Revealed: How much Kendrick Lamar was paid for 'ending' Drake at the Super Bowl Halftime Show
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Super Bowl 2025: How much Kendrick Lamar was paid for 'ending' Drake REVEALED | Credit: Instagram

Revealed: How much Kendrick Lamar was paid for 'ending' Drake at the Super Bowl Halftime Show

David Ben 09:19 - 10.02.2025

Check out how much Kendrick Lamar will earn from his Super Bowl LIV Halftime performance.

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl 2025 halftime performance at the Caesars Superdome has been trending on social media, but not just for his theatrics.

 Fans are now curious about how much the Grammy-winning rapper earned for a show steeped in controversy, where he reignited his long-running feud with fellow hip-hop heavyweight Drake.

Surprisingly, the answer might shock you.

Kendrick Lamar was the headliner at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show
Kendrick Lamar headlined the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show | Credit: X(@AppleMusic)

 Despite being one of the most anticipated performances of the year, Lamar did not pocket a penny for making that appearance in New Orleans on Sunday night.

Super Bowl Halftime Show: How much was Kendrick Lamar paid?

Kendrick Lamar was the headliner at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show
Kendrick Lamar was the headliner at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show | Getty

The short answer is No! Kendrick Lamar was not paid for his performance at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show.

 In fact, Super Bowl halftime performers don’t get paid at all.

While the NFL spares no expense in producing its iconic halftime show—shelling out millions on production, logistics, and travel—performers like Lamar are only paid “union scale,” which is the minimum hourly rate for artists as per union contracts, as per Forbes.

 NFL Vice President of Communications Brian McCarthy confirmed that there is no direct appearance fee for halftime headliners.

This might come as a surprise, considering the extravagance of the show. 

The league reportedly spent a staggering $13 million in 2020 to pull off Jennifer Lopez and Shakira’s joint performance. 

For Lamar’s 13-minute set, which featured a medley of his hits and controversial lines aimed at Drake, the expenses were no less extravagant.

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl show expected to fetch him millions despite performing for free

Kendrick Lamar was the headliner at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show
Kendrick Lamar was the headliner at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show | Credit: X

Though Lamar didn’t walk away with a massive cheque, the true value of the Super Bowl halftime show lies in the exposure it offers.

 Artists who headline the show often see their streams, song sales, and global profile skyrocket.

Last year, Usher’s Yeah! surged to the top of two Billboard charts after his performance, and Rihanna’s sales jumped by an astonishing 390% in 2023.

 JLo and Shakira experienced a combined stream increase of over 300% in 2020. Lamar’s controversial set, featuring his viral diss track Not Like Us, is expected to deliver a similar post-Super Bowl bump.

While Kendrick’s performance left fans divided—some praising his lyricism, others calling it the “worst halftime show ever”—it’s clear the rapper has played his cards right.

Kendrick Lamar Drake
Kendrick Lamar continued to diss Drake at the 2025 Super Bowl || Instagram

His renewed feud with Drake, bold stage presence, and Grammy-winning hits have kept him firmly in the spotlight, proving once again that in the world of music, sometimes controversy sells.

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