The Brilliant Idiots have remained one of the most consistent podcasts, since their debut in 2014. They were just enough ahead of the podcast boom, and equally Charlamagne’s own success as a radio host with The Breakfast Club– with these two factors coming together and helping the podcast grow to the place it is right now. 

For the unfamiliar, the podcast is hosted by Charlamagne Tha God and New York-based comedian Andrew Schulz. It’s become a place where Charlamane can often vent and express views he may not have shared with Breakfast Club listeners, much like he did recently with his (reluctant) take on 6ix9ine. The two tend to discuss whatever is buzzing in pop culture at large week-to-week, so of course, one of the biggest topics of their latest episode centered around Joe Rogan’s exclusive distribution deal with Spotify. 

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In fact, they kick off the episode discussing the deal. “I just think that it’s brilliant that Spotify recognized top-tier talent and they invested in top-tier talent, and it’s brilliant on Joe Rogan because he didn’t have to do this,” Charlamagne said, before they dive into numbers speculation. “They said his lives shows, ad revenue, and what he makes off YouTube, his podcast, made $30 million […] so thats not something he had to do unless Spotify came with a life-changing number, which clearly they did. But that’s what you do when you’re investing in that kind of talent.”

As far as what they think Rogan is raking in with his Spotify deal, Charlamagne says, “I think that Joe Rogan upfront got $125-150 million, and i think on the backend, he probably stands to make another $150. I can’t see him getting any less than $125 [million] up front though.”

Schulz counters, “If he was getting $30 million a year, and it’s a 3-year deal it doesn’t make sense for him to do it for only $120 [million], because he was gunna make $90 [million] in that time, or the podcast could grow in that amount of time and he’s gunna make $120 [million]. I feel like it’s gotta be double what he would have made in those three years at that current rate, bare minimum. I feel like it’s gotta be at least $180 [million] and maybe over $200 mill with those incentives and stuff. I feel like it’s gotta be guaranteed $180 [million].” 

Whatever the case, we can all agree that Rogan is a very wealthy man. Check out the new episode of the Brilliant Idiots below.