'Teen Mom' Stars Earn $60,000 Per Season

By Rob Shuter Posted Oct 28th 2010 05:30PM

The young parents of MTV's hit show 'Teen Mom' are making a pretty good living for being a bunch of teenagers. A series insider exclusively tells Life & Style magazine that the "stars earn $60,000 to $65,000 per season." That's more than many reality stars, but not as much as their fellow MTVers at the 'Jersey Shore' or 'The Hills,' whose stars used to make between $90-125,000 per episode.

"It's a monster hit," an insider tells me. "With ratings like that they deserve to be well compensated."

Indeed it's one of the biggest shows on the network and judging by amount of magazine covers they grace, the 'Teen' stars are arguably more bankable than those 'Jersey' boys and girls.

The $60k a year is enough money to provide on-again off-again couple Amber Portwood and Gary Shirley with comfortable lives, but neither one seems to be a good saver. "Gary says he's broke," Gary's best friend, Jordan Sanchez, tells Life & Style. "The money is the only reason he's willing to do the show. You can't walk away from money like that."

Which is exactly the case and Amber and Gary have already started filming the next season of the show.

"They're filming in Tennessee," Jordan says, but they are talking about moving to Florida, where Amber's uncle owns a business.

Amber has another reason to need more cash flow: lawyers fees. As you may have heard, the fiery teen is being investigated for domestic violence by police in Anderson, Ind. and the state Department of Child Services for incidents ON THE SHOW where she physically hit her then-boyfriend in front of their daughter, Leah.

When confronted about the situation by Dr. Drew Pinsky on the 'Teen Mom' reunion show last week, Amber broke down in tears and claimed to have "blacked out" during the incident, saying she only remembers striking Gary once.

Please make this stop. Please.

Teen Mom (Season 2) - MTV Shows

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Comments

(124)

Friday 29 October

By Amy

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So, instead of earning my master's degree, I could have gotten knocked up as a teen and been on a "reality" show - earning more money than I do now? Damn. Where did I screw up? {eye roll} When will tv show creators realize that they are setting poor examples for young kids by promoting teen pregnancy (Teen Mom) and stupidity (Jersey Shore, among others)? I really loathe tv anymore. Makes me glad my son doesn't (and will never) watch this drivel and is still easily enamored by cartoons.

By Bonnie

I agree, I have a master's degree and have been teaching for 6 years and I have not made 40 yet. What's up with this. I will no longer watch it. Where is the reality?

Saturday 30 October

By Larry

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Right!! Aren't we teaching the young generation the right things. No wonder our schools are so screwed up. Look at what kids are watching. Parents have a hard enough time keeping their kids in line and out of trouble without having all these stupid reality.

By lyza

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i think that farrah is a fantastic mom!! shes got it all together, and then some!! her mom is an abusive old, miserable lady!! and as for gary and his girl... I would love to meet up with her and see how tuff she really is!! and if gary allows all this abuse in his life then he deserves it!! poor babies....

By Linda

Farrah isn't a terrible mom but she is definitely immature and tends to treat her daughter as a mini-adult rather than a child. Who takes a 1-year old for a pedicure for her 1st birthday and then takes her out to an adult restaurant for dinner? Farrah also treats her mother like crap and while Debra isn't one of my favorite people, she does not deserve to be treated the way she is by her daughter. Farrah is a spoiled brat who throw temper tantrums every time things do not go her way.

By Sheri

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All we did by making this show popular is give the a way to never have to work. How is farah broke if they get paid that much. We have pretty much told young girls that getting pregnant will get you on tv now.

By amanda

amber is so trashy it makes me sick. from what i see on the show i feel she is a horrible mother! leah should be given to gary and they shouldnt be allowed to be together. someone please help that baby. amber is so awful!

By Lisa Green

Teen Mom: i do watch this series when i get a chance-i hope the show follows Farrah, Katelyn, Amber, Macey at least until their babies go to kindergarten-that would be interesting to see how this plays out-i am not interested in watching teen mom with an entire new cast of moms-i wanna watch thee original moms-see how their choices, affect their lifes...

By Lisa green

its not really reality after the first 6 weeks-its acting...

By inlawracing0

nkj

I work in the area where Amber and Gary live, trust me when I tell you the city of full of Amber's amd Gary's. Just people who live off the government and set around drinkin Ricker's pop.

By Meody

The reason why young teenager are having baby so young is so they can help there own family out with welfare and cash aid and stuff. I think it crazy that young teenager are having baby when they are a baby themself. All they are doing is sleeping with who ever they want to and they don't care who the father is. It is so sad that our country is turning out the way it is and also the parents are the blame for this too. I am a mother to three and one is in the Army and haven't had sex yet and he is 19 and I have another one that is 18 year old and he doesn't want a girl and he is in college. He say all the time that girls want him for one thing and that is sex so he back off. I have a 11 year old daughter and she doesn't act like some of this 11 years old here in town trying to have a baby. I think our country would make young girls and guys work so they can't think about sex. I was 14 year old when I started working and why can't we do that now but no our country is so mess up right now and it sad.

By Gina

Why . . . . in the world are they glamorizing these irresponsible kids? Do you honestly think the teenage viewers will learn anything from this?

By Hilda

After reading this who knows how many teenagers might try getting prego so they can get a spot on a show like this !

By tammi

Why do we reward our kids for things that we should be punishing them for? I have a teenage girl and if she came home pregnant threre is NO WAY she would be making a dime off it!!!

By Christina

This is not true at all...they make something like 5k an episode...Seems like one of them was bragging to a friend about how much money they make and that friend went and ran to the media...look at how they live, its obviously not true

By Destiny

Add it up, 5k and episode turns in to 60k pretty quick brainiac!

By S. Hilley

What a sad state our country is in when we exploit teens gone wild instead of showing the multitudes of teenagers that are making a difference in this world. We have so many young people that help feed the homeless, work on homes for those less fortunate as in the Salkehatchie Summer Service or Habitat for Humanity, are members of volunteer fire departments, tutor young students in schools and sports because it is just the right thing to do. Are there reality shows about these things...of course not who wants to watch people making a difference? I would and I am sure I am not alone.

By gbort

How about the young adults that do have children that work day in and day out to provide while still going to college to better themselves and their children? Need some names?? I got a couple for YOU!! Very Proud Of My Gr. Babies Parents!!!

By Wendy

I think they should get paid since we are watching their lives BUT the money should be put in a trust for the childrens education NOT in the pocket of the parents. MTV should have also made sure that the parents school is paid for. Allocate 30k in a trust for the babies a year and 30k a year in a school fund for the parents.

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