Bobby Berk reveals shocking money struggles on Queer Eye’s early seasons. Discover how he lost money and found success.
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Bobby Berk: “I lost money in the first season!”
Have you ever wondered how much money the stars of your favorite reality shows make?
We often assume they are wealthy, but Queer Eye’s beloved Bobby Berk recently revealed something that will shock you.
He revealed that he was paid “almost nothing” in the first two seasons of the show, and moreover, he had to pay out of his own pocket!
“Lost money” on the show
On a recent podcast, Net Worth and Chill with Your Rich BFF, Bobby opened up about his Queer Eye journey.
He revealed that in the first two seasons, he was paid so little that he was losing more money being on the show than he was earning from running his own company.
“We had to be away for about five months, so half of the year we were on the show,” Bobby said. “And then there were constant press tours.”
When did equality happen?
According to Bobby, it took seasons 3 and 4 to break even. That is, he had to bear losses for two whole seasons!
He clearly said that he used to get only a “single-digit percentage” compared to “scripted stars”.
Imagine, such a big show and such low earnings? This is really surprising.
Brand deals were the only support!
So, how did he do so many seasons? Bobby said that the exposure he got from the show opened new doors for him to work with brand deals and companies.
Remember when the Fab Five were often seen promoting brands?
The audience sometimes got irritated by this, but Bobby says, “We used to say, ‘Arre yaar, we don’t make money from the show.
How do you think we will continue doing the show?’
The real value of exposure
Bobby admits that all this was difficult, especially in the initial seasons, but the exposure he got was worth no price.
“You can’t pay for that kind of exposure,” he said. He said it was “like a bolt of lightning” that struck at the right time.
At a time when America was politically charged, shows like Queer Eye brought people together, “five gay guys going to red states and meeting people and showing humanity, not political connections.”
Bobby concluded by saying he never regretted being a part of Queer Eye. It really did become a cultural phenomenon that brought people together.
So the next time you watch a reality show, remember that the story behind the scenes is often not as glamorous as it seems!