How Much Does 'The Bachelor' Get Paid?

You’d think that true love would be reward enough for any leading man or woman on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, but these stars are also getting six-figure paychecks, according to TV guru Reality Steve.

The Bachelor Salary

While ABC doesn't share exactly how much it pays per season, Steve has previously estimated that it's more than $100,000—and he was making that judgment back in 2011. Nearly 10 years later and The Bachelor salaries probably haven't gotten smaller. That said, certain stars make more than others. If there’s a televised wedding, for instance, they get a nice big check. And Season 8 Bachelorette Emily Maynard was rumored to have made out with a whopping $250,000.

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Like so many people my age, and maybe like you, i am a mix of contradictions as i try to figure out where i fit in. I can be tough one day and cry the next. I can get angry, but i can be vulnerable, too. My mood changes daily. I make mistakes. I am not afraid to try new things. I want to be successful. But i find the most meaning when i help other people. There’s something about giving selflessly that makes me my best self. Going on the bachelor brought a lot to me — some good, some bad, and some I’ll never be able to figure out. I went looking for love and found out more about myself than i imagined. Today, I get to add “Author” to the list of words that describe me among many other things. I hope that this book can resonate or help even just one person that is struggle or going through a rough time in their life. Thank you all so much for going on this ride with me. ♥️??

A post shared by Colton Underwood (@coltonunderwood) on Mar 31, 2020 at 10:03am PDT

And beyond the salary, the money doesn't stop post-Bachelor. There are also the ever-increasing ways to capitalize on reality TV fame. As Cosmopolitan points out, alums can make $125,000 on Dancing With the Stars, or $345,000 if they win (like former Bachelorette Hannah Brown did). And that’s an old-school route. There’s tons of cash floating around from Instagram endorsements, and a contestant with 1 million followers can earn $10,000 for each sponsored post, according to Refinery29.

Meanwhile, contestants on The Bachelor aren’t quite as fortunate. In fact, they aren’t paid at all, reports Life & Style. Instead, they usually quit their jobs and spend loads on clothes and makeovers as they get ready to go on national TV. Still, if they aren’t lucky enough to find a soulmate on the show, they’ll probably have less trouble snagging some spon-con.