Last month, Gene Simmons stirred up a storm when he announced that fans could pay a whopping $12,495 to spend a day as his personal assistant.
The KISS frontman, worth an estimated $400 million, defended the hefty fee, calling it an honor for his most dedicated fans.
But many saw it as pure greed, and the backlash was swift and fierce.
This isn’t an isolated case—more and more celebrities with massive fortunes are cashing in on fan encounters, charging eye-popping amounts for personal access or turning their followers into fundraising machines.
An industry expert has weighed in with a harsh critique of this growing trend.
The Price of “Exclusive” Fan Experiences
Take JoJo Siwa, the 22-year-old Dance Moms alum with a $20 million net worth.
Earlier this year, she offered a “Dream Guest VIP package” priced over $900, which involved fans helping her road crew set up for a concert.
Siwa even bragged about fans getting to test out equipment with her—a far cry from the glamorous meet-and-greet most expect.
Similarly, Alyssa Milano, valued at around $4 million, sparked outrage when she asked fans to help raise $10,000 for her son’s baseball team in 2024.
The fundraising plea was met with widespread mockery online, marking one of the biggest PR missteps of her career.
Industry Insider Calls Out “Fan Fleecing”
Eric Schiffer, a celebrity brand strategist who’s worked with the likes of Whitney Houston, didn’t hold back.
He called out these “shameless” stars for treating fans like ATMs rather than admirers.
In an exclusive chat, Schiffer said, “Some celebs see fans as ATMs, not admirers—every interaction is a transaction, every memory a price tag.”
He described Simmons’ “Ultimate Experience” as “rock ‘n’ robbery,” accusing the star of turning fan devotion into a “pathetic and predatory scheme.”
Schiffer insists fans deserve much better than to be treated as walking wallets.
When Paying Means Working
The parallel between Siwa’s VIP package and Simmons’ offer is clear: fans don’t just get to meet stars—they’re put to work.
Siwa’s fans helped set up stages and test equipment, which Schiffer summed up bluntly: “It’s a fancy way of saying, ‘pay me to watch you set up my stage.’ Even child stars can become cynical capitalists.”
Other A-list celebrities have faced heat for similar moves.
Chris Hemsworth’s $200 autograph and $210 photo fee at a 2017 pop culture expo left fans stunned.
Avril Lavigne was slammed in 2014 for charging nearly $300 for meet-and-greets in Brazil—and went viral for refusing to hug fans, standing stiffly apart instead.
Beyoncé is famous for her “no hugging” meet-and-greet rule, enforced strictly by her security team, which has drawn mockery online.
Sylvester Stallone, worth around $400 million, charged fans $750 to $1,250 for a dinner event in 2022—but the evening ended in disappointment after he left early, forcing refunds for many who never met the star.
Stars Who Do It Differently
Not every celebrity has jumped on this pay-to-play bandwagon.
Taylor Swift has earned praise for never charging fans to meet her, instead randomly selecting lucky followers for backstage encounters.
British band Coldplay also avoids middlemen, auctioning meet-and-greet experiences directly to fans, which they believe stops ticket scalpers from profiting.
The Expert’s Advice: Keep It Classy, Not Greedy
Schiffer advises celebrities who want to monetize fan access to focus on creating genuine, luxurious VIP experiences—not cheap cash grabs that feel like exploitation.
“Every dollar spent should feel like a gift, not a loss to greed,” he said.
He warns that charging for access often backfires, damaging long-term credibility.
Fans might pay once but won’t forget if they feel taken advantage of.
“The best stars give access as a gift and reward their true fans,” Schiffer emphasized.
How Gene Simmons Could Win Fans Back
If Simmons wants to repair his reputation, Schiffer has a clear playbook: start by refunding those who paid for the pricey PA experience and show fans they’re valued as people, not profit sources.
“Host a free fan event—not as a publicity stunt, but as a genuine act of gratitude and humility,” he suggested.
“Recovery isn’t about spin, it’s about substance. Stop treating fans like wallets, and start treating them like human beings.”
What’s Next for Celebrity Fan Culture?
With so many stars walking a fine line between monetizing their fame and alienating fans, the future of fan experiences hangs in the balance.
Will more celebrities take Schiffer’s advice and focus on meaningful connection?
Or will the trend of pay-for-access continue to grow, risking long-term damage to star-fan relationships? Only time will tell.