How much do reality TV families make?
June 13, 2007 11:18 AM Subscribe
Guilty Pleasure Filter: How much do reality TV families make?
I love the TLC/Discovery reality shows that feature "different" families, such as Little People, Big World or Jon & Kate + 8.
How much money do these families make from doing these shows and having their lives invaded? Are they getting rich off of it?
I love the TLC/Discovery reality shows that feature "different" families, such as Little People, Big World or Jon & Kate + 8.
How much money do these families make from doing these shows and having their lives invaded? Are they getting rich off of it?
It varies, and few families are going to reveal it.
But my co-writer Andy and I wrote about what we could find out in our Ask the Reality TV Experts column for MSNBC. Here's that entry.
posted by GaelFC at 11:28 AM on June 13, 2007
But my co-writer Andy and I wrote about what we could find out in our Ask the Reality TV Experts column for MSNBC. Here's that entry.
posted by GaelFC at 11:28 AM on June 13, 2007
Whoops, I thought you were asking about celebrity families.
I disagree with spec80 though. In our experience, even "nobody" families get a stipend, something.
posted by GaelFC at 11:30 AM on June 13, 2007
I disagree with spec80 though. In our experience, even "nobody" families get a stipend, something.
posted by GaelFC at 11:30 AM on June 13, 2007
I don't know what they get paid by the network (I suspect not much), but I think that it's the deals that arise from appearing on the shows that are the real motivation for participants. In the case of Little People, Big World, I remember that they were struggling financially the first season, and aren't anymore, probably due to the exposure they've received that has resulted in a busy lecture schedule for Matt as well as good publicity for his hotel accessibility kit company. I think he's also got a book out now.
I've only seen Jon & Kate + 8 a few times, but I noticed when I watched that everyone in the family wore GAP apparel pretty exclusively. If you've got 8 kids money has to be tight, so if GAP sends you a bunch of free stuff to get good PR and free advertising, so much the better for you.
posted by amro at 11:38 AM on June 13, 2007
I've only seen Jon & Kate + 8 a few times, but I noticed when I watched that everyone in the family wore GAP apparel pretty exclusively. If you've got 8 kids money has to be tight, so if GAP sends you a bunch of free stuff to get good PR and free advertising, so much the better for you.
posted by amro at 11:38 AM on June 13, 2007
close friends with the family of an 8th and Ocean reality cast member (mtv) and said member happens to be back living w/mom and dad again
posted by Salvatorparadise at 11:41 AM on June 13, 2007
posted by Salvatorparadise at 11:41 AM on June 13, 2007
A stipend, maybe, but certainly not a living wage. I would think the stipend would be a reimbursement for something the production team okays, not as a payment for services.
Also, sometimes the people in the show are listed as producers or something. Here is a list of cast/crew for Little People Big World and it says that Matt Roloff is a consultant, so he gets a paycheck from that.
It really depends on the contract/deal the family has, but I know that the productions that I and my friends have worked on did not give the family a salary. The incentive for them in celebrity and from that, they can make good money.
posted by spec80 at 11:50 AM on June 13, 2007
Also, sometimes the people in the show are listed as producers or something. Here is a list of cast/crew for Little People Big World and it says that Matt Roloff is a consultant, so he gets a paycheck from that.
It really depends on the contract/deal the family has, but I know that the productions that I and my friends have worked on did not give the family a salary. The incentive for them in celebrity and from that, they can make good money.
posted by spec80 at 11:50 AM on June 13, 2007
Wife Swap was offering $20,000 when they tried to recruit my family last year.
posted by COD at 11:51 AM on June 13, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by COD at 11:51 AM on June 13, 2007 [1 favorite]
Reality TV winners get tax reality check
Most of the reality "game shows" like Survivor or Big Brother, of course, pay out on a sliding scale based on how long you stay in the game.
But yeah, it's often the ancillary freebies and opportunities that people are really looking for. Lots of people are hoping to be the next Elisabeth Hasselbeck or Jade Goody, in one way or another.
posted by dhartung at 12:14 PM on June 13, 2007
Most of the reality "game shows" like Survivor or Big Brother, of course, pay out on a sliding scale based on how long you stay in the game.
But yeah, it's often the ancillary freebies and opportunities that people are really looking for. Lots of people are hoping to be the next Elisabeth Hasselbeck or Jade Goody, in one way or another.
posted by dhartung at 12:14 PM on June 13, 2007
Here is some dirt from Gawker about a mooted deal. Mooted, not signed. There were cameras in the building for a while, but I don't know if anyone got a check. And they say HBO has lost it. Geeze.
posted by shothotbot at 12:16 PM on June 13, 2007
posted by shothotbot at 12:16 PM on June 13, 2007
A friend of a friend was on a reality show and I believe got paid a stipend of about $1k per week, and this was several years ago. I would guess reality stars get something on the order of 50k-100k a year tops, which seems like a pretty good job salary but nothing close to what a real TV actor should be raking in. The whole point of reality TV is that they don't have to pay actors scale rates that unions come up with, they can pay below it.
