Chelsea Handler questions why Joe Rogan made around $82 million in a year
Chelsea Handler questions why Joe Rogan made around $82 million in a year
Amaris Encinas, USA TODAYSat, August 1, 2026 at 9:24 PM UTC
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Chelsea Handler would like to see the receipts.
The comedian, 51, took to Instagram to express her disbelief (and disappointment) about Joe Rogan earning the top slot on Forbes' "highest paid podcasters" list on July 30. According to Forbes, Rogan earned about $82 million between June 2025 and June 2026.
"WHO IS PAYING JOE ROGAN 82 million?" Handler asked dubiously.
Launched in 2009, "The Joe Rogan Experience" has become one of the most popular podcasts in the country, averaging about 11 million listeners and downloads per episode. It is Spotify's top global podcast and the No. 1 podcast on Apple Podcasts.
She added: "Give that to our vets, or our children!!! 82 million to be completely uninformed and say 'whoopsie doodle,' every time he’s wrong, which is FREQUENT?"
Considered a polarizing figure in the podcast space, Rogan has been especially critical of President Donald Trump's administration from Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers' tactics to the country's involvement in the Iran war.
More: Joe Rogan blasts Trump for 'crazy' insults about Rob Reiner's death
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He has also previously come under fire for his use of racial slurs in past interviews, which he issued an apology for in February of 2022, and for spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic, regularly downplaying the need for vaccines on his podcast.
Handler isn't the only star to make her disdain for Rogan. A couple years ago, musician Neil Young penned an open letter asking executives remove his music from the Spotify because the platform and Rogan were "spreading fake information about vaccines."
Rogan has yet to publicly address Handler's remarks. USA TODAY has reached out to Rogan's representatives for comment.
Who are the highest-paid podcasters?
Joining the former "Fear Factor" host on the top of the pyramid is a diverse group of podcasters that Forbes has dubbed the "highest-paid" in 2026. From Ashley Flowers to Mel Robbins, Forbes' list features creators and podcasts of all kinds and types.
Here's who made the most money:
Joe Rogan ("The Joe Rogan Experience") - $82 million
John Coogan and Jordi Hays ("TBPN") - $70 million
Steven Bartlett ("The Diary of a CEO) - $45 million
Ashley Flowers ("Crime Junkie") - $42 million
Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes ("SmartLess") - $37 million
Mel Robbins ("The Mel Robbins Podcast") - $35 million
Jason and Travis Kelce ("New Heights") - $35 million
Alex Cooper ("Call Her Daddy") - $32 million
Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer and Tommy Vietor ("Pod Saves America") - $28 million
Charlamagne Tha God ("The Breakfast Club") - $27 million
Dax Shepard ("Armchair Expert") - $25 million
Amy Poehler ("Good Hang") - $24 million
Bill Simmons ("The Bill Simmons Podcast") - $22 million
Jay Shetty ("On Purpose") - $21 million
Joe Budden ("The Joe Budden Podcast") - $20 million
Contributing: Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chelsea Handler questions why Joe Rogan made around $82 million in a year
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
