How much money do Emmy Award winners get?

For many actors, producers and screenwriters, an Emmy Award represents the peak of achievement in their field. Within the glamorous world of television, the Emmys are considered the most illustrious prize, the zenith of a career’s work.

On the evening of Sunday, September 15 we will learn the winners of the 76th Emmy Awards, the second ceremony of the year after the 2023 gala was put back to January due to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike. Winners will write their names into the history books and pick up the iconic gong, but there is no financial reward on offer.

There is no prize money for winning an Emmy, although the prestige of a win can certainly help boost the recipient’s earning going forwards.

How much is an Emmy Award worth?

The only physical prize on offer on Monday evening will be the iconic Emmy statue, which is handed out to every winner. The dazzling golden trophy may look extremely valuable but in material terms it is fairly modest.

Much of the 128-ounce trophy is largely made up of copper and nickel, dipped in liquid gold. CNBC estimates that they cost between $300 and $400 to manufacture. If the Emmy Award was made of solid gold, each trophy would cost more than $150,000 to produce.

But for would-be collectors the real value of an Emmy Award comes from the story attached to it. The awards won by legendary stars have often fetched a five-figure sum at auction.

When Hollywood icon Burt Reynolds found himself in financial trouble he opted to sell some of his awards; the Emmy he picked up for ‘Evening Shade’ sold for $28,125. That was more than he received for the sale of a Golden Globe ($21,250) and a People’s Choice Award ($10,625).