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EXCLUSIVE: What Mags Will Pay For Suri Pics

Posted Jul 13th 2006 1:59PM by TMZ Staff

TMZ has contacted the big players in the bidding wars over celebrity baby photos, and you may be surprised at what a picture of Suri Cruise can fetch.

Editorial staffers from People, Us Weekly, In Touch, Life and Style and OK! spoke candidly with TMZ, on condition that no names be used.

A source at OK! magazine tells TMZ that a set of exclusive, posed photos of the nearly three-month-old Suri would go for anywhere between 4 and $5 million -- People reportedly paid $4.1 million for pictures of Shiloh Jolie-Pitt. The OK! source believes the high price tag is justified, partly because there would be a huge spike in circulation but also because of "the cred" that a glossy would get by having the photos plastered all over the world.

But sources at In Touch and Life & Style magazines beg to differ. The feeling there -- that Suri's first pics would garner a relatively paltry $2 million - $3 million. One source said the concealment of Suri "stinks" of Tom trying to manipulate the situation by creating mystery and thereby driving the price up.

Over at People, a source tells TMZ that the photos would fetch less than Shiloh's. The source says the main draw is not the baby or Tom but Suri's mom -- "People are fascinated by Katie Holmes, who's leading such a weird life now," transforming from an apple-cheeked All-American girl into the Bride of Scientology.

An Us Weekly source also believes that Suri photos would be a less valuable commodity than Shiloh pics. The thinking -- Brad and Angelina were "beautiful and romantic" after their baby was born. The source says the value in Suri pics have more to do with the "freak factor" of her parents.

And there's this -- One editor told TMZ that the price of the photographs would depend in no small part on where the proceeds from the sale end up, implying that it would be a very different matter if the millions went to African orphans than straight into the coffers of the Church of Scientology.

But what if the first Suri pics were not posed but captured by a paparazzo? A source at Splash News, a photo agency, thinks the shot would be "the biggest picture by a long mile in the world, and that as time goes on, it will only get more valuable. " The source says one good shot could fetch up to $2 million.

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91. Anyone notice Jennifer aniston seems to be glowing an awful lot? I think she has a bun in the oven!

Posted at 4:18AM on Jul 14th 2006 by Sharon

92. Tom Cruise did Nicole Kidman a HUGH favor.
She's a class-act.
Tom's a ringleader and Katie's his new act.

Posted at 5:50AM on Jul 14th 2006 by Vickie Ann

93. Honestly, I am sick at reading, seeing and hearing about this "blessed" event. People have babies everyday and they are all precious. For that, I offer all new parents my heartfelt blessings for health and happiness with their children. I could care less if I see a picture of their baby. I guess bottom line is... who really cares!!!!

Posted at 6:28AM on Jul 14th 2006 by Rachelle

94. I can't stand Tom Cruise and all his phony behavior-----so-------lets MOVE ON- PLEASE!!!

Posted at 9:14AM on Jul 14th 2006 by Robi

95. xan,
If Tom Cruise is the one who can't have kids, then how come Nicole Kidman had three miscarriages during their marriage? In fact, she was pregnant when they split and miscarried shortly thereafter. I think Tom has proven, without ever commenting on it or trashing Nicole, that the reproductive problems were hers not his. Its not that he couldn't conceive children, its that she couldn't carry them, hence the new, young, healthy and fertile woman. Starting to make sense? Furthermore, why would he bother faking a child? He already has two adopted. The whole point is to have one of his own. Please make sense.

