Ellen DeGeneres Tipped a Pizza Delivery Person $1,000 but Who Once Tipped $50,000?
Leaving a generous tip, especially now when restaurants and retailers are struggling, is vital to many worker’s survival. While adding a little extra to the tab’s total can help, some celebrities have taken that notion to the extreme.
Comedian Ellen DeGeneres tipped Edgar Martirosyan $1,000 when he unsuspectingly delivered pizzas to the stage at the Oscars in 2014, USA Today reports. Martirosyan thought he was dropping off pizza to writers until he was led to walk on stage.
“So you left before, I wanted to get you a tip and I passed Pharrell’s hat around and I ended up getting around $600 something like that,” DeGeneres told Martirosyan when he later appeared on her talk show. “Here is some more…here is $1000,” she said.
Clearly this was a jaw-dropping moment for Martirosyan. And DeGeneres enjoyed making his day too. But other celebrities have quietly (or not so quietly) left enormous tips. This includes rapper Jay-Z who once tipped $50,000 for a food and champagne delivery.
Jay-Z left a $50,000 tip
Jay-Z is known for being an uber generous tipper. He once left 20% on a food and champagne delivery for a 2011 album release, according to GoBankingRates. The bill was $250,000 and the delivery team walked away with a cool $50,000.
He recently treated Roc Nation Sports president Juan Perez to a supersized birthday party in Manhattan, CNBC reports. He ordered 40 bottles of Ace of Spades champagne at a nightclub and paid full-price even though he owns the brand. The night ended when the bill came due—$80,035. He added 15% gratuity so the server went home that night with $11,100.
Tyler Perry left $21,000 for curbside pick up
Producer Tyler Perry is taking the pandemic economic hit very seriously and left out of work restaurant employees $500 each for curbside pick up in April 2020.
Perry got takeout from Houston’s restaurant in Atlanta, TMZ reports. And while he could have paid the bill and left behind a few bucks, he made sure all 42 sidelined employees had $500 in their pocket that night. This isn’t the first time Perry left $500 for servers. He previously tipped $500 on a $27 meal and the server could not have been more thrilled, GoBakingRates reports.
“It couldn’t have came at a better time,” the server shared on Facebook. “Thank you Lord for always watching over our family and thank you Tyler Perry also. He didn’t have to tip like that but for some reason out of the kindness of his heart he did.”
Jim Carey left 150% for dinner
Apparently actor Jim Carey thought his server deserved a tip that was higher than the actual bill when he left 150% on a meal while dining in New York. He took friends to dinner and left a $225 tip on a $151 tab.
Apparently Carey was in town to see the Broadway play Hamilton in 2016 and felt inspired. “I saw #Hamilton last night on Broadway,” he tweeted. “An absolute work of genius. Restores your faith in humanity. The kingdom of heaven is among us. ;^D”
Donnie Wahlberg supersizes his Waffle House tips
Actor/musician Donnie Wahlberg seems to have an affinity for Waffle House and is known to leave massive tips for servers. Wahlberg is another celebrity who tips significantly higher than the bill amount as he left more than $2,000 on a $78 bill.
Wife Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg tweeted that her husband was participating in a 2020 tip challenge. “@DonnieWahlberg starting 2020 off like the amazing man he is. #ihop#2020tipchallenge,” she shared. While he took part in the tipping challenge, this isn’t Wahlberg’s first time overtipping at Waffle House. He left a $2,000 tip on a $82.60 bill. Wahlberg shared why he knows the importance of being a generous tipper.
“My mom waited tables and my dad tended bars — for years! So, when I walk into a Waffle House and the staff treats me like a king, you better believe I treat them like queens!” he shared on Instagram.
Shaquille O’Neal lets his server name their tip
Rather than doing the math, pro-basketball star Shaquille O’Neal simply asked his server how much tip he should leave, GoBankingRates recounts. He shared the moment with Jimmy Kimmel in 2017. “How much do you want?” he simply asked his server. When she suggested $4,000, he delivered.
O’Neal is also known for making sure car valets don’t go home empty-handed. He’s known for leaving at least $300. And if he doesn’t have the cash on hand he’ll make sure he finds an ATM.
