Below Deck has been keeping Bravo fans entertained since its debut back in 2013, and the drama has only gotten bigger and better. Since the show’s start, the Below Deck franchise has expanded with an array of spin-offs being featured on Bravo including Below Deck Sailing Yacht, Below Deck Mediterranean, and now Below Deck Down Under.
In addition to taking spin-offs to the next level, the series has also taken the yachting experience to new heights, too. With known names such as Kate Chastain, Captain Lee Rosbach, and Hannah Ferrier making headlines for years now, many fans are curious as to just how much Bravo pays its yachties.
While the show costs an arm and a leg to produce, it seems as if the cast isn’t paid as much as you’d think, especially when you take into consideration Bravo’s Real Housewives salaries. So, just how much does Bravo dish out to the Below Deck cast, and who is the richest? Let’s dive in!
Updated October 2024: This article is being updated to reflect the most recent information regarding how much the “Below Deck” cast earns.
Bravo Pays ‘Below Deck’ Much Less Than ‘Housewives’
While the crew does make good money for a charter season, not much of the salaries they make can be attributed to Bravo
When it comes to Below Deck, there are various roles on the show that make the yachting experience one that is so worthwhile. You’ve got the third, second and chief stew, deckhands, chief officers, the chef, and of course, the yacht captain.
Salary totally depends on your role. However, according to Slice, second and third stews make about $5,000 a month, and up to $50,000 a charter season, especially if they move from yacht to yacht.
As for the chief stew, which has been Hannah Ferrier, Kate Chastain, and Daisy Kelliher in past and current seasons, they can make up to $6,000 a month and $75,000 a charter season.
For the sake of the show, the cast doesn’t work full charters as filming would become too difficult. However, they still earn a decent salary.
The chef makes quite the pretty penny as well, earning as much as $7,000 to $10,000 a month and up to $95,000 a charter season. When it comes to the highest-paid position, that’s where the captain comes into play.
The captain of a yacht can make up to $210,000 per season. However, they typically earn between $120,000 and $150,000, says Slice.
Despite appearing to be paid a lot, it appears as if Bravo is quite stingy when it comes to Below Deck salaries, especially when compared to what other Bravo stars make, such as cast members of the Real Housewives.
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Bravo’s Below Deck chief officer, Eddie Lucas revealed that while they get paid more than a normal yachtie, Bravo doesn’t dish out nearly as much as they do for stars on other shows.
“While we do get paid better than a normal yachtie, of course, we are still not getting paid what people like the
Housewives
are making, which is a little frustrating, because they’re not really working — they’re just going out to dinner and fighting.”
‘Below Deck’ Cast Receives Lots Of Guest Tips
Total tips for a charter season can be as much as $200,000, which is split among the crew
Despite not being paid as much as other Bravo stars, the Below Deck cast also gets tips to supplement the lack of salary. Luckily for them, they oftentimes get spoiled with some rather hefty tips — the biggest ever being $35,000 after a few charter days, leaving everyone a few thousand dollars for that single charter.
Kate Chastain spoke with Entertainment Tonight where she revealed that a great tip is anywhere in the $5,000 per person range, and a “depressing” tip as she put it is anything under $1,000.
Related
Why Fans Blame Eddie Lucas For All The Things That Are Wrong With ‘Below Deck’
Eddie Lucas has been notably absent from Season 10 and 11 of Below Deck.
As for the Below Deck cast, they usually get quite a lot in tips, with the total sometimes nearing $200,000 by the end of a season. Split that between the cast and crew and you’ve got yourself some pretty stellar spending money.
Who Is The Richest ‘Below Deck’ Cast Member?
Ben Robinson is the richest Below Deck cast member
When it comes to the Below Deck cast member with the highest net worth, that accolade goes to Chef Ben Robinson. While you might think it’d be Captain Lee or Captain Sandy Yawn, it’s Mr. Robinson himself.
Related
‘Below Deck’: Where Is Ben Robinson Now, And How Much Is He Worth?
The star is now currently worth a whopping $3 million, which isn’t too shabby for a private chef.
Although the iconic chef no longer appears in the series, he’s managed to make quite the name for himself, all while amassing a net worth of $2.5 million. Pretty impressive, right?
- Release Date
- July 1, 2013
- Main Genre
- Reality
- Creator(s)
- Mark Cronin
- Cast
- Lee Rosbach , Kate Chastain , Eddie Lucas , Rachel Hargrove , Ben Robinson , Ashton Pienaar , Fraser Olender , Rhylee Gerber
- Seasons
- 10
- Writers
- Mark Cronin
- Streaming Service(s)
- Bravo , Peacock
- Franchise(s)
- Below Deck
