Illustration by Tom Garrett; Debate photos courtesy of families; VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images (Taylor Swift); Shutterstock.com (check, stars)

Do Celebrities Make Too Much?

Being a world-famous pop star really pays off. Last year, Taylor Swift made about $92 million, mainly through album sales and fans streaming her music online. And she’s getting richer every day. Thanks to her sold-out Eras tour, Swift is expected to be a billionaire by the end of 2023. 

Many people think stars like Swift are overpaid. They say singers and actors don’t deserve so much more money than people with more important jobs, like nurses and teachers. Even the U.S. president makes far less than many entertainers. His salary is $400,000 each year. 

But other people say celebrities earn their huge paychecks. They argue that fans wouldn’t pay to see concerts or movies if the stars weren’t so talented. Others point out that a star’s life isn’t always easy. While on tour, musicians might spend months away from their family and friends. Also, many celebrities do a lot of good with their money. For example, Taylor Swift has donated millions to charity.

Here’s what two of our readers think.

Actors and musicians bring fans joy, but they’re overpaid compared with most people. Stars like Taylor Swift can earn millions of dollars with just one concert. Teachers rarely earn that much money in their entire careers! And they educate and inspire countless students every day.

Performing takes talent. But there’s too big a difference between the amount of money made by stars and the paychecks of people who save lives or lead communities. It doesn’t make sense.

Movie stars, musicians, and YouTube stars entertain us, which helps us relax and have fun. Mr. Beast is my favorite YouTuber. Many of his challenges help people in need. Celebrities like him deserve to earn a lot of money.

The people who have enough talent and skill to become famous deserve their wealth. Plus, movie studios, record companies, and theaters make billions of dollars off celebrities’ work. The stars should get their fair share.

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