The grind of hosting and performing on SNL comes with a price tag, one that can leave even the most seasoned performers feeling the pinch. In a recent interview, Timothée Chalamet opened up about the personal costs associated with chasing the dream. The Dune star took a moment to reflect on how much he had spent from his own pocket for his appearance in Saturday Night Live’s Bob Dylan biopic sketch.
Timothée Chalamet says he spent ‘six figures out of my pocket’ for SNL performance
Timothée Chalamet dropped some major cash out of his own pocket to perform and promote his Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, on SNL last January. He took on the dual role of host and musical guest, making it a costly endeavor.
“I spent over six figures out of my pocket to do the SNL performance,” Chalamet shared with a full house at London’s Prince Charles Cinema on Sunday. Speaking with Love Actually director Richard Curtis, the 30-year-old actor discussed his marketing strategy for his films. He revealed what drove him to take on the double-duty challenge on SNL on January 25, 2025.
“Lorne Michaels had asked, ‘Hey, do you want to host SNL?’” Chalamet recalled. The Wonka actor insisted on doing the music for the SNL sketch, refusing to take no for an answer until they agreed. He stood firm, saying he wouldn’t do the sketch unless he got the green light, and eventually got it.
Chalamet got his wish. In addition to hosting SNL, he appeared in sketches and performed as the musical guest. He sang three Bob Dylan songs: Outlaw Blues, Three Angels, and Tomorrow Is a Long Time.
The six-figure sum spent by Chalamet covered production costs for his SNL performance. It also included expenses for the band and set construction, which are typically handled by an artist’s record label. Representatives for Saturday Night Live have not responded to Entertainment Weekly’s request for comment regarding the matter.
Timothée Chalamet is nominated for Best Actor at the 2026 Oscars for Marty Supreme.
Originally reported by Sibanee Gogoi for ComingSoon.
