Meet the Millionaires Who Have Hosted SNL

Occupation: NFL Player
Net Worth: $177 million*
Episode Air Date: 24 March, 2007

It’s not always easy for an NFL star to turn to acting. After all, it’s not exactly in the same wheelhouse. That being said, sporting legend Peyton Manning gave it his best shot in 2007 – and, amazingly, he wasn’t half bad. Some of Manning’s sketches have even been hailed as some of the funniest in the history of SNL.

Peyton Manning (2007) @bleacherreport / Pinterest.com

 Peyton later recounted the guidance he got when creating one skit, saying, “And I remember the director said, ‘Peyton, you’re a charitable guy. This is a spoof for the United Way. That’s why it’s going to be funny, but it’s only going to work if you’re all in. I mean, you’ve got to whack these kids right in the head.”

Occupation: Actress
Net Worth: $50 million*
Episode Air Date: November 8, 1975

Candice Bergen may have already been an iconic TV star by the time she graced the SNL studio, but her appearance on the show made her even more legendary. In fact, she was the first woman to ever host the series and is often regarded as one of the best hosts ever to step in front of the camera. 

Candice Bergen (1975) @teresastan / Pinterest.com

Not only was Bergen the first woman to headline the show, but she also became the first person to be invited to come back for a second go. In total, Candice hosted the Comcast NBC show seven times. Fans would love to see the actress do it again. 

Occupation: Actor and Wrestler
Net Worth: $26 million combined*
Episode Air Date: March 30, 1985

The ‘80s brought us many different icons, including Mr. T and Hulk Hogan. While these two are in no way related, they were both loud, brash, and incredibly popular at the time they hosted SNL in 1985. Reactions to this particular episode were mixed, but there’s no doubt that the pair made it memorable in their own way. 

Mr. T and Hulk Hogan (1985) @thewickerbreaker / Pinterest.com

After all, it’s not very often you get to see them hosting a live show. Mr. T. put the sleeper hold on an audience member and roughed up a heckler in the audience. At the time it was a little gaudy, but looking back on it now, this NBC gem is a piece of nostalgic beauty. 

Occupation: Grandmother
Net Worth: $1 million*
Episode Air Date: December 17, 1977

If you haven’t heard of Miskel Spillman before, then you’re not alone. Spillman’s appearance on the show is memorable for a particularly interesting reason. The 80-year-old grandmother from New Orleans won the “Anyone Can Host” contest. Her entry read, “I’m 80 years old. I need one more cheap thrill since my doctor told me I only have another 25 years left.” 

Miskel Spillman (1977) @saratonin22 / Pinterest.com

Spillman was paid the usual host’s salary of $3,000 and amused viewers with sketches alongside John Belushi. As you might expect, Spillman remained a fan of the show right up until her passing, never missing an episode.   

Occupation: Swimmer
Net Worth: $80 million*
Episode Air Date: September 13, 2008

Michael Phelps is living proof that if you’re good in the pool, you can earn an incredible fortune. With a net worth of over $80 million, the famous swimmer made a splash when he hosted in 2008. Some fans were taken by his laid-back approach to the gig, especially as he appeared alongside unlikely match Lil Wayne. 

Michael Phelps @Saturday Night Live / Youtube.com

Considering Phelps is more used to swimming lanes than making waves on national television, he did surprisingly well. Although he isn’t one of the best hosts the show has ever seen, he wasn’t one of the worst, either. 

Occupation: Actress
Net Worth: $125 million*
Episode Air Date: November 20, 1982

Drew Barrymore has had her fair share of career ups and downs, but back in the early ‘80s, she had yet to go through her rebellious phase. Instead, she was still the doe-eyed little girl that had starred in E.T. Drew made history as the youngest SNL host ever at just 7 years old. 

Drew Barrymore (1982) @djmousebrain / Pinterest.com

Interestingly, her line, “I’m a Barrymore! Get me a drink, and make it a double!” got a lot of laughs at the time. Barrymore also poked fun at her famous work on E.T., with Eddie Murphy playing the part of “Mr. T”, E.T’s father. As we well know, Drew has worked on several movies since, collaborating with studios like Sony.

Occupation: Singer
Net Worth: $60 million*
Episode Air Date: May 13, 2020

When Britney Spears burst onto the scene in the ‘90s, she caused a sensation. Her particular brand of bubblegum pop spoke to the masses at the time. In 2000, she was invited to be both the musical guest and the host of SNL, becoming the youngest person to do so at that time. 

