Million dollar baby
Nicole Kidman’s unborn baby already has a multimillion-dollar
price tag, with magazines in the US, UK and Australia preparing
bidding campaigns for the rights to first pictures of the
child.
Friends of Kidman have confirmed the actor is trying to handle
“with dignity” the requests that are already flooding in from
magazines across the world.
The suggestion is that, at this early stage, Kidman is not
considering lucrative financial offers regarding the birth. But
closer to the time, the actor and her husband Keith Urban may agree
to a major financial deal, with a possibility of funds going to
charity.
News of a growing bidding war over Kidman’s baby comes after
Jennifer Lopez secured a $6.5 million deal with People
magazine (before the birth of her twins) while the magazine paid
Christina Aguilera $2 million for official baby pics.
The asking price for official photos of Kidman, Urban and their
newborn baby is as yet unknown but Kidman’s Oscar-winning status
and global fame is expected to up the price.
“This could be worth millions internationally,” says Shane
Sutton, editor of Famous magazine. “I think different
markets pay different amounts - the J.Lo babies have absolutely set
a standard.”
But he said Aguilera’s baby pics had not provided the expected
sales boom for People magazine, which meant some editors in
the US might be wary about investing too heavily again.
“That may swing the market,” he says. “But [with Kidman] it’s a
safe bet to say a lot of money will change hands internationally.
And, given that Nicole is a global star, a lot of money will change
hands in Australia, America and the UK separately.”
Million-dollar deals are most likely to happen overseas.
However, Sutton says, “the Australian market will also be very
lucrative.”
Kidman is remaining mum about any potential deals, although her
appearance at the Oscars tomorrow will put her baby bump firmly in
the spotlight. Whether or not she will go down the same route as
fellow Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, who released her official baby
pics for free, remains to be seen.
