How much does the Naked Cowboy of Times Square earn?
A guitar, underwear, boots and a hat. That's all the Naked Cowboy needs to rake in a fortune.
Who is the Naked Cowboy of Times Square?
- If you’ve been to New York, you’ve definitely encountered Robert John Burck! The name doesn’t ring a bell? He’s the real name behind the Naked Cowboy, the muscular character who roams Times Square in all weather with his guitar, underwear, boots and cowboy hat.
- Year-round, tourists crowd the corner of Broadway and 46th Street to pose for photos with him in exchange for a few dollars.
- This unusual adventure began in California in 1998 when Robert John Burck, originally from Cincinnati, participated in a photo shoot for Playgirl, an adult magazine for women. The photographer asked him to keep only his underwear on. The Naked Cowboy was born!
How did the Naked Cowboy of Times Square get started?
- Robert John Burck then headed to New York, where he decided to perform as a street artist on Times Square. The early days were tough, and in an interview with Time Magazine, he revealed that the first three years brought in no money at all. That’s when he decided to accept tips. On the second day, he collected nearly $600 in a single day. The start of his fortune!
- According to Time Magazine, the Naked Cowboy of Times Square now earns around $150,000 per year. Quite a sum, right? To be fair, Robert John Burck no longer relies solely on tips: he also offers to perform at weddings, corporate events and other occasions for a fee.
A small business with multiple cowboys…
- Robert John Burck, the savvy businessman, has diversified by creating a “Naked Cowboy” franchise, much like McDonald’s or Starbucks. This is how the “Black Naked Cowboy” and the “Naked Cowgirl” arrived on Times Square, as officially approved spin-offs.
- If you ever want to try it yourself, know that it’s possible! To perform on Times Square as a “Naked Cowboy,” you’ll first need to audition. If accepted, you’ll pay Robert John Burck a license fee of $5,000 per year or $500 per month. Another “Naked Cowgirl,” Sandy Kane, refused to pay this fee. The dispute may eventually end up in court. Too bad. An old-fashioned Western showdown would certainly have been more dramatic!