reality tv

How much do reality TV stars get paid? The answer might surprise you (or not).

There's a reality TV show for everyone: Chefs, home renovators, singers, dancers, mango daiquiri enthusiasts, TV watchers, those wanting to starve on an island for months, those wanting to marry a stranger, those wanting to date 25 different people.

Heck, if it wasn’t for common sense and the risk of public humiliation, we'd probably all be on TV.

If you don't win a big chunk of prize money (or #TrueLove), teeth whitening endorsements and being chased for paparazzi photos that end up on the Daily Mail might not quite cover all the bills... so, how much do reality TV stars get paid? Is it worth it?

Listen to Mamamia’s daily news podcast, The Quicky, about exactly how much reality stars get paid. Post continues below.

On The Quicky last year, host Claire Murphy spoke to Rob McKnight from TV Blackbox about how much reality TV stars get paid.

"If we judge it by what the contestants on House Rules get paid, they would get a $500 fee per week and a $500 allowance," McKnight explained, adding that the details were shared in a case taken to the Workers Compensation Commission.

"[Contestants] don’t have to pay for any meals as all their expenses are covered. But you’ve still got your mortgages, your bills, etc."

McKnight also shared that reality TV contestants don’t often make money until after the show has aired.

"The reality TV appearance isn’t going to make you your money. What the non-celebrities are hoping for is to find that 15 minutes of fame where they can cash in," he explained.

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"We see Married At First Sight stars doing Cameos, which involves paying for a recorded message from them, they might go to nightclubs and get paid for that, they might make $500 for emceeing an event depending on how hot they were within the show. But it’s very few and far between that the ones can actually make a career out of it," he continued.

"We have seen it with Chrissie Swan, for example. She was on Big Brother and has had a huge career since in television and radio. She was able to transcend being a contestant and become a legitimate personality but that’s not always the case."

Here’s what we know about the pay rates on other Australian reality shows:

Big Brother.

Before he was a radio host, Ryan Fitzgerald rose to fame as an ex-footy player on the 2004 season of Big Brother

Despite his season's record-breaking $1 million prize money, he said that housemates weren't paid as much as some might expect. 

"A lot of people thought that we got paid a motza when we were on Big Brother," he said on Fitzy & Wippa.

When Wippa asked how much he made, Fitzy replied "It was $100 a day... but this is the thing, I was in there for three months and you're not spending that money on anything so it's a long time. It's a good little whack when you get out."

Image: Network 10.

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On top of a weekly wage of $700 for three months, the radio host said he also took home multiple high-value prizes to sweeten the deal. 

"Back in 2004 when I was on Big Brother, I mean I finished fourth, but I left the show with a Mitsubishi Lancer, a trip to New Caledonia, I think I got a TagHeur watch, which I've got somewhere around here," he said. 

"Big Brother was the best because it was a show that you didn't really have to do much."

This was, of course, 20 years ago and Channel 10 is about to reboot the series and bring it back to the OG network. Hopefully, the incoming housemates would demand a larger salary.

However, based on some of the below wages… maybe not!

Love Island Australia.

The Love Island Australia contestants basically just lounge by a pool and kiss all day, which doesn't exactly scream 'hard work'. Maybe that's why they get paid... a pittance, unless they're also posting to the 'Gram.

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An insider spoke to the So Dramatic! podcast and claimed the 2021 cast received a daily fee of $150 for expenses, plus whatever they make from any sponsored content opportunities while in the villa.

"They get absolute bank for the brand deals they do during filming," the insider said. "They get paid about $1,000 per post.

"They are basically giving them paid sponsored Instagram content to do in the villa."

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The Bachelor franchise.

Image: Network 10.

The latest season of The Bachelor was different in many ways - for one, there were three of them. While none of them found love in the end, they did come away with some cash.

According to sources, Jed McIntosh made the most out of all the bachelors, and raked in over $400,000.

"Jed was paid $415,000 in instalments based on certain production milestones," a source told Yahoo Lifestyle.

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Felix Von Hofe took home $90,000 plus a $5000 bonus. However, he forfeited the $5K as he refused to partake in interviews or promo during or after the show.

Thomas Malucelli - who was the only bachelor who applied to be on the show (aw!) - made $50,000.

Jed earned way more than the other Bachies because he was, apparently, in high demand.

"Warner Bros. team were extremely pushy for Jed," the source said.

"They had a lot of pressure to use him to gain new audience and put a lot of emphasis on 'this is the make or break season'."

As for previous seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, contestants are reportedly paid $90 a day.

In 2018, a former contestant who chose to remain anonymous confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that the daily amount was under $100.

"You don't get paid a wage as such, you get given a weekly expense allowance which is under $100 a day. It is below minimum wage," she said.

"It's ridiculous what you get paid. A lot of the girls were excited to get that amount a week, but I was like, are you serious? I wouldn't get out of bed for that."

However, the rose-giver is likely to earn a lot more.

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According to Perth Now, which cited "a source close to Blurton", 2021 Bachelorette Brooke earned $250,000 for her stint.

Not bad at all.

For those who don't find love on the original format, the (former) option of flying to Fiji and drinking mango daiquiris in the sun would see them earn about $100-$200 per day.

"Most of us have got full-time jobs so we need money to pay for bills and stuff... it’s enough to get us through the week," Ivan Krslovic, from Ali Oetjen's The Bachelorette season, told Hit 103.5’s Carly and Seamus.

"We’re sipping cocktails and sitting around in our board shorts, so it’s not too bad."

Feature image: Network 10.

This article was originally published on May 23, 2023 and has since been updated with new information.