The $3 billion celebrity gossip industry: By the numbers

Paid sources and the public's desire for dirt are fueling a hugely profitable, star-stalking culture in Hollywood. Here's a stats-based look into that world

Lindsay Lohan
(Image credit: David McNew/Getty Images)

Sating the public's shark-like appetite for breaking celebrity gossip isn't easy, but a network of websites, magazines, and TV shows make a killing trying to feed the demand. The combined revenue for the celebrity gossip industry — anchored by sites like TMZ and Radar Online, which often pay several thousand dollars for inside information — tops more than $3 billion per year, according to The New York Times. And it's not just the Lindsay Lohans of the world who earn leakers cash. Even C-list scandals, like the goings-on of "Octodad" Jon Gosselin, can mean huge paydays. Here, a look at the buzz machine, by the numbers:

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