The most expensive magazine photo exclusive ever reported is the first pictures of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s twins, sold in August 2008 to People and Hello for a reported $14 million. Other tallies put it at $15 million, and one record book gives $12.16 million, so the true figure is a range. This list ranks ten celebrity photo deals by reported price, as of October 2026, and all of them date from 1999 to 2011.
| Rank | Item | Price (USD) | Sale date | Sold at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jolie-Pitt twins, first photos | About $14 million (reports range $12.16M to $15M) | August 2008 | People and Hello (shared rights) |
| 2 | Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, first photos | About $7.6 million (People $4.1M plus Hello $3.5M) | June 2006 | People (US) and Hello (UK) |
| 3 | Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, twins Max and Emme | $6 million | February to March 2008 | People |
| 4 | Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves, son Levi | $3 million | August 2008 | OK |
| 5 | Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, wedding photos | $3 million | October 2005 | OK |
| 6 | Thalia and Tommy Mottola, daughter Sabrina | $2 million | November 2007 | Hola |
| 7 | Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, son Pax post-adoption photos | $2 million | March 2007 | People |
| 8 | Eva Longoria and Tony Parker, wedding photos | $2 million | July 2007 | OK |
| 9 | Christina Aguilera, son Max | $1.5 million | February 2008 | People |
| 10 | Jessica Alba and Cash Warren, daughter Honor | $1.5 million | July 2008 | OK |
These are rights deals paid to the subjects. They are reported figures, as magazines rarely confirm what they paid.
1. Jolie-Pitt twins, first photos: About $14 million (reports range $12.16M to $15M)
The photos of Vivienne and Knox set the record for celebrity pictures. The family reportedly donated the money to their foundation. A source told a news agency the figure was $14 million, while a record book lists $6.08 million from each magazine.
How we valued it: Reported total across two magazines; sources disagree on the exact sum.
2. Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, first photos: About $7.6 million (People $4.1M plus Hello $3.5M)
The profits were reportedly donated to a foundation for African children.
How we valued it: Reported combined figure; People’s share of $4.1 million is the most widely cited.
3. Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, twins Max and Emme: $6 million
The cover showed Lopez with the newborns. Reports said the photos roughly doubled the magazine’s web traffic.
How we valued it: Reported price, widely repeated.
4. Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves, son Levi: $3 million
The baby appeared on the August 2008 cover.
How we valued it: Reported price.
5. Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, wedding photos: $3 million
A wedding exclusive paid to the couple.
How we valued it: Reported price.
6. Thalia and Tommy Mottola, daughter Sabrina: $2 million
The Spanish-language magazine paid for the baby’s first photos.
How we valued it: Reported price.
7. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, son Pax post-adoption photos: $2 million
The first pictures of Pax after his adoption, with Jolie on the cover.
How we valued it: Reported price.
8. Eva Longoria and Tony Parker, wedding photos: $2 million
Several sources agree on a figure of about $2 million for the wedding exclusive.
How we valued it: Reported price from multiple accounts.
9. Christina Aguilera, son Max: $1.5 million
Bidding reportedly began at $1 million, and a rival magazine pushed the price up.
How we valued it: Reported price.
10. Jessica Alba and Cash Warren, daughter Honor: $1.5 million
The parents reportedly put the money into an account for the baby.
How we valued it: Reported price.
Disputed deals
The 2011 wedding photos of Kim Kardashian were reported at anything from about $1 million to $2.5 million, with different buyers named, and her representatives denied a deal had been made in one report. We do not rank it. David and Victoria Beckham’s 1999 wedding deal with OK was reported at £1 million.
Records set in 2025 and 2026
We found no celebrity photo deal in 2025 or 2026 that approaches these. The peak was 2005 to 2008, and the biggest deals have not been matched since.
What drives these prices
- Bidding wars. Two magazines competing pushed prices up.
- Shared rights. The record deal was split between a US and a UK title.
- Charity. Some of the biggest payments were donated.
- The social media shift. In our view, celebrities now post their own pictures, which removed the scarcity that made these deals worth millions.
FAQ
What is the most expensive celebrity photo deal?
The Jolie-Pitt twins photos in August 2008, reported at about $14 million, shared between People and Hello
How much did People pay for Jennifer Lopez’s twins?
Reportedly $6 million, in early 2008.
Were these prices confirmed?
No. Magazines rarely disclose them, and sources differ.
Has anything beaten the 2008 record?
We found no newer deal that comes close.
Which wedding deal was biggest?
Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher’s 2005 wedding photos at a reported $3 million.
Where did the money go?
In several cases the families reportedly donated it to charity.
How we put this list together
We ranked deals by reported price, drawing on published tallies of celebrity photo sales compiled in an internal valuation model. Prices are approximate and disputed, and they change as reports are revised.
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Last updated: October 2026.
