Reality television has certainly come into its own in recent years, and it seems like there’s a reality show for everything. We are all familiar with the favorites like American Idol, The Real Housewives, or Survivor, and given the popularity of these shows, we’ve started to wonder just how much the stars of these shows actually make. Now there are definitely good reality television shows and then there are some bad ones. The really bad ones definitely make you think how much the people in them get paid, because more often than not, they don’t really do anything of value. So why don’t we take a look at 15 different reality television stars and see just how much they actually make?
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15. Willie Robertson – $1 million dollar salary and bonuses
Duck Dynasty is a show about the Robertson’s family business, Duck Commander, where they produce products for duck hunters. However the show is more or less about what it’s like to be a redneck, and Willie Robertson is one of the stars. The show first aired in 2012, but after gaining popularity in 2013, Willie and his family saw a considerable pay raise. Apparently after that year, he makes around $1 million for each season. And that figure doesn’t include advertising revenue, bonuses, or sale of their merchandise.
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14. NeNe Leakes – $1.5 million dollar salary
From my basic grasp on the Real Housewives and all the various spinoffs, we watch a bunch of wealthy women go about their daily lives, which usually consists of gossiping, fights, and all kinds of drama. They more-or-less don’t really do anything, but they definitely make a lot of money. NeNe Leakes is from the Real Housewives of Atlanta, and apparently in 2014 she negotiated a contract where she would earn $1.5 million dollars for every season.
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13. Kim Kardashian – $1.6 million dollar salary
We are all most likely aware of who Kim Kardashian is at this point, so we don’t need to get into too much detail here. Her reality show, Keeping Up with The Kardashians, first aired in 2007 and they have since gone on to make 10 season of the show. She reportedly makes around $1.6 million for every season. But her family is independently wealthy, she has a clothing line, and makes a lot more money from other revenue streams as well. She is the queen of those who are famous for being famous.
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12. Nicole “Snooki” LaValle – $2.275 million dollar salary
In terms of really bad reality shows, the Jersey Shore is probably one of the worst. It was essentially a show about eight people that you never really would want to associate yourself with who live on the beach in New Jersey. The entire premise of the show was them partying, fighting, getting drunk, and dating each other. So basically, they didn’t do anything. Well Snooki, one of the shows stars, managed to negotiate a contract that earned her around $175,000 per episode for the last season. After the show ended, she has gone on to make a spinoff show with her housemate JWoww, and that brought in a good bit of money as well. She also released a book apparently, and is paid to attend private parties or make appearances. All together, she earns around $2.275 million every year. If you’ve seen her shows, then you know how absurd this is.
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11. Gordon Ramsay – $3.6 million dollar salary
Celebrity, professional chef Gordon Ramsay is another reality star that makes a good bit of money. Personally I like him, and feel that he is deserving of his incredible salary. He owns a variety of different restaurants throughout the world and has created a few reality shows now. Apparently he ears around $225,000 dollar for every episode of Hell’s Kitchen, and that’s just one of many shows that he has created.
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10. Keith Urban – $5 million dollar salary
Keith Urban is known for his work as an Australian country music star and for his music, however he’s made a few appearances on reality tv as well. He appeared on the Australian version of The Voice for one season, and then was a judge on American Idol for seasons 12, 13, and 14. Apparently he made about $5 million for each of his American Idol seasons.
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9. Blake Shelton – $6 million dollar salary
Blake Shelton is an American country music singer and musician who has had a successful career in the music industry. Like Keith Urban, Blake would come on The Voice as a judge/coach for the singing competition show. He’s appeared in every season of the show so far (8 in total) and makes around $6 million for every season.
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8. Pharrell Williams – $8 million dollar salary
Pharrell Williams is a multiple Grammy award-winning American rapper, singer/songwriter, and record producer who has accomplished a lot in the music industry. Outside of that, he’s known as a judge/coach for The Voice. There he makes around $8 million dollars for every season, but it’s not like he needed it or anything.
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7. Adam Levine – $10 to $12 million dollar salary
Adam Levine gained fame with his successful band, Maroon 5, and has since moved forward with many other ventures. He works with Blake and Pharrell on The Voice, and has also been a judge for every season of the show. However his singers have won more than both of theirs, so he makes a little bit more money.
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6. Ryan Seacrest – $15 million dollar salary
Ryan Seacrest is an American radio and television personality who makes most of his money through reality television. He was brought on as the host of American Idol and still remains as the host since the show first aired in 2002. Back in 2012 he signed a 2-year contract with the show for $30 million dollars. Outside of American Idol he also runs a production company that produces many popular shows like Keeping Up with The Kardashians. Apparently last year he made around $61 million dollars from all of his various business ventures.
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5. Howard Stern – $15 million dollar salary
Howard Stern is a prominent American radio and television personality who is best know for his radio show called The Howard Stern Show. In recent times, he was brought on as a judge for America’s Got Talent. He makes around $15 million or so for each season, but for him, his salary is a drop in the bucket. He’s worth around $550 million dollars actually, making his money from radio shows, his two books, a movie, and much more.
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4. Jennifer Lopez – $17.5 million dollar salary
Jennifer Lopez, as most of us know, is an accomplished singer and actress who has worked on a variety of different things. She also had a brief stint with reality television. She came on as a judge for American Idol in 2011, and stayed with the show for two seasons. When she joined, she signed a contract that earned her a salary of around $17.5 million dollars.
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3. Tyra Banks – $18 million dollar salary
Tyra Banks is a former American supermodel who has now gone on to become a television personality, actress, producer, and business woman. She is well know for her work as the host of America’s Next Top Model, where she makes a pretty good living. She pulls around $18 million dollars or so for every season of the show, and is worth much more than that.
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2. Judith Sheindlin – $45 million dollar salary
American lawyer and judge, Judith Sheindlin, is best known for her work as the star of the award-wining courtroom reality show, Judge Judy. The show first aired all the way back in 1996 and it’s still on today. It’s grown in popularity over the years, and she now makes around $45 million for each season. Without her, there’s no Judge Judy. She’s been so successful, that a few other judges have also attempted to make courtroom reality shows. She basically pioneered that genre of reality tv.
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1. Simon Cowell – $95 million dollar salary
Simon Cowell is an English talent show host, record producer, and talent scout that’s best known for his many reality television shows. He has launched Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, American Idol, and all the various spinoffs that are aired around the world. He’s basically the king of reality television and makes $95 million for every season of The X Factor and he’s worth around a half billion dollars.
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