Who Knew? The Situation Earns More Than Mr. Schue

By John Mitchell Posted Aug 23rd 2010 06:15PM

On Monday, we learned that Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino is expected to make $5 million this year from endorsement deals, a forthcoming clothing line and, most importantly, his earnings from the MTV mega-hit 'Jersey Shore' -- for which he earns a staggering $60,000 per episode.

With 12 episodes of 'Jersey Shore' set for this season, that's $720,000 -- a number you can multiply by two since he's filming 'Shore's' third season in Seaside Heights, NJ, as we speak, for annual 'Shore'-related earnings of $1.44 million.

While we're thrilled that our buddy Mike is earning mad Benjamins, we started to wonder how The Situation's per episode earnings stacked up against other, less-abtastic TV stars, and ... well, we were shocked to find that he is out-earning some of the biggest names in television.

Perhaps most surprising is that The Situation earns more per episode than every single cast member on the most talked about new series of the year, 'Glee.' With 19 Emmy nominations, the teen musical-dramedy was the most nominated series this year, and its top earning stars aren't exactly hurting for cash: Matthew Morrison, who plays glee club director Mr. Schuester, earns $30,000 per episode, while his on-screen nemesis, Jane Lynch, brings in $50,000 per episode, according to TV Guide.

A full-season order for a typical show on network television is 22 or 23 episodes, meaning his Emmy-nominated turn on 'Glee' netted Morrison about $660,000 this year -- $60,000 less than The Situation earned for appearing in half as many episodes of 'Shore.'

Lynch, meanwhile, walked away (in a track suit, we hope) with $1.1 million in 'Glee' bucks, and she probably pocketed some considerable cash from her endorsement deal with Xbox 360, though those numbers have not been made available.

Elsewhere on the tube, Ty Burrell, star of ABC's 'Modern Family,' the network's highest rated new comedy, earns $50,000 for each installment of the hit sitcom. That's about $5,000 more than Joel McHale earns as host of 'The Soup' -- though he benefits from 'The Soup's' increased episode order and brings in about $2 million a year as host of the E! clip fest (and probably a good bit more as star of 'Community' on NBC).

Over in tween dreamland, Selena Gomez, she of 'The Wizards of Waverly Place' and the recent film 'Ramona and Beezus,' brings home $30,000 each time she works her magic for the Disney Channel. That's the same amount earned per episode by The Situation's counterpart in sea-side debauchery, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi.

For a little perspective, Mr. Muscles brings home as much cash per episode of 'Shore' as Johnny Galecki earns as star of the second most watched sitcom on television, 'The Big Bang Theory.' Galecki's co-star, Jim Parsons, earns $40,000 per episode of the CBS hit.

Of course, there are a ton of TV stars earning way more than The Situation. Per episode, Hugh Laurie brings home $400,000 for 'House'; Tina Fey enjoys a $350,000 payday for each '30 Rock'; and each of the 'Desperate Housewives' earns $400,000 to cause a ruckus on Wisteria Lane. And no one is bringing home more green than Oprah, who earned $315 million last year.

But here in PopEater headquarters, we all paused for a bit of introspection when we learned that comedy legend and our honorary grandmother, Betty White, earns $75,000 per episode for her turn in the TV Land hit 'Hot in Cleveland' -- just $15,000 more than The Sitch. 'Cleveland' aired 10 episodes this summer, meaning that, when all the cash was counted, the six-time Emmy winner (and 19-time nominee) actually went home with $750,000 for the full season of her sitcom ... just $30,000 more than He-of-the-Always-Lifted-T-shirt makes to go to the gym, tan and do his laundry per season of 'Shore.'

Tags: jersey shore, mike the situation sorrentino, the situation

Comments

(38)

Monday 23 August

By kake79

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At least they have their dignity... and our respect. The real stars also have far more earning power over their lifetimes than The Situation's meager fifteen minutes

Still makes me want to puke, though.

Tuesday 24 August

By Jessica

Once his 15 minutes is up the same will happen to his earning power.

Wednesday 25 August

By kevin

the funny thing is he believes he is a star. its such a joke like his 6 pack that only has 4. his 15 minutes was up long ago and fox must be nuts to pay him that. what a no talent piece of crap. perhaps he can go gay porn when the show ends!

