KIM Kardashian and hubby Kris Humphries scored millions by turning their ceremony into a media extravaganza.
The New York Post reported an amount yesterday of US$17.9 million ($17.2m).
The exclusive photo rights to the Hollywood super nuptials were sold to People magazine for US$2.5 million, a source told The New York Post.
But that was just the icing on the couple's cash cake.
Their biggest payout will come from turning the ceremony held over the weekend into a four-hour, two-part TV spectacular called Kim's Fairytale Wedding: A Kardashian Event, which will air on US channel E! in October.
The special is expected to pull in between US$12 million and US$15 million for the Kardashian family franchise and for the show's producer, Ryan Seacrest.
The wedding likely cost the celebrity couple very little, if anything at all, experts say.
LA celebrity event planner Tony Schubert said many vendors would have either comped or given huge discounts to the couple in return for the publicity.
"It benefits the vendors, their goods and services [to be] shown to millions of people," he said.
The 30-year-old star of Keeping Up with the Kardashians picked the Sotto Il Monte estate in Montecito, California, for the black-tie affair.
She got three US$20,000 Vera Wang gowns - one for the ceremony and two for later in the evening - all free, and US$400,000 worth of Perrier Jouet Champagne also gratis.
Her US$15,000, 10-tiered wedding cake with chocolate-chip icing and black and white decorations made by Hansen's Bakery was comped, too.
In addition, the US$10,000 worth of invitations by Lehr & Black were free.
"It seems they released the invitation a few weeks ago for obvious reasons. It's all part of the game," Mr Schubert said.
Other costs would have included US$2 million for Mark Gardens floral arrangements of African white roses and black and white decor, tents, lighting and favours.
Caviar, Kobe burgers, truffles, cupcakes and other tasty tidbits for the reception racked up a sweet US$750,000 tab for the nearly 500 guests, which included Seacrest, Lindsay Lohan, Eva Longoria, and Carmelo Anthony and his wife, La La, People reported.
The US$3 million in wedding bling - including the couple's US$1 million nuptial bands and Kim's US$2 million engagement ring, all by Lorraine Schwartz - was deeply discounted.
Even the US$50,000 bachelorette party was sponsored, by Tao of Las Vegas.
