Whenever reality TV hires “poor people” the salaries are notorious low until the show meets with success. Vanderpump Rules is no exception, particularly with Lisa Vanderpump as a producer. A show about a bunch of wannabe “mactors” waiting tables in Hollywood is a great concept. But the entire concept falls apart when the mactors get paid big bucks for the show. The first thing they want to do is to move into a better apartment, buy a fancy car and live beyond the means of a mactor waiting tables. This would detract from the premise and keep the wait staff from working at SUR, something LVP did not want to happen. In fact, almost all of them continued to work at SUR until the middle of last season.
A TMZ story today reveals that the SURvers earned a meager $19K per season for their first two seasons. This gave them great exposure, but it also kept them working at SUR. By season three, the cast and their agents began to bargain and win a per episode fee. The same thing happened with early seasons of the housewives. The RHOA were paid $5,000 in total for the first season, they got a small raise for the second season and just like the Vanderpump Rules kids did not get paid per episode until season three, when they made $10,000 per EPISODE. Even then, there were only 18 episodes in season three. Still, they jumped from $5K in the first season to $180K in the third. Contrary to popular belief none of the original housewives had a pot to piss in for the most part, other than Kandi. The SURvers are moving up the pay scale in the same way for season three and four.
Tom Sandoval’s agent had a five year contract with Tom. Tom did not have a five year contract with Bravo as the TMZ story suggests, BIG difference. What happened was, after season two, Tom wanted to dump his agent and hire a new one. Which he did. Unfortunately for Tom, his original five year contract is valid with his original agent. The courts recently found that Tom is liable for that agent’s 10% fee. That agent sued saying he believes Tom is making $15K an episode. I believe that figure is false, and too high but now that Tom has been found liable, he will have to pay the original agent 10% of whatever the new agent negotiated for him. It will could all be public record because Sandoval is going to appeal. I suspect that Bravo will step in and pay the amount owed to the agent with a confidentiality agreement barring him from disclosing the payment, and as a result Tom’s salary. Tom will mysteriously drop the countersuit.
Tom’s current agent has likely already been paid by Tom. On the off chance that Bravo doesn’t squash this (and that is a very small chance) Tom’s salary for all four seasons will become public record. As much as I’d like to know for sure it is what I believe it to be, I doubt we will ever seen that.
And that’s the true tea.
Thx- TT. Good reading here tonight.
My husband has an agent (he’s done a few small parts) and his BFF who is a model also has an agent. All of his paychecks go through the agency and that is who pays him. They see the money first.
I always wondered if they get an itemized document for every job? How do you know that you are paid correctly?
I did an acting job done years ago, one line on a TV show. The check came directly to me, and I signed it over to my agent.
I was an agent in NJ… So, the agent charges their 10% to the clients total bill and takes 15% from the model or actor. The client pays the agent or agency first, which could take up to 90 -120 days! Hence, the term starving artist.
It’s so interesting to see how all this works. The pay and the agents and the like. Thank you for the info!
thank you TT. It’s interesting to learn how the machinery works for these shows.
Thanks for the tea, TT.
Thanks, love knowing the $ scoop:) i’ve read different amounts on the different RH franchises in the past, would love to see any updated or even older information that you have, I love this kind of tea!
Me too – especially Beverly Hills.
I don’t understand why – if true – they brought Eileen in on $750k when (again, if true) the closest one to that is LVP on $500k … Eileen brings nothing to the show and I’m not sure her soap audience have followed her.
I think her soap audience did follow her.
Good Tea but I’m just here hiding from the Big Ang post.
LOL, dear Lady, I’ll try not to laugh too loudly and reveal your hiding place. May I join you?
Lots of room in my tree. And we have cupcakes. 🙂
LOVE reading this inside info ! Thanks TT !!
Our thoughts and prayers are with Angie’s family, friends, loved ones. She will be greatly missed by Gina and I. She was a beautiful person.We’ll see you when we see you Ange.
Celia,Gina
I have already commented about my feelings for both Angela and Tamara. This is just a word or two for those of you who are fortunate enough to have never seen “death” up close.
When a person’s brain is dead they are “gone”. Mechanical ventilation and/or external heart pacing can maintain the appearance of that person being “alive”.
These measures are taken to allow family members to say their farewells. They are also taken to maintain the viability of organs for transplant.
I assume that there have been changes since my days as a nurse working in ICU, SICU, MICU, and CCU.
Now, please, give those of us who wish to acknowledge their feelings of sadness and admiration for Angela a peaceful place to do so.
I loved when Ang chose that huge aqua sofa. I can just see her “lounging” on it, laughing, and playing with her grandchildren!
My cousin recently visited PUMP and posted pictures of herself with several VPR cast members. Of course I about fell over when she posted one of her hugged up on James Kennedy and him smooching her cheek. I demanded immediate visitation priviledges! She said they walked right in and most all the cast was serving. Notes***Jax is an ASSHOLE (no surprise) but James is a doll. Hope springs eternal!!! One day, Mr. Kennedy, one day…
Is there anyway that we all could get together seek out a fun~>loving , sober sweet mature kind little lady for Tom? Katie has gone way over the comfort scale with nagging, pick pick ick, the booze and her mouth. She’s let herself go we cant stand her.( I think Kristin n Tom would be adorable Kristen getting nicer and really cute) . Hey Tom did you ever read Dr. SUESS??? RUN TOM RUN. AND Jax n Stassi belong together…Jax keep it in your pants and Stassi stop bitching please be nicer! You are aging dear and you’re not so cute anymore. Kristen I like how you are being nicer. Makes you more popular. Everyone stop picking on La La, (Sheena you act so jealous it’s funny And clean up your act you have no class and you area little too much one way not becoming). But we feel bad for the poor girl. Hang in La La. Lisa you are awesome and precious. Thanks for sharing your establishment with us. Our favorite show. It is just that some of the cast really is annoying. LOVE the show. How do you not play matchmaker? Thanks see you next week
This post cracked me up! Hahaha