It’s no secret that Taylor Swift attracts a swarm of paparazzi whenever she goes out. In fact, it seems as though photographers are waiting for her whenever she heads to dinner in Manhattan, whether she’s with her fiance, Travis Kelce, or one of her best gal pals, like Gigi Hadid.
The invasion of the paparazzi can seem intimidating and even intrusive at times, when Swift is simply trying to enjoy a quiet night out. But have you ever wondered just how much money photogs make by snapping pictures of the Grammy winner? Well, we have some insight thanks to Trading Secrets podcast host and former Bachelorette suitor Jason Tartick.
On Nov. 6, Tartick got quite the surprise when he was seated next to Swift and Kelce at Zero Bond in New York City. Aside from sharing details of what it was like being in the same room as the most beloved couple in the world, Tartick also chatted with a photographer outside of the members-only club to ask the question that many of us have wondered for years.
In an Instagram post uploaded on Nov. 7, Tartick included some footage of him asking a paparazzo the price of a good pic.
“I’m not a paparazzi guy. I don’t support what they do,” Tartick said. “But I was curious. So, at the end of this video, you see I went up to a paparazzi. I’m like, ‘why do you do this? Like how much are you actually gonna make for this? Like, what is happening here?'”
And that’s exactly what happened. At the end of the video, Tartick shared his conversation with a photographer.
“If you get a good photo of them, how much…” Tartick said to a photographer before the photog responded.
“It pays the rent,” he replied.
“How much is the rent?” Tartick asked.
“The rent is expensive,” the paparazzo responded with a smile.
“Like five grand?” Tartick wondered.
“A little more than that,” the photographer said.
And there you have it.
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This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.