I've often wondered about a show like American Chopper. They could be not getting paid at all, so they can sell more motorcycles and t-shirts with their logo, but then again, it's pretty invasive for the main players and what about the mechanics in the back that show up every so often. They must get something, but maybe it's related to camera time or something.
posted by mathowie at 12:18 PM on June 13, 2007 [1 favorite]
I've often wondered about a show like American Chopper. They could be not getting paid at all, so they can sell more motorcycles and t-shirts with their logo, but then again, it's pretty invasive for the main players and what about the mechanics in the back that show up every so often. They must get something, but maybe it's related to camera time or something.
posted by mathowie at 12:18 PM on June 13, 2007 [1 favorite]
I remember an article in the Washington Post (their archives are pay, you might find it there) about a lady who had signed up to do an episode for one of those home decorating shows. Not only did they not pay her (which she understood beforehand) but they also "encouraged" her to buy some expensive items that weren't really in her taste...and it was supposed to be a budget decorating show, too.
posted by anaelith at 12:24 PM on June 13, 2007
posted by anaelith at 12:24 PM on June 13, 2007
As an aside you might be interested in the 2002 French movie "Être et Avoir". This was an (excellent) documentary about a rural teacher and his pupils. After the film was a big success the teacher, George Lopez, attempted to sue the makers for rather more than the token amount he had been paid as a documentary subject. He was unsuccessful. So check those contracts if the reality TV people come knocking on your door.
posted by rongorongo at 12:56 PM on June 13, 2007
posted by rongorongo at 12:56 PM on June 13, 2007
I've often wondered about a show like American Chopper. They could be not getting paid at all, so they can sell more motorcycles and t-shirts with their logo, but then again, it's pretty invasive for the main players and what about the mechanics in the back that show up every so often. They must get something, but maybe it's related to camera time or something.
I would assume that the first batch of episodes were done either gratis or for small stipends but as the series has been renewed (and became more popular), the contracts get renegiotated with much more favorable terms to the participants.
posted by mmascolino at 1:12 PM on June 13, 2007
I would assume that the first batch of episodes were done either gratis or for small stipends but as the series has been renewed (and became more popular), the contracts get renegiotated with much more favorable terms to the participants.
posted by mmascolino at 1:12 PM on June 13, 2007
The Roloffs on Little People Big World have added onto their home, bought new vehicles, taken exotic cruises and family vacations and so forth. The show is a hit. I'm just guessing but I seems like thay must be getting paid rather nicely.
As an aside: Roloff parents! If you have a giant medieval war machine in your back yard, don't let the kids play with it!
posted by longsleeves at 7:27 PM on June 13, 2007
As an aside: Roloff parents! If you have a giant medieval war machine in your back yard, don't let the kids play with it!
posted by longsleeves at 7:27 PM on June 13, 2007
I have some in-laws that were on one of the nanny shows, and apparently they were paid about $5K to appear on it. Which isn't bad for a one-shot thing, but maybe they were hoping they would benefit more from the nanny's advice?
posted by calistasm at 8:25 PM on June 13, 2007
posted by calistasm at 8:25 PM on June 13, 2007
My ex is best friend's with a person on American Chopper (as in, grew up with him and roomed with him before/now). I don't want to say who, as I haven't gotten permission to specify. At least this way, people can assume I'm pulling shit out of my ass.
The family - or, at least, Sr. has gotten paid in the high 7 figure range for his participation on the show (meaning, his name, likeness, and company). Just him. He, in turn, has spread some cash to Paulie and Mikey. Paulie does not receive a lot from the show directly, but from the sideline gigs he's been getting. Mikey does not receive anything from the show, period. The guys that work in the shop get bonuses often - if an episode airs (both new and old) that focuses on one or more of the employees, those employees get a bonus from Sr. But aside from that, no extra pay.
However, a perk - if it's called one per se - is that because of how successful the show is, the bikes are currently backordered for almost a year, whereas during the first season, some of the guys had second jobs to help with their bills. Now, not so much.
posted by damnjezebel at 8:28 PM on June 13, 2007
The family - or, at least, Sr. has gotten paid in the high 7 figure range for his participation on the show (meaning, his name, likeness, and company). Just him. He, in turn, has spread some cash to Paulie and Mikey. Paulie does not receive a lot from the show directly, but from the sideline gigs he's been getting. Mikey does not receive anything from the show, period. The guys that work in the shop get bonuses often - if an episode airs (both new and old) that focuses on one or more of the employees, those employees get a bonus from Sr. But aside from that, no extra pay.
However, a perk - if it's called one per se - is that because of how successful the show is, the bikes are currently backordered for almost a year, whereas during the first season, some of the guys had second jobs to help with their bills. Now, not so much.
posted by damnjezebel at 8:28 PM on June 13, 2007
I work in reality TV, and it really varies quite a bit. On a show like Big Brother, where contestants have to give up their jobs for the duration of filming, they're paid a stipend for each week they're in the house or sequester (about $900/week). MTV shows will pay a lot less. On most documentary-style shows, especially on basic cable, it's nothing. There are also instances of non-monetary compensation, such as a new car, etc.
posted by Messily at 11:00 PM on June 13, 2007
posted by Messily at 11:00 PM on June 13, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
AFAIK, people in reality shows do not get paid anything. Their lives are not so much invaded because they agree to have the camera and the crews there.
In terms of perks, if a talk show wants to have them on, the show would provide travel, hotel and a per diem (depending on the show). They could also get a book deal and make money off of that.
posted by spec80 at 11:27 AM on June 13, 2007