheap to air – parent company NBCUniversal has allegedly paid $7.65 billion in order to secure the rights to televise the Games all the way through 2032. This comes on the heels of the previous Tokyo Games back in 2021, which were, on average, the least watched Olympic Games, drawing in just slightly over 31 million viewers per evening, according to USA Today. In comparison, there were also rumors of Celine Dion bringing in $2 million for a single song at the opening ceremony.
There’s also the possibility that, like the Super Bowl, the Olympics don’t give any type of compensation.
There’s no doubt that Snoop was brought in to raise the energy and excitement of the primetime coverage. Serving as a correspondent for the Olympics adds to his roster of what fans like to call “side quests,” or other undertakings outside of the music industry that he’s come to be known for in recent years, such as serving as a talk show host with close friend Martha Stewart. This all comes as part of his image rebrand, shifting him from hard-hitting rapper to fun-loving, thrill-seeking celebrity cameo.
Despite having billions of streams on Spotify, Snoop Dogg’s paychecks are very low.
Getting a front seat to the Olympics has proved quite the adventure for Snoop, who has not only cheered on athletes from the sidelines, but also attempted them himself. That included practicing judo, trying out fencing, and even participating in a swimming lesson with Olympic team veteran Michael Phelps, the most decorated athlete in Olympic history with a whopping 28 medals.
It seems that for Snoop, regardless of the paycheck, the experience of being so heavily involved with the Games comes as a priceless one. “Man, this is a grind out here,” he told his correspondence co-host Mike Tirico during one broadcast, “But I’m having so much fun. Mike, I may be the MVP of the Olympics, just saying.” While this is Snoop’s first time working as an Olympics correspondent, one can imagine it won’t be the last time he’s asked to bring his enthusiasm to a live event.
Beyond the Olympics, Snoop is certainly no stranger to a lucrative side hustle. According to Forbes, Snoop owns several brands, including (but not limited to) Indoggo Gin, Snoopadelic Films, and Broadus Foods. He even has a special shoe collaboration with Sketchers, and fans may have clocked the pair of gold sneakers from the brand that he sported during the Opening Ceremony, proudly pairing them with his all-white Olympic ensemble as he carried the Olympic Torch.
Snoop Dogg has a net worth of $160 million .
Other Celebrities Making Guest Appearances At The Olympics
Snoop isn’t the only rapper to appear in the Olympic Games. Among other famous supporters of the event is Flavor Flav, who has been involved in a slightly different capacity. While other celebrities may have sought out the Olympics as a way to earn big bucks, Flavor Flav is giving back to athletes instead.
The former Flavor of Love star made headlines earlier this year when he took it upon himself to sponsor the U.S. Women’s Water Polo Team. When Flavor Flav learned that many members of the team had to work second or even third jobs on top of being on the team in order to support themselves financially, he stepped in and vowed to fund them completely. This would allow the team, who came in sixth place in the Tokyo Olympics, to better focus on their training ahead of the Paris Games.
Flavor Flav’s sponsorship deal with the team is for five years, making it an unprecedented one. His support of the team also includes wide-reaching social media campaigns, helping spread visibility for the impressive female athletes. Since then, Flavor Flav has been spotted all around the Olympic Games’ events, and he’s remained vocal about the importance of supporting women’s sports. He shared with CBS why supporting the team was so valuable to him:
“Supporting USA Water Polo teams is an honor. As a girl dad and a champion of all sports, I’m excited to bring my energy and voice to this incredible sport. Niche sports often don’t get the spotlight they deserve, but they are packed with incredible talent and heart. Together, we’re going to make some serious waves!”
At the Olympic events themselves, Flavor Flav has also won over hearts by agreeing to pose for every single photo request from eager fans. “And imma [sic] do it after every game until security throws me out again… even after they ask for pix [sic] themselves,” the rapper Tweeted in response to one fan noting that he had patiently waited to take pictures with over 100 attendees.
Rob Schneider and other celebs are boycotting the Olympics following controversy from the opening ceremony.
In addition to Snoop Dogg and Flavor Flav, Celine Dion was also among other notable celebrities making her mark on the Olympics. During the Opening Ceremony, Celine graced viewers with a beautiful rendition of Edith Piaf’s iconic song “Hymne À L’Amour.” This came on the heels of her recent diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), a neurological disorder that causes muscles to spasm. The disorder has affected the one-of-a-kind singer’s vocal cords, something that Celine has spoken about causing her great distress, making her flawless performance in Paris all the more impressive.
Celine’s performance also sparked debate about how much Celine was paid for her appearance, one rumor stating that she was given as much as $2 million (which has since been debunked), while an official statement from the Olympics clarified that musical artists would not be paid any sort of fee for performing.
via InstarCompensation aside, Celine said that it was an honor to sing at the Opening Ceremony. The native French speaker expressed gratitude for the opportunity, noting that she was happy to do so in one of her all-time favorite cities.
The Olympic events will continue on until August 3rd, and until then we can look forward to more enthusiastic support from these beloved celebrities as they cheer on the Team USA athletes across every sport.