How Much Will Jessica Simpson Be Paid For First Baby Photos: $800,000?
May 12, 2012 by Hollywoodite
According to two new reports, Jessica Simpson will be paid $800,000 for the first photos of Maxwell Drew Johnson.
Around the time Simpson moved into her third trimester, there was a report on LaineyGossip.com that the photos of Simpson’s baby shower in Los Angeles were sold to People Magazine for $90,000; an incredibly low offer, that paid for little in the way of true exclusivity because there was an abundance of photos of the event decoration and the arrivals because the place was swarming with paparazzi. But that was Simpson’s offer, and she didn’t even get the cover; ousted by The Voice judges, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. In the same report, Lainey claimed that Simpson hoped to land a $1 million first photo deal, although it was not clear at that time whether Simpson had any takers.
Before that, Simpson tried to land a pregnancy announcement exclusive. However, there were no takers because she took too long (she started showing during the negotiations). And, with little interest in the $500,000 announcement, Simpson ended up revealing her pregnancy on Twitter for free at Halloween.
Now postpartum, it’s claimed by Us Weekly that Simpson will be paid $4 million by Weight Watchers to shed the baby weight (Simpson claims she gained over “60 lbs,” although this week’s In Touch Weekly Magazine claims Simpson really gained “80 pounds”). Page Six puts the same diet deal at $3 million.
And today there are reports that Simpson will be paid $800,000 by People Magazine for the first photos of the newborn; a cover exclusive. Although, sources for WWD.com and sources for Rob Shuter of The HuffPo both deny any kind of bidding war and say it basically went right to People who sound like they lowballed.
WWD reports: “Did the anticipation for Jessica Simpson’s baby, following a marathon pregnancy, create a bidding war for her new baby pictures? Not really. Several sources told WWD that People magazine will pay the former pop star about $800,000 to run exclusive photos.”
While The HuffPo reports: “There will be no bidding war for the first pictures of Jessica Simpson’s baby girl, Maxwell Drew Johnson. People magazine has already secured the rights to the exclusive photos for $800,000.”
A magazine insider tells The HuffPo: “Gone are the days when several magazines would bid on getting the first pictures. The only one left that has that sort of money is People. Plus, the others can run a stock image of the Kardashians for a few hundred dollars and sell a huge amount of copies,” referring to the trend of passing generic information and an old photo off as an exclusive knowing most readers don’t know the difference or even care.
In any case, the People Magazine first photo offer is a paltry payday for Simpson: Matthew McConaughey sold photos of his newborn son to OK! Magazine for $3 million; Jennifer Lopez sold the first photos of her twins to People Magazine for $6 million; Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt sold the first photos of their twins to People Magazine for $14 million, which included the cover and a 30-page spread.
PHOTO CREDIT – ELLE MAGAZINE
