Being the lead on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette is a pretty great gig. You get to live in a mansion, travel to beautiful destinations, and of course, you have a crop of eligible singles to choose from.
But what’s in it for the contestants, besides a guaranteed chance at Bachelor in Paradise and a lifetime of repping teeth-whitening products on Instagram? Do the contestants get paid for taking a very unlikely shot at finding love on a reality TV dating show? Here’s what we know about how much money The Bachelor and The Bachelorette contestants get paid.
How much do The Bachelor and The Bachelorette contestants get paid?
If you appear on The Bachelor or Bachelorette you get…nothing. That’s right: Contestants on the ABC show don’t get paid for appearing on the show. In fact, contestants have been very open about the fact that they’ve gone into debt to get ready for the show, as they’re expected to leave their jobs and buy their own clothes for the two months that they’re going to be filmed.
The ladies on The Bachelor also have to do their own hair and makeup, and it’s been estimated that female contestants spend about four times as much as the guys. Jillian Harris, who appeared on The Bachelor before she was named season 5’s Bachelorette, even remortgaged her home so she would have enough money for the show. Others have cashed out their 401(k).
ABC does provide dresses for the two finalists for the finale episode, and contestants have talked about receiving goodie bags while on the show.
How much does the Bachelor/Bachelorette get paid per season?
If you’re lucky enough to get chosen as the title bachelor or bachelorette, you can expect to rake in about $ 100,000. According to Insider, it’s possible to negotiate more money; season 8 lead Emily Maynard was reportedly paid $ 250,000 for her season. That six-figure salary wasn’t always in place, as season 2 lead Meredith Philips said she only got $ 10,000 for her season, according to Money.com.
Leads also get a free wardrobe while they’re on the show, and they have a stylist to help them craft their looks. They also get to keep the clothes at the end of their season.
So what’s the point of doing all of all this?
After appearing on the show, both the leads and the contestants are swept up in a whirlwind of talk show appearances, Instagram ads and sponsorships, and offers to get cast on other reality shows. Many Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants have also created podcasts after their stints on ABC, and they get money from ad spending.
Additionally, some of the contestants will later appear on Bachelor in Paradise, and they get paid anywhere from $ 7,000-15,000 per season.