Are Below Deck stars the lowest-paid cast members across Bravo? We can’t say for sure, nor can Captain Lee Rosbach. For as much as Captain Lee might now, he was not privy to anyone’s salary but his own. But he does have a few thoughts on the matter.
If 2023 emphasized one thing, it was how difficult it truly is to work in the entertainment industry. The writers’ and actors’ strikes were in full force and reality TV workers felt the reverberations. Many industry veterans reflected on the treatment they received from production companies like Bravo.
Recently, a report from Business Insider claimed that Below Deck cast members only made about $6,000 per month. Compared to Housewives who reportedly earn hundreds of thousands, of course the claim was going to create a stir. Now, Captain Lee is putting forward his thoughts.
Captain Lee reveals tip amount on his last charter
On his podcast, Salty with Captain Lee, the Bravo veteran spoke to the salary claims saying, “Do I think they make as much as the Housewives? No. But the Housewives for a long time carried Bravo.” He added that his yacht workers, “got paid industry standard [for yachting] plus whatever else they negotiated with the network. Whatever that is.”
Captain Lee further explained how he didn’t have issues with his pay, but his co-host Sam DeCavalcanti pointed out that he was probably a higher earner. He responded, “When you first come in, you start at the bottom. Then you work your way up, and as you make yourself more and more valuable to the company, then you get paid more and you request more.”
The Captain went on, “I don’t know what they make. I am not privy to their salaries, but I know what they make in tips, and that is a nice chunk of change. The last season I did, we split up a quarter of a million dollars in tips [after six weeks].” He further said, “Think about it. $1,500 or $2,000 for a three-day charter? That is pretty good money.”
He concluded by saying he was in support of fair payment. As for himself, he could say, “As far as salaries go, what someone else makes is none of my business. I negotiate what I want and what I think I am worth. We either come to an agreement or we don’t and I leave.”
Below Deck Season 11 premieres Monday, February 5 at 9/8c on Bravo.
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK OF CAPTAIN LEE’S WORDS? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE BELOW DECK PAY DEBATE?
