Originally, reports surfaced that the family was being paid $75,000 per episode for Season 5, which was the season being filmed when I started reporting about the family.
An online search for the actual amount of compensation turned up the following dizzying array of figures:
“Jon Gosselin confirmed the family was paid $22,500 per episode of Jon & Kate Plus 8.”
“CNN reports that the Gosselins are paid approximately $50,000-$75,000 per episode.”
“Matt Lauer of the Today show reported the family is paid $25,000-$50,000 per episode.”
“The Gosselins make up to $75,000 per episode on their TLC hit.”
“$70,000 per episode.”
“The correct answer is $75,000 per episode.”
“They make appearances on TV shows and talk shows for about $1,000-$2,000.”
“Depending on the show, anywhere from $5,000-$40,000 per episode.”
“$60,000-$90,000 per show.”
“They make $45,000-$65,000 per season.”
“$65,000 an episode.”
“Some sources have said $5,000-$65,000 per episode.””
“The Gosselins make $75,000 per episode. So that figures between three million and four million per season.”
“In previous seasons, Jon and Kate were paid $40,000 per episode or about $1.48 million per season (about $3 million per year).”
“It is estimated between $25,000 and $50,000 per episode.”
It turns out the Gosselins were not making as much as a lot of people thought – at least not from just filming the show. After investigating further, I was told that the figure was actually about $22,000 per episode, much lower than the $75,000 amount originally reported.
In reading all of the contracts between the Gosselin family and Discovery Communications, as well as the Gosselin tax documents, the reports were way off base on how much money was changing hands.
According to a 1099-MISC that I obtained, Discovery paid Jon and Kate a total of $109,186.90 in 2007. Here is the breakdown of their earnings from their 2007 1099-MISC:
1/4/07 - $6,000 – 20 days of shooting
3/7/07 - $6,000 – 20 days of shooting
4/25/07 – $250 - Appearance Fee $125 x 2
5/9/07 - $5,000 – Service Recognition Add’l Payment
7/25/07 - $6,000 – 20 days of shooting
8/8/07 - $6,000 – 20 days of shooting
8/29/07 - $14,285 – Jon & Kate season 2
9/26/07 - $6,000 – Seasons 1 & 2 20 days of shooting
9/26/07 - $1,500 – Missed work pay for publicity appearances
10/3/07 - $2,246 – Shed site season 1 & 2 remove from 1099
11/7/07 - $25,952.50 – Season 3
11/7/07 - $2,000 – Seasons 1 & 2 on camera services all programs
11/14/07 - $2,000 – Season 1 & 2 contract amend for last 12 episodes
11/20/07 - $25,952 – Season 3
Adjusted 1099 - $109,186.90
The following is a breakdown of how much money the Gosselins were paid per episode for each season. According to the Gosselin/Discovery contracts, these figures do not include such things as bonuses, travel expenses, or per diems.
Season 1:
$2,000 per episode x 9 episodes = $18,000
Season 2:
$5,000 per ½-hour episode x 9 episodes = $45,000
(3) 1 hour episodes=$15,000 extra
Season 2 Total=$60,000
Season 3:
$5,000 per ½-hour episode x 32 episodes = $160,000
(4) 1 hour episodes=$20,000 extra
Season 3 Total=$180,000
Season 4:
$9,000 per ½-hour episode x 41 episodes = $369,000
(8) 1 hour episodes=$72,000 extra
Season 4 Total=$441,000
Season 4 was renegotiated to $22,500 per ½-hour episode x 41 episodes = $922,500
(8) 1 hour episodes=$180,000 extra
Season 4 Total=$1,102,500
Season 5: $$22,500 per ½-hour episode x 24 episodes = $540,000
(7) 1 hour episodes = $157,500 extra
Season 5 Total=$697,500
These numbers confirm that Jon was telling the truth when he said they were being paid $22,500 per episode. Now $22,500 is a lot of money, but it is a far cry from $75,000 per episode. Maybe that’s the real reason Kate felt she had to be out there working so hard. She wasn’t really shaking up the world financially with just filming alone, although it looked like she enjoyed having people think she was.
