Why Joe Rogan Refused $500 Golden Globes Fee: 'You Can't Tell Me I Didn't Win'

Joe Rogan has built a podcast juggernaut with the Joe Rogan Experience, and explained exactly why he wasn't in the mix for the first Golden Globes' Best Podcast Award. Rogan admitted on a recent episode of his podcast with Bert Kreischer that he refused to pay the $500 fee required to be in the mix for the award. However, in Rogan's first public comments since Amy Poehler's Good Hang With Amy Poehler took home the award, he made it clear that there's no question he holds the top podcast, stating, "You can't tell me I didn't win. I've been number one for six years in a row." The popular podcaster and longtime UFC announcer didn't hold back in his full comments on the topic, either.

Joe Rogan Reveals He Refused to Pay $500 Golden Globes Submission Fee

Rogan didn't pull punches, addressing how his name not being among the final nominees transpired. He revealed that the $500 fee required by the Golden Globes was something he wasn't interested in. He cleared the air completely during the recent Joe Rogan Experience episode.

"They asked me to submit to be nominated for the Golden Globes, and you had to pay $500, and the $500 is like for paperwork or whatever. I said no," Rogan explained.

"...I don’t want to be part of that. I don’t care. You’re just a group of people that decide, all of a sudden, that you’re going to give an award out." Rogan said. "...All of sudden, you're going to have a contest in front of all these people wearing tuxedos and you're going to say now I'm not number one? F--- off."

Here were the six finalists for the Best Podcast Award at the Golden Globes:

• Winner: Good Hang with Amy Poehler (Spotify's The Ringer)
• Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard (Dax Shepard)
• Call Her Daddy (Alex Cooper)
• SmartLess (Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett)
• The Mel Robbins Podcast (Mel Robbins)
• Up First (NPR)

While Rogan spoke broadly about the topic, he did admit that there are obviously plenty of fans of Poehler's podcast, but also called out the celebrity world regarding her only having the podcast for less than a year before winning the award.

"I'm sure it's good. It won. I'm sure someone must love it," Rogan said of Poehler's Golden Globes win. "If it sucked, they would give it to someone else, right?"

"I just know that Amy Poehler won and a lot of people are upset. She's had a podcast for six months and she won. Great, you gave it to a famous person. Which, you know, in that world that's what they do."

'You Can't Tell Me I Didn't Win': Rogan Defends Six-Year Podcast Dominance

While Rogan criticized the process and its handling, he was extremely clear about one point—the fact that Joe Rogan Experience is the top-rated podcast. This has been the case on Spotify for six years, where he had an exclusive deal. Rogan's podcast also checked in at the top of the Apple and YouTube charts for 2025, making its immense popularity even more obvious.

"I don't care, I already won. You can't tell me I didn't win, I've been number one for six years in a row..." Rogan said.

"I don't care that I'm number one, but I am, in fact, number one."

Regarding Rogan's statement that the Joe Rogan Experience is the top podcast, there's no realistic argument that can be made. The numbers tell the story, as Rogan stood atop the podcast world in 2025. However, his recent revelation about exactly why he wasn't included among the six finalists for the Golden Globes award is certainly interesting.

Related: Unbearable Betrayal? Pepsi Hijacks Coke’s Polar Bear for 2026 Super Bowl Commercial