These Dogs Earn More Than Surgeons in a Year: Owners Cash In Big Without Lifting a Finger

What if your dog earned more than you? Forget the debates over gender pay gaps; now, it’s our four-legged friends who are setting records in terms of earnings. In movies, on social media, and even in ad campaigns for major brands, animals are making a fortune. From the hills of Hollywood, dogs and cats earn their own fees for each contract, reaching sums that are hard to imagine.

Like their human counterparts, pets that only play background roles aren’t the highest earners. However, on average, a pet can make up to 50 euros per day, with an additional 150 euros for their owner. But if the furry friend lands a more substantial role, the rates soar. A 2014 report by The Hollywood Reporter revealed that an animal appearing in major American productions could earn between $5,000 and $10,000 annually, with a single day of filming paid at about $400 at the time. And just like human actors, the size of the paycheck corresponds with the level of fame. This isn’t just true for dogs and cats: Crystal, the monkey famous for roles in The Hangover Part II and the first two Night at the Museum movies, was making no less than $100,000 per year!

Some animals even juggle multiple roles: movie stars, as well as social media sensations. Take Peggy “the hairless pug,” dubbed the ugliest dog in Hollywood. With a million followers on Instagram, she starred alongside Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool & Wolverine, and joined him on red carpets around the world for the film’s promotional tour. Beth, from the “pardonthyfrench” account, was also a renowned influencer; her Instagram posts fetched around $25,000 each, and she even landed a one-year contract worth $200,000, as her owner Lindsay Van Bramer told the New York Post in 2025. She even appeared in the Netflix series Pet Stars—a very telling title. These social media star pets, or “petfluencers,” can drive up their fees to incredible heights. “They make a lot of money. Some of our clients have been paid $40,000 for a single post,” confirmed the founder of The Dog Agency, an influencer agency for pets.

Some owners might even claim discrimination, but it’s generally seen that dogs are more in demand and even better paid than cats. An exception might be Choupette, the cat and main heir of Karl Lagerfeld. With over 275,000 followers on Instagram, she travels by private jet, models for numerous brands, and even voiced a character in the latest Smurfs movie, making the “meow” sounds for Azrael, Gargamel’s cat. Yet, this beautiful Birman cat has never disclosed her earnings to the public.