Do you ever wonder if contestants on your favorite reality shows actually get paid? Big Brother fans certainly do, and it turns out that the reality TV houseguests do receive incentives to stay on the show as long as possible.
The upcoming season 26 of Big Brother is set to have a special two-night premiere on Wednesday, July 17, and Thursday, July 18, 2024. But the big question remains – do Big Brother contestants get paid?
The answer is yes. Big Brother houseguests do get paid for their appearance on the show. The amount they earn at the end of the season depends on how long they stay in the game. Each houseguest receives $1,000 per week they remain in the house. This means that the longer they survive, the more money each contestant earns. However, the winner of the top two prizes does not receive the weekly stipend but instead is awarded a larger sum of money.
The grand prize winner of Big Brother takes home $750,000, the runner-up receives $75,000, and America’s favorite player gets $50,000. There are also additional incentives during their stay to boost their income, with the grand prize representing the ultimate jackpot.
But it’s not just the contestants who get paid well – Big Brother host Julie Chen Moonves also has quite the salary. After hosting the show for 26 seasons, Moonves reportedly makes around $3 million per season, equating to $75,000 per episode. Her net worth stands at an impressive $30 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
As for the cast of Big Brother season 26, fans can expect to see an array of new faces including Angela Murray, Quinn Martin, Leah Peters, and many more. The season will also introduce a new twist with the cast having the power to vote in a 17th houseguest for the first time in the show’s history.
The newest season of Big Brother is set to premiere on Wednesday, July 17, and Thursday, July 18, 2024. Weekly episodes will be released on Sundays and Wednesdays, with live episodes on Thursdays. Viewers can tune in to season 26 of Big Brother live on CBS or stream episodes live and on-demand on Paramount+.
