How much were the Beatles paid for their Ed Sullivan Show appearances?

Ed Sullivan would pay up to $10,000 for a single performance. He offered Brian Epstein the Beatles manager $3,500 for per show ( 2 shows were agreed to ). He agreed to pay the group's transportation and lodging. Realizing the importance of having his boys on the Sullivan show, Brian agreed to the deal as long as The Beatles received top billing.

By the time the first show aired three months later, Sullivan eagerly promoted The Beatles as the headline act. However, Mitzi Gaynor received top billing for the Miami Beach Show. Ed Sullivan's son in law suggested that in addition to the two live programs, The Beatles should tape a performance for after the broadcast. The parties agreed on a payment of $3,000 for the taped segment, thus bringing the total for the three shows to $10,000. As was often the case with Epstein's negotiations, the deal was then sealed with a handshake.

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32 Comments

Jakob Gerber

No $10,000 was not a lot of money considering what Ed had seen in London a few months before. That was for three shows, two in real time, one taped. With that said, it was the biggest win win in show business history. Mitzi Gerber remembers it well, as does everyone else that were booked on those three shows. The Beatles reinvented musical,cultural,and political ideas . Here we are fifth five years after they had their first album, and Paul has a number one record , as well as the Beatles Number One album a few years ago was number one after fifty years . The more you listen to the no talents of popular music today, the more one appreciates what this band did so long ago on what is now ( and then until 1968 ) antiquated recording technology. Brian is the most underrated of all managers,regardless of the fact that he made some poor business decisions, if Brian didn’t happen, the Beatles wouldn’t have happened as we know it ...

Cheryl Perkins

I saw the Beatles live in Wellington, New Zealand. Screamed my head off at the airport and at the show. Those were the days. The best music was during the 50 and 60s,

George Oliver Prince

Beatlemania was just beginning in the states, Sullivan got them at the right time

Joyce Harding

$10,000 was a LOT of money at that time!! I remember that particular show so well.

Charles Borg

Ed Sullivan would pay up to $10,000 for a single performance. He offered Brian Epstein the Beatles manager $3,500 for per show (2 shows were agreed to).

Rockin' D (See Tagged Profile for Images photos)

(NOT BEING CRITICAL OF EITHER PARTY)Modest amount of Money for what Ed received. (I realize he would not know, ahead of time) what we know today!

Helen Allard

They performed on his show 4 times. To me that equals $40,000..

Florence McKenna Hiscock

Jakob Gerber, Yes, but $10,000 at that time was considered a good annual salary, so to us mere mortals, it was a lot of money. It also showcased them on the #1 variety show in the US - introducing them to lots more! Epstein knew what he was doing.

docluci

Guessed right. In reading the answer, I note it included transportation and lodgings which may have made them accept this low price to enter this market without a cash outlay!!!!!

Darlene Yarbrough

Lol. Back in the day, 10,000 dollors was a lot of money.

Suraya Choudhury

I thought that it $100,000 !

Carl Lovre

Jakob Gerber, Check out Greta Van Fleet, a new band that has been compared to Led Zeppelin. Incredible vocalist and very talented musicians. Old style rock.