How much should Santa make?

Santa brings joy to thousands of children each year, and for that he’d rake in $137,795, finds an Insure.com survey. This is an increase from last year, when Santa’s annual salary was $134,944.

Read: Teach kids not to be greedy during holidays

To calculate Santa’s pay, Insure.com estimated the number of hours he might spend doing each important task—determining who’s naughty or nice, managing the workshop, delivering presents—and used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to find the closest matching occupations and hourly wages.

Read: Santa uses social media to save the holidays But not all American adults think Jolly St. Nick deserves that salary. When asked how much Santa should be paid:

• 37% say Santa should not be paid—his work should be charitable;
• 27% estimate $1.8 billion a year, which is approximately $1 for every child under the age of 15 in the world;
• 15% say between $100,000 and $200,000;
• 12% say less than $100,000;
• 9% say more than $200,000;

“Many people have come to expect free delivery, even in this cold economy,” says Amy Danise, editorial director of Insure.com.

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And those who expect pro bono service wouldn’t give Santa any sick days.

Still, if respondents had to choose someone to fill in, actor Tim Allen came out on top, with 27% saying he should get the keys to the sleigh based on his role in The Santa Clause.

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Additional answers were:

• 15% choose John Goodman for his role in The Year Without a Santa Claus;
• 14% say Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates because he’s got money to spend on presents;
• 13% pick Tom Hanks for his role in Polar Express;
• 7% say Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett because he’s got money to spend on presents;
• 6% suggest animal expert Jack Hanna because he wouldn’t forget to feed the reindeer;
• 5% say businessman Donald Trump because he’d keep the elves in line; and
• 4% choose illusionist David Copperfield because he’d make magic.

“Gates and Buffett have already promised to give away their fortunes,” adds Danise. “What better way to do that than in one glorious night of around-the-world reckless abandon?”

Staff

The staff of Advisor.ca have been covering news for financial advisors since 1998.