"How do the cast members afford to live in NYC?" — Netizens react as Pete Davidson jokingly says that SNL cast members get paid $3K per episode

Former Saturday Night Live member Pete Davidson recently claimed the comedy show's cast members earn $3,000 per episode during their first year on the show. On December 4, 2024, New York Magazine uploaded a video on Instagram asking various SNL cast members, past and current ones, about what they splurged on after their first paycheck from the show.

Pete Davidson, the first to answer the question, jested that he bought dinner with his first paycheck, saying:

"My biggest indulgence after my first "SNL" paycheck? Do you guys know what they pay us? It's like three grand an episode. I think I got dinner."

Meanwhile, current cast member James Austen Johnson said that he bought an "uncomfortable West Elm couch." Julia-Louis Dreyfus and Bowen Yang shared that they bought expensive footwear, while Sarah Silverman said that she splurged on a $300 cashmere sweater.

Moreover, Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis, a former writer at SNL, said his NY apartment rent was his "biggest purchase." Comedian Rachel Dratch's answer echoed Sudeikis's sentiments.

The video, which made rounds on X, left people questioning how the cast members could afford a New York apartment with their supposedly meager pay. One person tweeted:

"How do the cast members afford to live in NYC on that?"

Many agreed with this sentiment, with some netizens claiming the salary seemed low for NYC.

"Is it only me or does this seem low," one person tweeted.

"In NYC??? That’s it???" another person questioned.

"So 12,000 a month before taxes and in NY" a user wrote.

"I thought these people are mega rich help," someone else commented.

However, others felt that the pay was good, with some X users posting about wanting to join the show.

"LET ME JOIN SNL PLEASE," one person wrote.

"SNL hiring?" another person commented.

"Where can I apply.." a netizen tweeted.

"Sign me up!! I think I can find me a basement apartment for $1500 in Brooklyn," someone else added.

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Pete Davidson joined SNL in 2014

Pete Davidson joined NBC's Saturday Night Live during season 40 in 2014 when he was 20, making him one of the youngest cast members. He starred in over 159 episodes before his exit from the show in 2022.

According to The Independent, Pete Davidson returned as the first guest host of SNL season 49 in 2023, alongside musical guest Ice Spice. One of his skits was a parody of the popular song Just Ken from the 2023 blockbuster Barbie, titled I'm Just Pete.

Pete Davidson has appeared in a handful of SNL sketches since then, the latest being a November 2024 episode hosted by fellow comedian John Mulaney. The musical sketch, titled Port Authority Duane Reade, also featured Kenan Thompson, Bowen Yang and Andy Samberg.

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In other news, Saturday Night Live will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025 with a three-hour-long live primetime special on February 16. The comedy sketch show, created by Lorne Michaels, first premiered on NBC in October 1975. The show's ever-changing cast included several successful comedians and actors like Eddie Murphy, Amy Poehler, Will Ferrell and Kate McKinnon, among others.