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By Teresa

You have to be kidding me. These people that are on this show are sick. If this is what our kids are looking up to then we shouldn't be suprised when they act just like them. I can say that we do not and will not watch this show in my house. Everytime I hear snookie or the situations names it gives me a headache. I have an idea why don't you guys get a real job and be productive members of society and maybe someone that a young person could look up to instead of someone parents are pointing to and saying "you don't want to be like them do you." No direction in life except to party and fight and have sex on TV. I respect someone who actually tries to better themselves quietly not screaming it to people on TV. I live by a saying it goes like this "don't do anything that your parents might be ashamed of" If you think your parents would be ashamed don't do it. Another thing to think of is someday your kids will see this. Do you want them to act this way? I'm just saying

By lisa

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

looks like the situation isn't as stupid as he's made out to be.

By ennui

IN A WORLD WHERE matt lauer MAKES MILLIONS, IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT THIS MORON PULLS IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY HE DOES....CULTURE IN THIS COUNTRY MEANS AS MUCH AS GOING TO THE OPERA MEANS TO A TAPEWORM.

By DUDE

THE FACT THAT A SHOW ABOUT A BUNCH OF CONCEITED,EGOTISTICAL, SUPERFICIAL WOPS IS THIS POPULAR JUST SHOWS ME THAT AMERICA'S TASTE IN ENTERTAINMENT HAS DIPPED BELOW THE RETARDED LEVEL.

By non ya business

who cares, its way to much for WHAT little he does..... GET A REAL JOB DUDE THEN WE'LL TALK!!!

he is one fugly little troll!!! maybe he can use some of that sixty grand per show to BUY A NEW FACE!!!!!!

By FRANK L.I .N.Y.

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

MIKE THE SITUATION HIS TIME IS LIMITED HE NEED TO MAKE AS MUCH AS HE CAN BUY THE 5TH OR 6TH SEASON IT'S GOING TO END THAT SHOW THE ONLY WAY IT COULD STAY ON LONGER IS THEY GOT TO ROTATE THE WOMAN ON THAT SHOW AND SOME OF THE GUYS TOO.

JENNIFER ANDISON HAS TO REALIZE HER MOVIES STINK AND NEEDS TO GO BACK TO TV SHE IS NOT CUT OUT FOR MOVIES SHE CAN'T KEEP THE PEOPLE INTERESTED.
SHE IS A TV FUNNY PERSON THAT IS HER SPEED , SHE WILL DEFINITLY GO FURTHER THEIR.

By Tigerlily

It's ridiculous how much money most of these people make but this guy? He's a clown. This reminds me of when a fad is finally over. You can always tell when it's about to drop out of sight and this guy is no different he'll be yesterdays news before tomorrow.

BTW, I can just imagine all the agents calling for contract changes for their clients.

By Regnisj

My thoughts exactly! If I had a client that was making less then this clown, you better bet I'd be going to the studios for more. The only thing this will do is up the ante on everyone else and make the shows pay up. Glee must make millions and they pay their cast as little as possible, but then again they signed the contract! I can't believe "talents" like this can rake in the bucks. Must have a really good person representing him.

By Stephanie

Really?
This makes me sick. I am a widow with four kids and don't make close to that. I want my own show. We can call it Stephanie "The Situation" Smith. I can walk you throuhg the day to day life of a real person trying to make it in the real world. Please he makes that much money to get drunk, scoop ice cream, and bring home grinades. Makes me sick.

By jessmcalli

I've never watched a single episode of this show. Just the coverage it gets on sites like this and newsstands, makes me want to vomit. Seriously, who gives a crap about these fame-whoring idiots? "The Situation"? Really? What the hell? And just what the hell is going on with his hair? That has to be the dumbest haircut I have ever seen on a dude, right next to a mullet. Well, at least now when I hear the terms guido or guinea, I have a person to reference. If anyone embodies a negative stereotype, it's him. It'll be nice when his 15 minutes are up, and he'll be just another loser with a bad haircut, and way too much tan.

By peg

Won't watch FOX anymore..this is the crap they want us to watch and they pay these as--oles that kind of money.....do something constructive with your money FOX.....FEED THE POOR....NOT the KIDS that give ITALIANS and THE SHORE a BAD NAME!!

By denise

clearly its the networks fault for promoting such noncence who cares about this stuff and shame on the networks for giving in to this,,,like its real important to see what all i hae heard is that they make fools out of themselves

By beausbud

All I can do is laugh! Only on Fox! Even their news programs are better than this one. 94% of respondants say this "show" is over...and it is still on the air. Who is watching? Tweens with no adult supervision? If this is the new television...I'm getting a new book!

By ablacksafari

He is the main guy on the show, then Pauly D and then Snooki. He is just a fun guy while bozo Ronny is a let down with all his anger and the others just plain old dumb with j-wow acting like a man. I say keep the Situation,Pauly D and Snooki and get rid of the rest...

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