The Shocking Amount Kendrick Lamar Got Paid for the Super Bowl Halftime Show

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Super Bowl LIX is officially here, and people are ready to see the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles. But it's not just football people tune into the game for. There are plenty of other elements that draw viewers in, including the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

After an incredible performance from Usher last year, Kendrick Lamar (who won multiple awards, including Song of the Year, at the 2025 Grammy Awards) is succeeding him as the Super Bowl Halftime Show performer in 2025. Taking the stage at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, folks will get to see him sing a medley of his greatest hits. What's more, he's recruited R&B singer SZA (with whom he won the 2019 Oscar for Best Original Song) to help him deliver an epic moment for the Super Bowl.

Given how Kendrick has over a decade of experience working in the music industry, viewers might be curious about the amount Kendrick — or any halftime performer — will get paid to sing at the Super Bowl. Turns out, it's a lot less than one would expect. In fact, artists who perform at the Super Bowl have historically made little to nothing.

How much do Super Bowl halftime performers get paid?

With the Super Bowl Halftime Show being one of the most coveted gigs to air on television, it may surprise folks to know the NFL doesn't pay any of the star performers. And according to a 2019 article from Forbes, this practice has been occurring for quite some time.

According to the outlet at the time, artists performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show receive what is called a "union scale," which is notably a "fraction of the six and seven-figure sums" they may be used to earning on a regular basis. But it turns out there's a very good reason for why Kendrick will make virtually nothing — and it comes down to the fact that he's given a platform to display his artistry for audiences he may not be able to reach otherwise.

"The halftime show at the Super Bowl remains a highly coveted spot for many artists," entertainment attorney Lori Landew of Fox Rothschild told Forbes. "Some of those artists do not see their appearance as a political statement, nor do they see the show as a cultural battleground, but rather view their live performance as an opportunity to entertain an enthusiastic crowd and to share their music and their talent with millions of viewers."

While the NFL doesn't pay headliners to perform for the Super Bowl Halftime Show, there are some things to note about the funds for the segment. Namely, the NFL does pay for the extravagant production costs associated with the performances, like the lights, special effects and other elements. When PepsiCo sponsored the halftime show in 2020 (before Apple Music took over in 2023), Reuters reported at the time that the production would've cost about $13 million.

As for exactly how the Super Bowl Halftime Show comes together, The Weeknd shared some key details about his 2021 performance. Speaking with Billboard at the time ahead of the big night, he explained his hope to create a "cinematic experience." With that in mind, his manager Wassim "Sal" Slaiby shared how he spent $7 million of his own money in order to bring his vision to life. Additionally, the NFL covered his travel and other production fees so that he could deliver the best concert atmosphere.

That said, there are some huge benefits for participating artists beyond a big paycheck from the NFL. Because so many people are guaranteed to watch the event, artists are given unmatched exposure and an opportune time to promote their latest albums, tours and projects.

Plus, historically speaking, the 15-minute show has resulted in some pretty hefty financial gains for the singers. According to a post on X from Sportico in February 2024, Usher's halftime performance drew in over 129 million viewers — and he set an all-time record for the most-watched performance in Super Bowl history. Additionally, he saw his biggest day in streaming on Apple Music, as his listener count jumped 1,200% compared to the Sunday before his set.

What's more, there is a symbiotic relationship between the halftime show performer and the NFL. While the organization may not pay the artists to perform, Forbes reported that Rihanna's 15-minute show in 2023 had 118.7 million viewers tuning in to watch her hit the stage — a major plus for both the NFL and the artist performing.

With all of this in mind, we'll definitely be tuning in for this!

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