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Comedian Louis C.K. earned a reported $4.5 million in less than two days in 2012 by selling his streaming special straight to fans.
In 2015 he offered his latest special for $5.
"It costs a shitload of money to make these specials, and I do it myself," he wrote on his site. "I love offering it to you directly for so cheap and so easily. I would like that to continue to be a good idea."
C.K. wasn't always in the position to bankroll his performances so generously.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he reflected on how he struggled to earn money earlier in his career:
The year that SNL passed on me [1993] was the same year almost every comedy club in New York closed, and it was the one time where I really thought, 'I'm probably going to have to quit.' The early 1990s, they were ugly. The Cellar and the Strip were really the only clubs that survived that time, and they were empty. For almost five years of my life, I was starving. I'd do a club, and the owner wouldn't pay me. I'd say, "Where's the money?" and he'd say, "I'm just not paying you." That's how little leverage comedians had then. It was really, really hard.
And when things started looking up, he recalls, he wasn't able to let go of that feeling of scarcity (emphasis added):
It's funny, when you start having success as a stand-up, you're like, "Oh my god, they're paying me $2,500 for seven shows in a week. I'm so excited." Then you start doing theaters, and you find out what kind of money there really is out there.
I mean, I could make 12 movies next year, and I wouldn't make half of what I make on the road. When I first started making tons of money, it freaked me out. I would always get 10 grand in cash every show because I needed to touch the money. I needed to feel like it wasn't just going to pay my bills. I'm a bit like boxers in that way. Boxers go and buy, like, a gold car because they just want to feel like they understand what they have. I'll be a little dumb like that.
Millions of dollars later, he says he's stopped keeping cash on hand.
Libby Kane, CFEI Executive Editor, Personal Finance Insider Libby Kane is a personal finance expert who has reported and edited stories about money for more than 10 years. She holds the Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI) certification issued by the National Financial Educators Council.Experience She has written and edited articles on everything from investing tips to model budgets and has interviewed dozens of authors, financial planners, and early retirees to share their advice, experiences, and insights with a global audience. Before joining Business Insider in 2014, she was an associate editor at LearnVest, a personal finance site to help women learn about money. Her work has appeared on sites such as MSN, AOL, Forbes, Slate, and The Street.Her team at Business Insider has tackled projects including:• Women of Means, a series about women taking control of their finances• Inside the Racial Wealth Gap, an exploration of the causes, effects, and potential solutions of the racial wealth gap in the US (finalist, Drum Award, "Editorial Campaign of the Year," 2021)• Strings Attached, a series of essays from people who have left insulated communities and how that journey affected their relationship with money• Master Your Money, a year-long guide for millennials on how to take control of their finances (first runner up, Drum Award, "Best Use of Social Media," 2022)• The Road to Home, a comprehensive guide to buying your first house (silver award winner, National Association of Real Estate Editors, "Best Multi-Platform Package or Series – Real Estate," 2022)Libby believes in one universal truth about money: Advice is never for everyone. The best strategies, tools, and products depend on your preferences, financial situation, history with money, and goals.ExpertiseHer expertise includes:• Behavioral finance• Early retirement• Budgeting• Saving moneyEducationLibby holds a bachelor's degree from Wellesley College.Outside of personal finance, Libby enjoys reading, baking, and walking her dog. Read more Read lessWatch: Scientists Discovered What Makes Something Funny
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