It’s decent money, but not when you consider what the family had to give up for it.
JULIE CARSON MAY
On April 14, 2008, just in time for contract negotiations for Season 4 of the show, Kate hired her new manager, Julie Carson May. This was Kate’s best move to date. That day, Kate and Jon, both individually and on behalf of their minor children Cara Nicole Gosselin, Madelyn Kate Gosselin, Aaden Jonathan Gosselin, Collin Thomas Gosselin, Hannah Joy Gosselin, Leah Hope Gosselin, Alexis Faith Gosselin and Joel Kevin Gosselin, entered into an agreement with Media Motion International, LLC, (MMI) to represent and advise them in the “entertainment/parenting” industry. Some of the terms of the agreement with MMI are summarized below.
The Gosselins engaged MMI (the Manager) to be the sole and exclusive personal manager, representative and advisor for the Gosselins in all facets of their career in the entertainment/parenting industry, with the exception of the items listed in Exhibit A.
The Manager agreed to advise and counsel the Gosselins regarding their career in the entertainment/parenting industry and to use its good faith efforts to promote, develop and advance their career, including negotiating applicable contracts.
The Manager agreed to assign Julie Carson May as the primary individual responsible for providing and/or coordinating the services to be rendered by MMI.
The initial term of the agreement was for a period of one (1) year from the date it was first written.
The Manager would not have the option of renewing and extending the term of the agreement for the first option period unless gross compensation of $350,000 (not including any revenues related to Exhibit A) had been paid to the Gosselins during the initial term.
For each additional option period, the Manager would not have the option to renew and extend the term unless gross compensation of $300,000 (not including any revenues related to Exhibit A) had been paid to the Gosselins in the previous 1-year term.
Gross compensation included, without limitation, all forms of income, consideration and compensation relating to the Gosselin’s endeavors in the entertainment/parenting industry (excluding compensation from Exhibit A). This included salaries, advances, earnings, fees, royalties, sponsorship fees, commercial fees, product licensing fees, partnership interests, shares of stock, bonuses, shares of profits, shares of receipts, and any other considerations earned or received directly or indirectly by the Gosselins.
Commission on all gross compensation related to any book projects or pre-existing projects that the Gosselins chose to have the manager work to expand would be fifteen percent (15%).
Commission for licensing, endorsements, sponsorships, DVD, CD, training programs/licensing, new product lines/extensions, television, radio, speaking, voiceover and internet/online and wireless would be fifteen percent (15%) (excluding Exhibit A).
EXHIBIT A listed the following things that were or would be excluded from the MMI/Jon and Kate Gosselin Management Agreement dated April 14, 2008:
Book projects/literary projects
All current aspects/revenues from the existing Discovery deal for Jon & Kate Plus 8 were excluded entirely. Only improvements to the deal would be subject to commission.
The contract with Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC in conjunction with the P & G brands Save/PUR Charity Program.
The Gosselin’s website advertising that had been procured or developed on behalf of the Gosselins, unless originated by the manager with the consent and agreement of the Gosselins
.
To illustrate the impact Julie May had on the Gosselin financial picture, a paragraph from the original Season 4 and Season 5 contract negotiation, before she was hired shows that the Gosselins asked for $9,000 per half-hour episode for Season 4, and $13,000 per episode for Season 5.
Julie May earned her money immediately and took the family from $180,000 to $441,000 in her first contract negotiation for Season 4. The Season 5 contract and amendment makes no mention of a pay raise per episode, so $22,500 appears to be the maximum earned per episode. They would have earned more for Season 5 if it had not been cut short by 16 episodes, due to Jon’s shutting down the filming because he stated that he didn’t want the kids to film anymore.
