# How much has Danny Elfman made off the Simpsons theme? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 24, 2025, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083 "2025-11-24T01:28:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/1 "2025-11-24T01:28:46Z")
A ballpark figure anyway. Does he get a standard each time the who is aired (assuming the theme is played)? Does that include syndicated broadcasts? Does he get anything when there’s a YouTube video of the show’s opening? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/2 "2025-11-24T01:42:31Z")
Yes, he gets money each time the show is aired. He’s worth $50 million. A large proportion of that comes from the theme to _The Simpsons_. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/3 "2025-11-24T13:24:02Z")
> To be honest, I didn’t earn that much from it initially. I certainly didn’t do it for the money, just for the enjoyment. The amount was not impressive – a few thousand at best, but the royalties have been good, or so my accountant tells me. The most lucrative part was having sung those three syllables ‘The Simp-sons’. That was me and two others on vocals. It’s paid for my health insurance. It also got me into the Screen Actors Guild [SAG] for people who do vocal work. > **[How Danny Elfman got his inspiration for the Simpsons theme tune](https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/management/how-danny-elfman-got-his-inspiration-for-the-simpsons-theme-tune-20150721-gih706)** > > American composer Danny Elfman, 62, has created some of the big screen's most memorable scores, but he expects his tombstone to simply read "He wrote The Simpsons theme". ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/4 "2025-11-24T14:18:11Z")
Slightly off topic but thought it a good place to put it, anyone else wondering whether he wrote _The Simpsons_ theme or this first? Definitely had one playing in his head when he wrote the other! [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FELBug8aS1Y/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGHIgVihBMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCtSJKKTSAVDl0HPRxWUCM02BsQTg "Batman Soundtrack - 02. Roof Fight") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FELBug8aS1Y) ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/5 "2025-11-24T14:29:40Z")
All of his movie soundtracks basically sound the same as the Simpsons theme – lots of runs up and down scales. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/6 "2025-11-24T14:29:51Z")
Brahms sez: “Where are _my_ royalties?” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/lw8ZlJV2kXM/maxresdefault.jpg "Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major, Op. 87: Finale: Allegro giocoso") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw8ZlJV2kXM) ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/7 "2025-11-24T18:49:37Z")
Wow, yeah, that opening refrain is _very_ familiar. I guess if you’re going to ‘borrow’, borrow from the best. Go big or go home. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/8 "2025-11-24T18:54:55Z")
Also “Maria,” from _West Side Story_, by Bernstein. Those first three notes, the ones that comprise a stand-alone intro. The intervals make a _tritone_, also found in some heavy metal. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/9 "2025-11-24T19:18:28Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Yes, he gets money each time the show is aired. He’s worth $50 million. A large proportion of that comes from the theme to _The Simpsons_. Just curious; about how much would he get paid per airing? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/10 "2025-11-24T19:27:55Z")
I can’t find any answer to that. I can’t find how much he gets per airing. It’s not even clear if he gets money for each airing. There are inconsistent statements online. Basically, that’s because it’s stated in the contact he signed and that’s not publicly available. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/11 "2025-11-24T19:32:05Z")
I wonder if the amount is higher for the initial broadcast, lower for network repeats and still lower for syndicated repeats. And is it dependent on the number of viewers? ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/12 "2025-11-24T19:37:03Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Also “Maria,” from _West Side Story_, by Bernstein. Those first three notes, the ones that comprise a stand-alone intro. “The Simpsons…I’ve just watched a show called The Simpsons…” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/13 "2025-11-24T19:37:08Z")
I’ve also wondered just how much Dan Castellaneta, Hank Azaria and the rest of the voice cast have made in total. I assume it’s a whole lot more. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/14 "2025-11-24T20:24:30Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Also “Maria,” from _West Side Story_, by Bernstein. There’s a four-note motif in the _Simpsons_ theme that’s identical to a repeated passage from another _West Side Story_ number, “Something’s ComIng.” (It’s the same four notes Bernstein uses for “soon as it shows,” “under a tree,” etc.) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/15 "2025-11-24T20:52:30Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > I can’t find any answer to that. I can’t find how much he gets per airing. It’s not even clear if he gets money for each airing. There are inconsistent statements online. Basically, that’s because it’s stated in the contact he signed and that’s not publicly available. I may be talking out my ass but I don’t think residuals are covered under individual contracts. They are covered under the ASCAP collective bargaining agreement. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I wonder if the amount is higher for the initial broadcast, lower for network repeats and still lower for syndicated repeats. And is it dependent on the number of viewers? I don’t know specifically about _The Simpsons_ but I’ve read elsewhere that the initial payout is usually OK but a hit tv show will earn much more over time. The guy who wrote the theme to _Cheers_ was paid $150 up front. He has been able to live off the money he gets from it ever since. An established writer like Elfman would get a lot more money upfront ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/16 "2025-11-27T06:02:52Z")
Emil Richards, who played the xylophone parts on _The Simpsons_ theme also contributed the finger snaps on _The Adams Family_ theme and played the bongos on the _Mission: Impossible_ theme. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/17 "2026-05-21T14:42:32Z")
Separate but related question; how much has Richard O’Brien made off of writing the songs for _The Rocky Horror Picture Show_? O’Brien wrote the songs for the stage production and he participated in the movie adaptation, so I imagine he was paid something at the time. But nobody back in 1975 was anticipating that the movie would end up being shown in theaters for decades after its release. Has O’Brien gotten paid for each theatrical showing over the years? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/18 "2026-05-21T15:30:58Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > how much has Richard O’Brien made off of writing the songs for _The Rocky Horror Picture Show_ When I Google that question, I get the answer that he doesn’t own the film and thus made little money from it. He made about $1,000,000 (U.S. dollars). It also says that he owns the play _The Rocky Horror Show_. People put on that play frequently. He still gets money from that. He’s now worth between $15,000,000 and $20,000,000 (U.S. dollars). That money probably mostly comes from what he’s made from the play and the film. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/19 "2026-05-21T15:37:08Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Emil Richards, who played the xylophone parts on _The Simpsons_ theme also contributed the finger snaps on _The Adams Family_ theme and played the bongos on the _Mission: Impossible_ theme. Bongos? I need to look the original theme up. I think I’m only thinking of the movie theme. That is great trivia, though. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083/20 "2026-05-21T15:39:39Z")
One of the guys from Devo said that he makes a million a year because of some melody he composed that MTV uses in one of their programs that reruns constantly. Don’t recall the details, though. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-danny-elfman-made-off-the-simpsons-theme/1025083.md?page=2)