Kim Kardashian top-earning reality show star
"Keeping Up With the Kardashians" is more than just the name of a hit reality show it's also what everyone is doing on the list of the 10 highest-earning reality-show stars compiled by the Daily Beast website.
Kim Kardashian tops the list with an estimated $6 million earned this year for endorsements, her swimwear line, appearance fees of as much as $75,000, and - with her two sisters - the TV show, a book, a line of retail stores, skin-care products and more.
Sisters Khloe and Kourtney made the list as well, earning $2.5 million each.
The list counts income from book and endorsement deals, paid appearances, licensed products and TV-show salary, such Kate Gosselin's estimated $250,000 per episode for "Kate Plus 8." The site considered only those individuals whose celebrity derives from reality TV - so Donald Trump or Bret Michaels aren't included - and does not include competition contestants, such as those on "American Idol" or "Survivor."
Two cast members each from "The Hills" and "Jersey Shore" made it, as well as author and dieting guru Bethenny Frankel and former Playboy Playmate Kendra Wilkinson.
Books played a big part: Lauren Conrad's "Sugar and Spice" young-adult novels, the third of which was released in October, have sold hundreds of thousands of copies, according to Nielsen BookScan. Wilkinson's autobiography, released in July, likewise hit the bestseller lists with 79,000 copies sold.
Reality pays off big: Top earners
1. Kim Kardashian ("Keeping Up With the Kardashians") - $6 million
2. Lauren Conrad ("The Hills") - $5 million
3. Bethenny Frankel ("Real Housewives of NYC") - $4 million
4. Audrina Patridge ("The Hills") - $4 million
4. Kate Gosselin ("Kate Plus 8") - $4 million
6. Mike "The Situation" Sorretino ("Jersey Shore") - $3 million
7. Khloe Kardashian ("Keeping Up With...") - $2.5 million
7. Kourtney Kardashian ("Keeping Up With...") - $2.5 million
9. Paul "DJ Pauly D" DelVecchio ("Jersey Shore") - $2 million
9. Kendra Wilkinson ("The Girls Next Door") - $2 million
Most Popular
Top Stories