The figures that were originally being thrown around for how much Kate was making per episode for her newest show, Kate Plus Ei8ht were staggering. TV Guide reported that she made $250,000 per episode. At the height of her fame on Jon & Kate Plus Ei8ht, the entire family was only making $22,500 per episode, so the $250,000 figure per episode is very hard to believe.
But all the compensation that was being discussed was for the television show alone. Julie May was just getting warmed up. She jumped head-first into everything Gosselin and, before long, the offers were pouring in. Speaking engagements. Product endorsements. You name it, they asked for it, and usually got it. The sky was the limit.
When a tweeter asked Kate if the “5 million” figure was true, she quickly shot down the figure, tweeting the following reply:
I can absolutely say EVERY figure is way way way high. Only published 3 books too... All crap, but wish was true ;(
Given Kate’s track record for lying, it is possible that the actual figure was higher.
OUTER BANKS FILMING
On June 4, 2008, an email exchange shows Kate talking about “reality” when trying to justify having Discovery pay for her vacation to the Outer Banks, when Discovery wanted to film in Chapel Hill, NC, instead. Deanie from Figure 8 Films informed Kate and “Everyone” that they couldn’t book the house at the Outer Banks without first considering what would be shot and how many episodes they could cover.
Deanie said she had previously mentioned that the Outer Banks is many hours away from the Chapel Hill area and from the Myrtle Beach area, where Ripley’s Aquarium is located. She also reminded everyone that their original intention months ago when they were offered the OB location was that they would be able to shoot a minimum of four episodes over the course of two weeks. Deanie said that since that had dwindled to one episode on looking for property in North Carolina, they could not justify the expense. She then wrote that if they couldn’t figure out a way to cover more episodes, she didn’t think the beach outing would be a possibility.
Kate replied to “All” telling them that there were “TONS” of things to shoot near the house. She made it clear that visiting the aquarium was not mandatory because there were plenty of other aquariums for other times. She suggested wild horse tours they had always wanted to do and a lighthouse they could tour; she also mentioned the Wright Brothers Visitors Center. Kate said these were “All things we would normally do in REALITY!!!!!”
Kate also asked, “what happened to swim lessons”. She said she had not enrolled the kids in their usual swim lesson program because she was told they would do the swimming that week. It also sounded like there may have been an issue with filming the house because Kate argued that “(we don’t need to show the house and as for permission to shoot there, we could LAST MINUTE get a conf form signed).” She ended by saying, “Its time to think outside the box” and consider “what is reality for us!!!!”
“SPA-ING”
In an email from July 31, 2008, Wendy Douglas of Discovery gave everyone a friendly reminder that their weekly call was scheduled for 2:00 PM the next day. But Kate had other plans. She decided to skip the weekly phone meeting with Discovery – you know, the company that was paying her millions of dollars – to go to the spa instead. She said that she “may or may not be able to be on this call today” because she was going to be “spa-ing….for some wonderful stress relief!” She assured Wendy that Jon would be on the call.
T-SHIRT LINE
On top of everything else, a new Gosselin T-Shirt line was being designed. Julie May wrote to Jon and Kate to tell them “Good news—they are getting a T-shirt line going!” She sent them a first set of designs for their approval and comments. Julie told them that some of the designs were fun and good in her “humble” opinion, but there were some she thought they should nix for one reason or another. She asked Kate and Jon to take a look because she wanted to get them feedback as soon as possible because they needed to get revisions done by the end of the week.
KMART HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN
On September 15, 2008, Kate signed a contract to participate in a holiday campaign for Kmart. The Gosselins were paid $158,000 for up to 24 hours of “work.”
FREE HOME FURNISHINGS
When the Gosselins moved into their new million-dollar home in October 2008, you might have noticed that it was devoid of furniture for several weeks (episodes). There is a reason for that. Discovery was still working on getting a deal in place with Ethan Allen, to film Jon and Kate picking out furniture. Of course, anyone watching the episode would naturally think that the Gosselins were actually at the furniture stores buying their furniture with their own money, and the cameras just happened to be along that day filming them living their lives.
