How Much Do Kill Tony Regulars Make

You’re scrolling through YouTube at 2 a.m., and there they are again—the Kill Tony regulars. You’ve seen them crush one-liners, bomb spectacularly, or slowly become your favorite comedian. And then it hits you while you’re eating cold pizza: Wait, do these people actually make money doing this? It’s a fair question, like wondering if your friend’s “side hustle” is paying for actual groceries or just gas station snacks. Let’s dig into the numbers without the fancy math—just the real, relatable stuff.

The Spectrum of “Making It” on Kill Tony

First, let’s be clear: Kill Tony isn’t a salary job with a 401(k). It’s a wild, chaotic comedy lottery where some people win a few bucks and others win a career. The regulars—guys like William Montgomery, Hans Kim, or David Lucas—are in a totally different league from the random guy who gets picked from the bucket. Think of it like your local bowling league versus the Pro Bowlers Tour. Both involve rolling a ball, but one pays for your dinner, and the other might buy you a car.

For the top-tier regulars, the show itself pays a small appearance fee—roughly $50 to $100 per episode. That’s not exactly “quit your job” money. But here’s the trick: that appearance is a business card to the world. William Montgomery once joked, “I get paid in exposure, but at least the exposure comes with a free drink ticket.” And he’s not wrong—because the real cash comes from everything around the show.

The Real Money: Tours, Merch, and Sponsored Giggles

Once you become a Kill Tony regular, you’re essentially a touring comedian with a built-in fanbase. The Kill Tony live tour stops at clubs and theaters across the country, and regulars are the headliners. A mid-tier regular can earn $1,000 to $3,000 per show on the road—sometimes more if they’re the closing act. Compare that to your cousin’s acoustic cover band playing for tips at the dive bar, and suddenly that comedy gig looks like a goldmine.

But let’s not forget the merch. You know that T-shirt with the dumb joke you laughed at? Regulars sell those for $25 a pop at shows and online. David Lucas famously jokes, “I make more on a bad T-shirt design than I did on my first three mic drop moments.” Do the math: sell 40 shirts at one show, and you’ve just made an extra $1,000 in an hour. That’s like finding a $20 bill in every pair of jeans you own.

Ranking Kill Tony Regulars From My Basement [part 1] - YouTube

The “Day Job” Reality Check

Here’s the warm, honest truth: most Kill Tony regulars still have side hustles. Hans Kim works the door at a comedy club in Austin. William Montgomery sells his own “loose change” art online. They’re not rolling in Scrooge McDuck money—they’re living the classic comedian lifestyle of “I’m broke but I’m happy, and also I’m eating ramen again.” It’s like that friend who spends their last $50 on a good haircut and then asks to split a pizza three ways. You laugh, but they’re making it work.

For context, a full-time Kill Tony regular—someone who does the show, tours, and sells merch—can realistically pull in $50,000 to $100,000 a year. That’s solid. It’s not “buy a beach house” money, but it’s “pay off your credit card and save for a used Honda” money. The top tier? Guys like Tony Hinchcliffe or Brian Redban pull in millions through the podcast’s success, but they’re the owners, not the regulars. The regulars are the line cooks in a five-star kitchen—they get tips, but they don’t own the building.

'Kill Tony' regular booed off Austin comedy stage, screams at crowd

The Golden Ticket: Sponsorships and Crowdfunding

Here’s where it gets fun. A Kill Tony regular with a loyal audience can easily land a podcast sponsorship. A mid-sized regular might get $500 to $2,000 per episode from a company like BetterHelp or Manscaped. That’s like getting paid to do a 30-second infomercial in your own living room. Plus, platforms like Patreon or Twitch let fans chip in $5 a month for “exclusive content.” Multiply that by 500 fans, and you’ve got an extra $2,500 a month—which is basically a rent payment in most cities.

And then there’s the “bucket pull” phenomenon. Regulars often sell merchandise or shout-outs to fans who get pulled from the bucket. It’s silly, but it works. One regular recently auctioned a “custom joke” for $500—and three people bought it. That’s the same impulse that makes you buy a hot dog at a baseball game: it’s overpriced, but you’re having fun, so who cares?

Ranking Every Kill Tony Regular and Golden Ticket Winner - YouTube

Why Should You Care? Because It’s Hilarious and Human

Let’s be real: you care because you’ve seen these people stumble and shine on stage. You’ve laughed when William Montgomery forgot his own joke, and you’ve cheered when Hans Kim landed a killer punchline. Knowing their income gives you a new lens to watch the show. The next time you see a regular wearing a cheap suit, you’ll think, “Ah, that suit cost three bucket-pull paychecks.” It makes the struggle and the success feel more real—like watching your neighbor finally fix their broken fence after years of duct tape.

Plus, let’s be honest: it’s just fun to daydream. You might wonder, “Could I do that?” The answer is yes—if you’re funny, persistent, and willing to eat a lot of gas station sandwiches. Kill Tony regulars prove that you can turn a weird hobby into a living—even if that living sometimes comes in the form of a Venmo from a stranger named “Bob who writes jokes for cats.” And that, my friend, is both inspiring and absolutely ridiculous. Just like the show itself.

So next time you watch a regular bomb and recover with a smile, remember: they’re probably counting the $50 in their pocket and planning how to stretch it until the next tour stop. And they’re still happier than you in your cubicle. Now go buy a T-shirt or a subscription—you’re basically supporting a dream, one bad joke at a time.