The Bachelor

How much do the stars of The Bachelor or The Bachelorette get paid? Do the contestants make any money at all? To be honest, we’re not really going to know until someone comes forward and shares their tax forms. However, the general answer seems to be that the actual Bachelors and Bachelorettes make upwards of six figures — although there’s some debate there, too. 

Earlier this year, Us Weekly claimed Bachelorette Ashley Hebert only made $30,000 for her work on Season 7, as opposed to the usual salary in the $100,000 range. In comparison, The Bachelor Season 13’s Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney reportedly got the same $30K for televising their two-hour wedding on ABC in March 2010. We won’t even get into the reported $1 million that Trista and Ryan Sutter raked in for televising their wedding in 2003.

However, Spoiler King Reality Steve shot down that report, writing “I’m sorry, but Ashley would have to be the worst negotiator in the history of negotiations if she ever accepted that gig for $30k. What a horrible story. US Weekly actually believes the stuff they print? Ashley made over $100k for this season of the Bachelorette, which is standard.”

Before any of that Season 7 drama, Season 5 Bachelorette Jillian Harris and her chosen one Ed Swiderski talked to Us Weekly in early 2010 about their lack of money from The Bachelorette. As Jillian noted, “I think a lot of people don't realize we didn't make any money on the show. He did not make a dollar.” Ed confirmed that, adding, “I made zero dollars. I made $400 going on Ellen, for the record.”

Chances are Jillian did make some money from the show — why wouldn’t she? — but it’s interesting to hear the show’s winner say he came up empty (except for going on Ellen).

Although the contestants may not make anything on the show, it certainly pays to win — and stay with your Bachelor or Bachelorette. In an interview with In Touch, Season 4's Bachelorette DeAnna Pappassaid, "Hours after my finale, I was bombarded with offers for endorsements, special appearances, and more. But the catch was they wanted both me and my fiance [Jesse Csincsak]."

Four months following the final rose ceremony and proposal, DeAnna and Jesse broke up — and offers for $10,000 for both to appear at a nightclub and $5,000 for them to show up at a mall rolled in. "If Jesse and I stayed together, we could have easily cashed in," DeAnna continued. "But for me, it felt like selling out."

To date, three Bachelor alumni have gone on to another lucrative ABC reality show, Dancing With the Stars. Trista Sutter danced on the first season in 2005, but chances are she did not get paid a huge amount to be the first person ever eliminated on the brand new show. However, Melissa Rycroft cashed in when she went from Jason Mesnick’s heartbroken dumpee to the third place winner on Season 8.Jake Pavelka followed her onto the show for Season 10, although he didn’t fare quite as well. How much did they make? Well, they, too, reportedly all make over six figures — even if they are eliminated the first week. 

Season 8 winner Shawn Johnson’s DWTS contract was released in 2009, showing she got a $125,000 base salary just for appearing on the show, plus $10,000 a week for weeks three and four; $20,000 a week for weeks five, six, and seven; $30,000 a week for weeks eight and nine; and $50,000 a week for weeks 10 and 11, for a grand total of $365,000. 

Basically, it pays to star on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette. And it's only worth it to be a contestant if you're pretty damn sure you're gonna win the Bachelor or Bachelorette's heart. Also, if ABC invites you to do Dancing With the Stars and your career is in a downward spiral, go for it! What do you have to lose?

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