Captain Lee Rosbach stated that Below Deck cast members don’t make as much as the Housewives, but they receive industry standard pay plus whatever they negotiate with the network, and they receive tips from the guests. Some Below Deck cast members are making $5,000 to $6,000 a month plus additional tips, but there have been complaints from some members that they were not appropriately compensated over the years. Amid debate on salary fairness, former castmember Eddie Lucas revealed that Below Deck cast members are the lowest-paid cast members despite being on the most popular Bravo show.
Below Deck cast members make industry standard wages for yachting in addition to tips from guests, with some cast members making between $5,000 to $6,000 a month, but original cast member Eddie Lucas claimed they were the lowest-paid cast members on Bravo.
Captain Lee Rosbach shared his opinion on the wages of Below Deck cast members in a recent episode of his “Salty With Captain Lee” podcast. He believes that the crew members do not make as much as the Real Housewives stars, but they earn industry-standard pay for yachting and negotiate additional compensation with the network. He mentioned a recent Business Insider report stating that some cast members make $5,000 to $6,000 a month.
The original Below Deck series debuted on Bravo in 2013 and has since expanded to include spinoffs such as Below Deck Mediterranean, Below Deck Sailing Yacht, Below Deck Down Under, and Below Deck Adventure. Captain Lee explained that the stars of the show also receive an hourly rate for their positions and tips from guests. He observed that the crew members start at the bottom and work their way up in terms of pay, based on their value to the company.
The debate about Below Deck salaries arose when original cast member Eddie Lucas voiced concerns about compensation. After returning for seasons 8 and 9, Lucas revealed that he was not invited back for another season and expressed dissatisfaction with the pay structure. He claimed that the cast members are the lowest-paid despite the show’s popularity and described their compensation as frustrating when compared to that of the Real Housewives stars. Captain Lee acknowledged these issues but emphasized the importance of negotiating for fair compensation.
The podcast episode featuring this discussion was released in January 2022. It is evident that the topic of Below Deck salaries has sparked conversations both within the cast and among fans of the popular Bravo franchise.