Britney Spears (2000) @GlitterBritney / Youtube.com

Britney had more confidence than some were expecting, delivering her opening monologue with a lot of finesse, happily poking fun at her lip-sync scandal at the Grammys and rumors of plastic surgery. There was certainly no sign of what the next seven years had in store for the singer. 

Occupation: Actress
Net Worth: $30 million*
Episode Air Date: October 23, 2010

Emma Stone has been on the up and up for the last few years, earning an incredible amount of money from movies like La La Land. In October 2010, it was her turn to take to the SNL stage to host. Considering Stone has a strong background in comedy, she took to the sketches like a duck to water. 

Emma Stone (2010) @Saturday Night Live / Youtube.com

The Sony Spider-Man actress nailed most of her sketches and went on to host the popular program several more times over the years. Something tells us Stone will return to the show again in the future. 

Occupation: Actor
Net Worth: $28 million*
Episode Air Date: October 25, 2008

When you think of Jon Hamm, you’ll likely be transported to 1960s America and the slick offices of Sterling Cooper. However, Hamm’s talents don’t start and end with his portrayal of Donald Draper in Mad Men. A year after the show debuted he hosted SNL. 

Jon Hamm (2008) @Saturday Night Live / Youtube.com

The Warner Bros star wowed audiences with his timing and ability to poke fun at his most famous role. He even gave his all to a sketch in which he pitched his own parody product, “Jon Hamm’s Ham.” Hamm has since hosted two more times but also appeared in several cameos.

Occupation: Actress
Net Worth: $53 million*
Episode Air Date: May 8, 2010

There are few actresses as prolific as Betty White. With a formidable presence and the ability to deliver painfully funny one-liners, White was the perfect choice to host SNL in 2010. Not only was the legendary icon well-received by fans, but she was also the oldest ever host at the age of 88. 

Betty White (2010) @Saturday Night Live / Youtube.com

White proved that she was up for anything when she later appeared on the 40th anniversary special in 2015. This time, she locked lips with none other than Hollywood heartthrob Bradley Cooper. When it comes to getting laughs, White pulls no punches. 

Occupation: Founder of Playboy
Net Worth: $60 million*
Episode Air Date: October 15, 1977

During his time on Earth, Hugh Hefner managed to create one of the biggest media enterprises of all time. The Playboy founder was always a source of public fascination, especially in the ‘70s when the magazine was still relatively young. He took to the SNL stage in 1977.

Hugh Hefner (1977) @thewickerbreaker / Pinterest.com

Hefner appeared alongside musical guest Libby Titus, however, Hefner’s appearance hasn’t exactly aged well. After talking about his magazine before sharing his appreciation for little girls by bursting into a rendition of “Thank Heaven for Little Girls.” Audiences thought the joke was funny at the time. 

Occupation: Journalist
Net Worth: $35 million*
Episode Air Date: November 3, 2007

NBC host Brian Williams appeared on SNL in 2007 as an unlikely host. He took control of the Weekend Update segment, becoming the first real-life news anchor to ever do so. Some were suspicious about why Williams would take on the gig in the first place. 

Brian Williams (2007) @thewickerbreaker / Pinterest.com

However, he told the New York Times, “There is no marketing here. No one has any other notion other than having fun.” It was an interesting change for SNL fans to see someone other than a celebrity take the stage. Largely, it worked out for Williams.

Occupation: Cyclist
Net Worth: $35 million*
Episode Air Date: October 29, 2005

Champion cyclist Lance Armstrong had one of the biggest falls from grace the world has ever seen, but back in 2005 he was still at the top of his game – but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Rumblings had already begun to stir about his use of narcotics in sports, but Armstrong had managed to squash it. 

Lance Armstrong (2005) @thewrapnews / Pinterest.com

Instead of joking about other aspects of life, Armstrong and the SNL team decided to capitalize on it, but the parody just didn’t work. Instead, fans felt like the sportsman was a little too big for his boots. Needless to say, Armstrong wasn’t invited back.  

Occupation: Musician
Net Worth: $40 million*
Episode Air Date: October 21, 1978

Expectations were high when legendary musician Frank Zappa was invited to host in 1978, but sadly, Zappa’s performance would be memorable for all the wrong reasons. In fact, Zappa’s stint on the show was so bad, he was banned from ever coming back. 

Frank Zappa (1978) @RandallPMcMurp4 / Twitter.com

Zappa was hard to work with, avoiding the cast and crew prior to the show. When the cameras actually started rolling, he didn’t stick to lines and decided to be a total loose cannon. The show later released a statement saying the rockstar did a “disastrous job.”