diff --git a/src/controllers/hall.js b/src/controllers/hall.js
index d3a2796476..6fc104b0a1 100644
--- a/src/controllers/hall.js
+++ b/src/controllers/hall.js
@@ -55,9 +55,17 @@ api.updateHero = function(req,res,next) {
     function(member, cb){
       if (!member) return res.json(404, {err: "User not found"});
       member.balance = req.body.balance || 0;
-      if (req.body.contributor.level > (member.contributor && member.contributor.level || 0)) {
+      newTier = req.body.contributor.level; // tier = level in this context
+      oldTier = member.contributor && member.contributor.level || 0;
+      if (newTier > oldTier) {
         member.flags.contributor = true;
-        member.balance += (req.body.contributor.level - (member.contributor.level || 0))*.5 // +2 gems per tier
+        gemsPerTier = {1:3, 2:3, 3:3, 4:4, 5:4, 6:4, 7:4, 8:0, 9:0}; // e.g., tier 5 gives 4 gems. Tier 8 = moderator. Tier 9 = staff
+        tierDiff = newTier - oldTier; // can be 2+ tier increases at once
+        while (tierDiff) {
+          member.balance += gemsPerTier[newTier] / 4; // balance is in $
+          tierDiff--;
+          newTier--; // give them gems for the next tier down if they weren't aready that tier
+        }
       }
       member.contributor = req.body.contributor;
       member.purchased.ads = req.body.purchased.ads;
@@ -74,4 +82,4 @@ api.updateHero = function(req,res,next) {
     if (err) return next(err);
     res.json(204);
   })
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}