Posted at 9:20AM on Jul 14th 2006 by SeaNymphette

96. Wow,
such ugly heartedness! They are actors performing for a fee. They act, you pay to watch their shows or films. They don't owe you anything else. You certainly don't have the right to have access to their most precious gift, their child. Especially as hateful and despicable as you all are being. Shame on you.
Does anybody have the right to have access to YOUR child? Oh, I forgot nobody would want access to your child. I don't blame Tom. I wouldn't put my child up on your chopping block either. You act as though he should offer his child up like some sacrificial lamb. Why? So you can slaughter it? Why would he? So you can pick on the poor infant. So you can say she is ugly or looks like a monkey like some bloggers did about Seal and Heidi Klum's infant? Oh, I know, release photos so one of you fanatics can kidnap the baby and hold her ransom. You people can't even give a poor infant a break. Tom is very wise to keep her away from the public, especially after the way the public has treated him. Is he supposed to let the public do it to his baby too? You are gullible enough to be influenced by some media nuts, who have it in for him, and now a guy who was once your golden boy (Top Gun, Days of Thunder) is dirt beneath your feet. All this because he decided to take some film roles that the media and you didn't agree with. Backstabbers and turncoats. Thats his job as an actor, to keep challenging his talent. Personally I think Scientology is a wacky religion, but there are other mainstream religions that are wacky if you examine them (Mormons believe Jesus and Satan are brothers and came from another planet, or something like that). How come you don't hate John Travolta and Kelly Preston? They are Scientologists too. All their children were born into Scientology. Kirstie Alley? If any of you believe in Karma than you need to give it a rest. This mountain of crap is going to come back on you. I am not a huge fan of Tom Cruise. I don't even think he is the greatest actor. He's alright and always entertaining. He is far better in films like Collateral, Magnolia, Vanilla Sky, Eyes Wide Shut, and War of the Worlds than he was cheesing it up in films like Top Gun and Days of Thunder. In fact in Magnolia and Collateral, he was brilliant, but you probably didn't see them because the media didn't tell you to. Bottom line, when you watch interviews of him, he is the nicest, most genuine person you can imagine. Now either its really true or he is always acting and just the best actor that I've ever seen. Which is it?

Posted at 10:14AM on Jul 14th 2006 by SeaNymphette

97. THERE IS ONE EXISTING PHOTO OF SURI: CLICK HERE:

http://yementimes.com/article.shtml?i=901&p=local&a=1

Posted at 10:25AM on Jul 14th 2006 by Meep Meep

98. Does anyone find it odd that once again Tom and Katie are all over again. First they were getting all the publicity because they were constantly putting themselves in the limelight, now they are getting all the publicity again because they are staying away. Coincidence? I think not. I bet if everybody would stop worrying about catching a sight of the baby, she would majestically appear-if she exists.

Posted at 10:25AM on Jul 14th 2006 by Renee

99. PS.
And the jumping on the couch on Oprah incident has been blown way out of proportion. I saw the clip. He is standing talking to Oprah all excited about being in love again and he hops back on a very low couch and back down. It is an instantaneous expression of excitement. Sort of like pumping your fist and saying "Yeah!". Its a hop, not this crazy, insane jumping up and down like he is jumping on the bed that the media is making it out to be. Don't be so easily manipulated by the media.

Posted at 10:31AM on Jul 14th 2006 by SeaNymphette

100. Hi, I was just amazed while reading some of the posts about Suri and their parents. Whether the baby is theirs or adopted, or was just simply a "plot" to have more headline news, it is their business. However, it is a bit shallow for him if he is in fact wanting more attention. He does seem a bit smug and stuck on himself. I used to like him but the more I watch him on interviews, he makes my stomach turn sour. Scientology=Tom Cruise=man's ideas.

Posted at 10:43AM on Jul 14th 2006 by Suzu

101. So many " conspiracy theories" so little time!!!!!

Posted at 10:56AM on Jul 14th 2006 by britney

102. No doubt the wait and wonder hype for Suri photos will up the price, however the disgust level for Cruise and fam seems to be increasing along with it. I loved Cruise back in the day - now I absofuckinglutely hate him and pity his sallow brainwashed twit of a wife. He's a gay man shooting blanks - period. Poor Katie will never escape his scam.

Posted at 11:13AM on Jul 14th 2006 by TCLTC

103. Tom & Kat - Question? are you not RICH ENOUGH? Accepting 4 million for a pix of your child??? How Sick is that ! This entire thing about being so secret about your baby - not allowing pix - I believe is your right and probably is best for your child - the public isnt ENTITLED TO your personal photos..................BUT WHEN you Decide its Time to Release a Pix of the baby - WHY PROFIT ON THIS BABY? Give the Photos for FREE..........................WE WOULD.......................Your just a bunch of Sick People and I cant even stand to look at you Cruise, your actions show you are so controlling and Kat your just as sick for accepting his crap.............

Maybe your selling pix for 4 million cause YOU KNOW YOUR GOING DOWN.......I will not go see any of your movies....................

Posted at 12:01PM on Jul 14th 2006 by SHAR

104. I am looking forward to seeing a picture of Suri. I am not going to pay even the cost of a magazine to see the picture.............unless mags put a brown wrapper on their mag for that issue.............then I will just wait a bit longer. I'm in no hurry, so why should they be? Or any of you be?

Posted at 12:22PM on Jul 14th 2006 by Marie

105. Who cares?...Jolie's baby made money for a good cause like her mother. Tom's kid is just for publicity.

Posted at 1:03PM on Jul 14th 2006 by Luz

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