Reality TV shows are a guilty pleasure that many enjoy. From 90 Day Fiancé to The Bachelor, these shows are guaranteed to entertain...and keep you wanting more! However, not all reality shows are equal in terms of pay for participants. For example, there is no financial gain for contestants on The Bachelor, but some who've participated in other shows have gone on to become very wealthy from their TV appearances.
There's no doubt that those who manage to score recurring gigs on reality shows can potentially make a decent chunk of change...and then some. While contestants on RuPaul's Drag Race barely make a fistful of dollars, some of the 'Real Housewives' cast members are laughing all the way to the bank.
No matter how you look at it, the contestants and casts of reality shows are getting something out of it...either money or fame.
13 Contestants On RuPaul's Drag Race Earn $400 Per Episode
Fierce queens on RuPaul's Drag Race are in a league of their own, and being part of the show has opened doors for some, by putting them in line for new opportunities to make some serious bank! The contestants on RuPaul's Drag Race receive $400 each per episode, and the winner walks away with the grand prize of $100,000.
12 Big Brother Houseguests Get A Weekly Stipend Of $1,000 Each
Have you ever wondered whether the Big Brother houseguests get any financial compensation, other than the grand prize? Well, Big Brother contestants get a weekly stipend of $1000, which is not too shabby. Getting paid to chill sounds like a pretty sweet deal, and the longer they stay, the more money they make. The winner gets the $500,000 prize, while the second runner-up walks away with $50,000.
11 90 Day Fiancé Cast Members Make Between $1000 And $1,500 Per Episode
Despite being one of the most highly-rated reality TV shows, 90 Day Fiancé salaries for cast members are surprisingly low. The American cast members receive between $1000- $1500, while their non-American significant others don't get paid at all. The same goes for the supporting cast.
According to Reality Blurb, cast members get $2500 each to film the tell-all. 90 Day Fiancé: Before The 90 Days cast members get $500- $1000 per episode.
10 The Below Deck Cast Can Make Anywhere From $5,000 To $25,000 Per Month, Depending On Their Designation
There are numerous perks that come with working on a luxury yacht - in some instances, one can make up to $5000 a week in tips alone. As per The List, "an experienced captain can make up to $25,000 a month," depending on the size of the yacht. "A chief stew up to $10,000 per month, a bosun up to $6,000 per month, deckhands up to $5,000 per month, stews up to $6,500 per month, and a chef up to $11,000 per month."
9 Jax Taylor Is The Highest-Paid Vanderpump Rules Star, With A $25,000 Check Per Episode
The cast of Vanderpump Rules is intriguing and full of drama; they are celebrities in their own right. The Vanderpump Rules cast has different salaries, as most reality show cast members do. Scheana Shay gets the lowest pay, at $10,000 per episode. Jax Taylor is the highest-paid cast member, with a salary of $25,000 per episode.
8 The Contestants On Dancing With The Stars Can Make Around $10,000- $50,000 Per Week
Dancing With The Stars pays its contestants $125,000 just for signing up to compete on the hit show. It only gets better from there, According to Gawker, the stars make,"$10,000 each for the next two episodes, $20,000 for each of the two episodes after that, $30,000 each for the two subsequent episodes, and $50,000 for appearing in the final two episodes of the season."
7 The Bachelor Leads Can Rake In About $75,000 To $100,000 Per Season, Which Is Subject To Negotiation
The contestants on The Bachelor do not get paid to appear on the show - in fact, some have been reported to spend thousands of their own dollars on gowns. However, the lead gets an impressive payoff.
According to Men's Health, 'The Bachelor' rakes in a cool $100,000 for a season, and that amount is subject to negotiation. Sean Lowe is reported to have made less than 100k. He allegedly earned between $75,000- $90,000 for his season.
6 For Jersey Shore's Final Season, The Cast Was Making Upwards Of $150,000 Per Episode Each.
In 2009, when Jersey Shore premiered, the unknown reality stars were paid the equivalent of 200 bucks in gift cards per week! By the third season, the show was a massive hit and cast members were making $30,000 each per episode. For the final season, a majority of the cast reportedly made a whopping $150,000 each.
5 KUWTK Stars Make An Average Of $930,000 Each Per Episode
The reality stars everyone loves to hate! Love or hate them, there's no denying that the Kardashian's are superstars and have turned their brand into a multi-million dollar empire. Keeping Up With The Kardashians has been running for 18 seasons and cast salaries have increased over the years. Kim and the gang reportedly make an average of $930,000 each per episode.
4 The Real Housewives Make An Average Of $500,000 -$2.7M Per Season
There's no denying that The Real Housewives live seemingly glamorous lives. Hefty paychecks from Bravo, coupled with all their other ventures, ensures that these sassy ladies live it up. The lowest-paid Housewife is Ramona Singer, with a salary of $500,000 per season. Nene Leakes rakes in a cool $2.75 million per season, making her the highest-paid Housewife.
3 Survivor Season 40 Winner, Tony Vlachos, Walked Away With $2 Million
Survivor season 40 was unlike any other season, Tony Vlachos, the winner of the season, walked away with a $2 million cash prize, whereas the winners of previous seasons were competing for $1 million.
What makes Survivor unique is that there are other prizes to be won by the players - the second-place winner gets $100,000 and every player that steps foot on the island and makes it onto the reunion stage reportedly walks away with $35,000.
2 The Voice Coaches Aren't Too Shabby, With Salaries Ranging Between $2M To $17M
While some might argue that The Voice hasn't produced quite as many stars as American Idol did, it's still widely liked. Do you know who is smiling all the way to the bank? The Voice coaches, because the gig pays well. It is not surprising, considering these coaches are already megastars.
CeeLo Green was reportedly the lowest-paid coach, with a $2 million per season salary, while Christina Aguilera got the most money - $17 million per season.
1 Simon Cowell Was The Highest Paid Judge In American Idol History, With A Salary Of $36M Per Season
Much like the coaches on The Voice, American Idol judges are oftentimes very accomplished artists who already have tons of money. Whenever there is as much star power as there is on American Idol, you can expect the salaries to be exorbitant. Take Simon Cowell, for example - he is the highest-paid judge in American Idol history, with a salary of $36 million per season.
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