Digital Cover celebrities© Dave Kotinsky

What Pete Davidson was able to afford with his first 'SNL' paycheck

 "Do you guys know what they pay us?" he joked


Senior Writer
DECEMBER 5, 2024 2:11 PM EST

Pete Davidson is getting real about what it's like to cash that first paycheck on "Saturday Night Live." On December 4, the 31-year-old comedian joined fellow SNL alums in an Instagram video posted by New York Magazine, sharing hilarious and candid insights about their early days on the legendary sketch show.  

Davidson didn't mince words when asked about his "biggest indulgence" after receiving his first paycheck. "Do you guys know what they pay us?" he joked. "It's like three grand an episode, so I think I got dinner!" The down-to-earth comment highlights Davidson's signature humor and sheds light on the modest start many cast members experience on the show.  

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 28: Comedian/actor Pete Davidson (L) is seen arriving to his comedy show on January 28, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images)© Gilbert Carrasquillo
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 28: Comedian/actor Pete Davidson (L) is seen arriving to his comedy show on January 28, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images)

Jason Sudeikis, another SNL alum, echoed Davidson's sentiments, revealing that his first big purchase was anything but glamorous. "I mean, you don't really make enough money to make big purchases," Sudeikis admitted, reflecting on his time as both a writer and a cast member. "So, I think New York rent was probably the biggest purchase I made after writing on SNL the first year."  

The conversation unveiled a recurring theme among cast members: spending their first paychecks on practical or sentimental items. James Austin Johnson, Sarah Sherman, and Cheri Oteri confessed that furniture was a top priority. For Oteri, her first couch purchase became a cherished piece of her home, even resisting advice to part with it. "I have gotten it reupholstered three or four times," she revealed. "I said, 'Oh no. No, you're not. Not today, Satan!'"  

© NBC
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- Episode 1863 -- Pictured: SNL Cast and their mothers during the "Mother's Day" Cold Open on Saturday, May 11, 2024 -- (Photo by: Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images)

Shoes also seemed to be a popular splurge. Julia Louis-Dreyfus fondly recalled buying a $75 pair of shoes—"out of my budget" at the time—which she remembered with a laugh. Bowen Yang shared his fashionable indulgence, admitting he went straight to Saks to buy a pair of Gucci shoes. "The kind that everyone got and the kind that I wouldn't feel super cool wearing out now," Yang added.  

The relatable revelations paint a picture of the humble beginnings that many SNL stars faced, even as they worked on one of the most iconic shows in television history.

Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson reveal they're still in touch

Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson met on SNL, and after their on-screen kiss, they began dating. After nine months, they called it quits, but they revealed they are still in touch years later.

A source close to Davidson revealed that he's "still friends with pretty much all his exes." In Kim's case, the two "still talk occasionally. He’s a good guy, and they root for him," they said to PEOPLE.

© The Grosby Group

The source also revealed why Davidson's most recent relationship with Madelyn Cline concluded. “Nothing bad happened between him and Madelyn," they said. "It just ran its course."

© ¡HOLA! Reproduction of this article and its photographs in whole or in part is prohibited, even when citing their source.