Here's How Much Money An Emmy Award Is Really Worth

The answer to that question will come as a surprise to many. According to CNBC, an Emmy Award costs just a few hundred bucks to make — only about $300 to $400. 

That may cause you to scratch your head and wonder why the cost is so low, but you should know that, despite their appearance, those gorgeous statues aren't actually made of solid gold. If they were made of gold, well, Emmy Awards would obviously be worth considerably more. As of September 2019, the price of gold is around $1,500 an ounce. At $1,500 an ounce, a single, 128-ounce Emmy Award would come in just shy of $200,000. 

Given that the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences dishes out dozens of awards during the ceremony each year (and that's even not counting the ones handed out in technical and creative arts categories prior to the "main" event), a per-Emmy price tag like that would set the Academy back tens of millions of dollars and likely make the Emmy Awards show cost-prohibitive. Which is why those Emmy Awards statues are actually made of copper and nickel, and ultimately given a thin, glossy coating of gold after the fact.

Now, considering how much money studios and media companies regularly spend to net their shows and stars the coveted awards, it really does seem like the Academy could make it a little more worth their while. Per a recent report from Variety, those Emmy campaigns are getting quite pricey amid what many believe to be the golden age of television: a top-tier campaign to take home one of the most sought-after Emmy Awards is thought to run roughly $1 million bucks — a number that only seems to be rising. 

While some in the industry still firmly believe the cost is ultimately worth the prestige (and positive press), others, like TNT and TBS President Kevin Reilly beg to differ. "It's been long held that really in terms of perception [an Emmy win is a positive]," Reilly offered, adding, "[but] from a bottom-line business point of view, no."