Love Island USA has arrived (on a slight delay) for another season of thirsty drama with a fresh new cast. And if you're wondering how much everyone gets paid—er, if they get paid—to take off work and film a Peacock reality show for several weeks, we have the answers.
Settle in for salary details—though honestly it's what the cast makes post-show that's really blowing our mind.
What Does the Love Island USA Cast Make Per Episode?
There isn't a ton of reporting on Love Island USA, but we can look to Love Island UK for a general answer to this question.
Hello Magazine reports that cast members are "paid around £375 a week to cover any rent or bills back home. However, the big payout occurs at the end of the series for the lucky couple who are crowned winners."
This was corroborated by Love Island UK Season 6 contestant Demi Jones, who—per Buzzfeed—straight-up spilled in a since deleted TikTok.
"Yes, you do get paid to go on the show," Demi said. "I personally got paid £250 a week. This is obviously to cover all your bills at home because you could have a flat, you could have a car to pay, all the things like that. So obviously Love Island want to make sure that's all covered for you so you don't get into any financial difficulties while you're like away on holiday. So, yeah, I got £250 a week. I don't know if that's the same now, but that's what I got paid when I was on winter Love Island, and obviously, you can make up for any losses if you work hard when you come out."
The Real Money Happens When the Show Ends
Kennedy Meehan, who founded the Azure Agency and works with several Love Island stars, told Business Insider that "Some of our girls, straight out of the villa, are making $20,000 to $30,000 in a month off of, let's say, five videos. And that's on the lower end."
Meanwhile, manager Ericka Mendoza—who works with season 5 winners Hannah Wright and Marco Donatelli — added "It's our job as managers to help them navigate their sudden fame. The transition is all about alignment."
Business Insider also spoke to Viral Nation senior talent agent Toni Rose Goulden who said the first two weeks out of the villa are "the most important part" for the cast, and that "Everyone's going to have their peak and then everyone's going to kind of forget about you."
How Much Does Ariana Madix Get Paid to Host Love Island USA?
Tragically we don't know exactly what Ariana Madix is making for being the host of Love Island USA. But we DO know her salary from Vanderpump Rules, and something tells us she wouldn't take a demotion.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, core cast members of Vanderpump Rules were making $25,000 per episode, a.k.a. up to $600,000 per season. So seems safe to assume she's making at least this much, if not more, for Love Island USA. But we're just speculating here!
Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm, She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.
