While Candace Payne’s 15 Minutes of Fame may run out, a new study reveals that the viral sensation’s bank account won’t be doing the same any time soon.
Appropriately enough, the woman now known as Chewbacca Mom is making some serious Star Wars money.
Back in late May, Payne took a shopping trip to Kohl’s.
And she was so excited by what she purchased at the store that she could scarcely wait to try it out.
As soon as Payne got into her car, she set up her video camera and recorded herself trying on a Chewbacca masked that actually made the same sounds as this beloved big screen character.
The footage didn’t merely blow up.
It turned Payne into the most popular Facebook Live star of all-time.
Since the video surfaced online, Payne has appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden (below) and also stopped by Good Morning America; she even took a trip to Disney World.
Moreover, according to a new report, Chewbacca Mom has been making a financial killing due to her newfound fame.
Thanks to a breakdown by Money Magazine, we now know that Payne has made the following amount of money for the following reasons:
$ 3,000 from Kohl’s, including dozens of toys… $ 2,500 in gift cards… and a Chewbacca mask for everyone in her family.
$ 7,500 in flights, hotels, VIP tours and various gifts while she traveled the country for appearances.
$ 7,500 for an all-expenses paid trip to Disney World.
$ 2,000 for a family trip to the Fan Expo Dallas convention, where Payne met the actor who plays Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew).
$ 400,000 in full college scholarships provided to her and her family from Southeastern University, “a Christ-centered institution of higher learning” in central Florida.
What prompted this gesture?
“Candace has inspired us and others with her joy, and we want her and her family to experience some of that same joy through this gift,” Dr. Kent Ingle, president of the college, said.
Wow.
We agree. Candace’s personality is inspiring.
We’re not sure if we’d pay her $ 400,000 for it, but hey.