On September 23, 2008, a letter was sent to formalize an agreement between Jon and Kate, and Chandler Ehrlich LLC on behalf of Lane Home Furnishings, for Jon and Kate to serve as “celebrities for Lane Home Furnishings Home Theater Initiative from October 2008-October 2009.” Here are some specifics from the agreement with Lane:
Jon and Kate would be paid a fee of $30,000 ($15,000 due at signing and $15,000 due when the video shoot is completed).
Jon and Kate would receive up to $30,000 (msrp) in Lane Furniture (which was to be delivered after they moved into their new home).
Lane agreed to pay taxes on the furniture (including paying the Gosselins for any other taxes that would be due as a result of Lane providing furniture. Lane also agreed to provide a gross up payment to Jon and Kate to cover these taxes and any taxes due that would result from 1099).
Jon and Kate would provide a high-quality picture of themselves together to be used inside the truck only and for Market public relations activities. Jon and Kate would also provide a high-quality family picture with the children for use inside the truck only (an 11x14 photo to be displayed above the truck sofa).
Jon and Kate would have approval over all usage of their name/likeness and video usage.
Julie May emailed Jon and Kate to let them know she had talked to “Laura” at Lane, and Laura said she “LOVED” meeting them and was really happy with the film footage. Julie told Jon and Kate that Laura was going to send their second check out that week.
Julie asked them to get her the name and city of the furniture store they had in mind to go, and she would get the information to Laura so she could call the store and set up the “shopping spree ‘credit’!” Julie told them to let her know if they needed her to get store options.
Julie also explained that Laura would take some photos of the “new collection” when she saw it in about 2 weeks, and said it was up to them if they wanted to wait on that. Julie said, “You may want to shop now and then pick up some more pieces down the line? Whatever works best for you!”
In an email dated November 13, 2008, Wendy Douglas of Discovery informed Jon and Kate that they were working hard on a plan for the “Ethan Allan” shoot, and to please give her possible dates to go to the Ethan Allan store at King of Prussia and a date for a consultant to go to their house to give them advice for furniture. She stated that once they had dates, they could confirm the shoot and “get you some furniture!!! Gorgeous furniture from Ethan Allan!”
THE BOOK SERIES
In their ongoing and unre
lenting efforts to squeeze every last drop of usefulness out of the kids, Kate and Julie May tried to pimp out Mady and Cara, two 8-year-old girls, to write a SERIES of children’s books. They had this “right” built into an amended Discovery contract.” Julie May sent the amendment that would give Cara and Mady the right to do children’s books (including any sequels, which could be a series) to Kate on December 26, 2008. Julie told Kate if she could please sign, scan and email, she would get the documents back for signature and set up the “Cara/Mady project” in early 2009.
THE GOSSELIN GAME
There had been talk about exploiting the Gosselin children in a new and exciting way by developing an iPhone game about them. This is a partial description of the game.
Jon & Kate Plus 8 Game
In the game, the object is to make your way through the day while keeping all 8 of the kids entertained, fed, and organized until bed time so you can finally get some rest.
The game would start with the player taking on the roll of Kate on Monday morning. The player needs to get through 7 day/night cycles to win the games first level. Each level will not only be separated by days, but each day will also be separated in sections like breakfast, lunch and dinner time, with bedtime being the goal the player needs to reach each day.
Week one is about basic daily life in the Gosselin house, with getting the twins ready for school and getting the sextuplets awake and ready for breakfast and to start their day. Each of the Gosselin kids will have their own timer, where they will get antsy, start crying and even have a full blown tantrum if they’re left alone for too long without getting what they need.
KATE GOSSELIN: HOW SHE FOOLED THE WORLD - THE RISE AND FALL OF A REALITY TV QUEEN Page 19
