How Much Was the Bonus in Christmas Vacation?

By Michael Ferguson

If you’re a fan of the classic Christmas movie, “Christmas Vacation,” you might be wondering how much the bonus was that Clark Griswold was counting on for his big family Christmas. As it turns out, the bonus plays a pretty big role in the movie, and it’s a question that many people have asked over the years.

The answer, unfortunately, is not entirely clear. In the movie, Clark is expecting to receive a bonus of $8,000 from his employer. However, when he goes to pick up his check at work, he discovers that instead of receiving a bonus, he has been enrolled in a “Jelly of the Month” club as a holiday gift.

While it’s never explicitly stated how much money Clark was supposed to receive as a bonus, some fans have speculated that it was likely around $11,166. This number comes from an early scene in the movie where Clark is daydreaming about what he will do with his bonus money.

In this scene, he imagines himself putting in a swimming pool and says that it will cost $7,500 “if I don’t go for the heater.” He also mentions paying off his credit card debt of $4,600.

While this speculation about the amount of Clark’s bonus may not be entirely accurate or confirmed by anyone involved with making the film, it does give us some insight into just how important that bonus was to him and his family.

Regardless of exactly how much money Clark was expecting to receive as a bonus in “Christmas Vacation,” we can all relate to the anticipation and excitement of receiving extra money during the holiday season. And while things may not always go according to plan (as they didn’t for poor Clark), we can still enjoy this classic movie and all its quirky holiday charm year after year.

In conclusion, while we may never know for sure how much Clark Griswold’s Christmas bonus was, we can still appreciate the humor and heart of “Christmas Vacation” and all the joy that it brings to the holiday season.