Who knew The Valley would be the spring Bravo show we all needed? Honestly, I am just as surprised as you. The cast, old and new, is a perfect mesh of hot mess and young adult. Jax Taylor is back with a vengeance and frankly belongs on the small screen. Now that the spin-off is more “his show” than Vanderpump Rules ever was, he can thrive in the chaos.
The Valley premiered as a segue from its mother show, VPR, earlier this year. Bravo wanted to bring back Kristen Doute, Jax, and Brittany Cartwright now that they are living in the suburbs with their children and significant others. The Valley has already made a major splash within the Bravosphere, but with some fresh faces and three OGs, I wonder how much each takes home when the check clears.
Bravo payday
As most Bravo fans know, Bravo personalities weren’t paid much in their first few seasons. Many believe that the current rate for a star is $5,000 per episode. If Season 1 has 12 episodes, The Valley crew could be taking home $60,000 per season—not too shabby when you live in Hollywood. The Hollywood Reporter, an OG like Jax or Kristen, could make $25,000 per episode, depending on how popular they are with fans and garnering ratings.
The new faces
Now, we already know Bravo pay isn’t created equally, but The Valley has one thing going for it- they were an actual friend group. Naturally, the newbies like Jesse Lally, Michelle Lally, Nia Booko, her husband, Danny Booko, and the rest won’t be given the same payout as Jax and his entourage. But the rookies still get a pretty penny from Bravo. Both Jesse and Michelle have lucrative careers as Los Angeles real estate agents and are making bank on commission.
On the other hand, Danny is the breadwinner of his family as he works as an actor. His wife, Nia, is not only the mother of three but thanks to her Miss USA title, she can bring in a salary due to her hired brands and promotion on her social media. Basically, she is a very good influencer who makes money off her good name.
The friends of
Now, if the newbies aren’t making a ton of money, then we know the ‘friends of’ The Valley will be making a bit less. Jasmine Goode used to be a NY Jets and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. A cheerleader can earn about $500 per game. With 18 games scheduled for the season, that means Jasmine could have earned $8,500 for one season, not including the playoffs. As for Zack Wickham, he has already set up a Cameo page, which will cost a fan $50 for a personal video. Zack earned a degree in communication and media studies. Zack currently works as self-employed as a freelance public relations and media consultant.
But friends’ pay depends on the franchise. According to Distractify, Vanderpump Rules friends could make around $1,000 an episode. So, it is safe to assume that The Valley friends make anywhere between $1,000 to $5,000 for a few episodes.
The fan favorites
Jax, Brittany, and Kristen are more than happy to be back on Bravo’s pay roster. But before hitting it big, both Kristen and Jax worked as models/actors. Jax has a pretty successful career with brands like Target, Macy’s, JCPenney, Old Navy, Nordstrom, Kohl’s, Skechers, Paul Mitchell, Taco Bell, and Abercrombie & Fitch. Brittany and Jax also make money from their podcast, When Reality Hits. Jax has a Cameo and charges $123 for a personal video (no thank you). He also partners with brands, including XYON, Pennington Smart Food, and PHYSIQ.
Kristen also hosts her podcast, Sex, Love, and What Else Matters. In 2020, she penned her book He’s Making You Crazy: How to Get the Guy, Get Even, and Get Over It. VPR fans will also remember that Kristen launched James Mae in 2014, a clothing brand for men and women. Kristen also has a wine line that was brought back during the pandemic, Basic Witch Potion No. 1. So, as we can tell, the cast of The Valley are doing pretty well for themselves and laughing all the way to the bank.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK THE VALLEY CAST IS PAID ENOUGH BY BRAVO?
