How much is a selfie really worth? Reality TV star sparks outrage after charging fans 'wild prices': 'This is gross behaviour'

American TV star Amy Halterman has been slammed for charging fans "wild prices" for her photo and autograph.

The 37-year-old has built an online following of 1.3 million thanks to her stint on the TV show 1000-Lb Sisters, which follows her and sister Tammy Slaton's weight loss journeys.

In July 2025, Amy advertised an upcoming "social media influencer meet and greet" event to be held in September in Kentucky. There, she plans to charge fans US$20 (AU$30) to take a selfie with her and an additional US$30 (AU$46) for an autograph.

Many of Amy's followers were outraged by the prices and took to the comment section of her Instagram post to air their grievances.

One fan labelled it "gross behaviour" while another couldn't fathom what they believed to be extortionate prices and simply wrote "this is wild to me".

Another commented, "This is disappointing, I remember watching you and Tammy have your first meet and greet and it was about the fans and you guys cared about your impact on people. What ever happened to being humble and gracious?"

While there were many complaints, Amy's 'meet and greet' prices didn't discourage some fans' enthusiasm toward the event and others even rushed to Amy's defence explaining it was "a very common and normal practice".

"This has become a living for them and how they make money just like any other job, so please try not to take it personal because it's not," one follower said.

READ MORE: Tammy Slaton was housebound for six years, now the 1000-Lb Sisters star is celebrating a life-changing milestone

Some might argue that a reality star like Amy Halterman isn't exactly living the life of luxury so there's no harm in making some extra coin if people are willing to pay. Right?

Being famous, no matter to what extent, is a lucrative business after all.

Money-making opportunities extend beyond fan meet and greets to paid appearances, personalised videos on platforms like Cameo and even paid memberships to fan clubs.

Of course, Amy isn't the only star to ask fans to cough up for a brief brush with their fame, albeit many would consider her a D-grade celeb at best.

Star Wars legend Mark Hamill, who famously played Luke Skywalker, shocked fans with the "sickening" amount he charged for his autograph in June 2025.

A photo shared on Reddit exposed that the 73-year-old was charging $400 for a single signed 8x10 photo, while a premium signature would set you back $500 and fans could expect to fork out $700 for a "bulky" autograph package, whatever that means.

At the time, many fans blasted the actor saying they'd "lost respect". Others raised the point that the pricing could be a tactic to keep the number of attendees down and control the pace of the event.

READ MORE: 'Tears for Patrick Schwarzenegger over his shock Emmy snub - but that's not my biggest issue'

How much would you pay to meet your favourite celebrity?

We surveyed a pool of nine.com.au readers to see how much they'd be willing to spend to get close to their favourite celebrity.

One woman and her friends are paying $923 for a personalised Cameo video from Harry Potter star Tom Felton.

"We're organising it as a friend's wedding present. Split between three people makes it manageable – and as someone who loves Dramione, worth every cent."

Another reader admitted to paying $80 back in 2014 to meet a C-grade actor from The Hobbit whose name she can no longer recall.

"The cost included a professional photo and a nice big print-out of the pic, which he then signed, so teenage me was thrilled," she said.

READ MORE: Former band member reveals identity of unknown 'sixth' Spice Girl

A third said they'd looked into a Barry Manilow meet and greet and concert package with worth $3,850.

"I would love to take my mum but also that is a bit much. It's for charity but still." They struggled with the price admitting they'd have to cap it $1,000.

A final reader confessed to being willing to pay "an obscene amount to meet Taylor Swift if she allowed that".

Really who could argue with that?

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