Reality TV stars: fools, airheads, fame-hungry, uneducated, arrogant, greedy, and probably anything else synonymous with stupid.
Yet, the stars on this list have managed to turn their first reality telly appearances into lucrative careers, with bank balances that would make you feel like you’ve won the lottery.
From a £37k diamond Cartier bracelet to luxury London properties, this bunch of celebs are some of the wealthiest stars in the UK with teams around them that continue to help pump the cash in.
And while you might think they’re all nitwits, I can assure you, they know exactly what they’re doing.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s take a look at the UK’s richest and most auspicious reality talent.
Alison Hammond, 46 – £1million
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Wahlburgers)
From Big Brother to BIG cheques. Alison Hammond had the most humble of starts on the civilian version of Channel 4’s Big Brother in 2002, being the second housemate to be evicted.
Since, the larger-than-life TV personality has appeared on a plethora of other reality TV shows, including Strictly Come Dancing, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, and Celebrity MasterChef.
Only this year, Alison was announced as This Morning’s new Friday presenter, alongside co-host Dermot O’Leary.
If you ask me, Alison deserves a lot more!
Megan Barton-Hanson, 27 – £2million
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
She didn’t find love in the Love Island Villa, but Megan Barton-Hanson most certainly found the cash.
The reality TV sensation has turned her fortunes around with a list of brand deals, including a six-figure partnership with Ann Summers, as well as a £500k deal with PrettyLittleThing.
The Love Island bombshell also charges fans for exclusive adult content on 18+ website, OnlyFans.
Combined with her income from social media and various reality TV stints, Megan is one of the most successful and notable exports from the ITV2 love series.
Molly-Mae Hague, 22 – £2.4million
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Pretty Little Thing)
Arguably, Molly-Mae Hague is the most successful star to have come out of Love Island.
Immediately after leaving the series, she landed an eye-watering £500k deal with PrettyLittleThing after rejecting a £2m offer from an unnamed high street retailer.
The year after, the in-demand blonde super influencer bagged an even larger deal with the online clothing company, managing to negotiate £600k for a campaign.
These salaries are in conjunction with Molly’s other business ventures, including YouTube which pays around £500k a year, as well as her tanning line Filter, MMH International, and FM Cosmetics with over £700k in cash reserves.
The star was recently announced as PrettyLittleThing’s new Creative Director, presumably with a new salary, allowing her to earn from this role as well as ongoing collections she produces for the brand.
The conclusion: she’s stinking rich and getting richer.
Vicky Pattison, 33 – £3.2million
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Primark)
The brands can’t get enough of these reality stars!
Vicky Pattison is not shy of the green stuff following her time on I’m A Celeb, but now it’s less green ants and more green cash.
The reality TV queen has managed to amass a significant net worth following a range of brand partnerships, which have included WW (formerly Weight Watchers), Missy Empire, and Select Fashion.
Vicky’s company also reported assets of over £600k in 2020, despite a difficult year during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Not forgetting, the innumerable TV appearances Vicky has landed since her first stint on MTV’s Geordie Shore in 2011.
Some of these shows include Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, Celebrity Coach Trip, and Celebrity Hunted.
Whatever you may think of Vicky or reality stars in general: we’re smarter than we look.
Gemma Collins, 40 – £4.7million
(Image: Getty Images)
The only woman in the UK synonymous with trashy reality TV, and we love it!
Gemma Collins, or more affectionately known as the GC, ranks highly with an impressive net worth of close to £5m.
An ex-TOWIE hit and serial celebrity TV star – there aren’t many shows left untouched by this self-confessed diva.
So much so, ITVBe recently commissioned a third series of Gemma’s own reality show, which sees her walking around parts of Essex carrying out business affairs; dealing with personal styling nightmares; and spontaneous getaways with friends that leaves everyone out of breath.
Some of her more memorable appearances include Celebrity Big Brother and Dancing on Ice, in which she received £100k per series.
Gemma has also partnered with various fashion labels, including In The Style, which saw her take home around £500k.
As much as this TV icon can polarise, there’s no denying she is the one-and-only empress of reality in the UK.
Rylan Clark-Neal, 32 – £6.3million
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Amazon)
Not sure what’s larger, his teeth or bank balance?
The former X Factor contestant has turned his back on music and launched a successful career as a presenter.
With regular TV gigs, including This Morning, Ready Steady Cook, Supermarket Sweep, and Celebrity Gogglebox – you rarely find a moment of telly when Rylan isn’t on your screen.
He also boasts his own BBC Radio 2 show and is a co-presenter on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, alongside Zoe Ball.
His company Rylan Ltd. showed assets of around £1.6m in 2020.
Finally, he can repay Nicole Scherzinger for those cushions he ruined all those years ago…
Joey Essex, 31 – £6.9million
(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
The Only Way Is Essex? More like The Only Way Is a bank account at Coutts.
Joey Essex has performed exceedingly well since leaving TOWIE, starring in a host of shows, including his own series Educating Joey Essex.
The 31-year-old also made a range of appearances on classic celeb programmes like I’m A Celeb, Celebrity MasterChef, The Jump (pocketing the highest-ever fee of £250k), and Celebs Go Dating (making several appearances, including the most recent series earlier this year).
The reality hottie charges a hefty fee for sponsored Insta posts, in the region of £4.5k per post, partnering with major household names like Jaffa Cakes and McDonald’s.
Let’s hope he doesn’t spend all of that dosh on hairspray!
Mark Wright, 34 – £11million
(Image: Getty Images)
Another delicious TOWIE superstar: Mark Wright pushes all the right buttons for a serious career on the box.
Aside from a never-ending list of reality TV shows, including Mark Wright’s Hollywood Nights, the Essex Lothario has accumulated a lot of his wealth from his growing property empire.
The star has made millions of pounds through various property renovations, largely flipping homes in Essex where he has seen huge returns in profit.
His agency The Wright Look Models, showed assets of over £600k in 2020, which is combined with several salaries from an assortment of presenting roles, including This Morning, Extra TV in the US, Channel 5’s The Bachelor, and Heart Radio.
Of course, Mr Wright makes a small fortune off social media, with close to 2m followers on Instagram and big brand collabs with the likes of Matalan and and Littlewoods – he demands around £5k for a sponsored post.
He’s gone from small time orange Essex lad to household name. Not bad.
Spencer Matthews, 33 – £21million
(Image: Getty Images)
Rah, rah here’s posho Spencer Matthews who started off in Made In Cheslea and is now, technically, a member of the Royal Family.
The Eton-educated toff comes from a family of money, owners of the world-renowned Eden Rock hotel in St Barts.
Naturally, his standout performance on MIC led to a glittering reality TV career, working on shows like Five Star Hotel and Celebrity Masterchef.
He also headlined his own E4 series with wife, Vogue Williams, titled Spencer, Vogue, and Baby Too, reportedly bringing in £400k.
However, a nifty portion of his wealth comes from low-alcohol booze company, The Clean Liquor Co., of which Spencer is founder and CEO.
Now, pass over the Champagne and celebrate in true MIC style.
Harry Styles, 27 – £75million
(Image: Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Sometimes it’s easy to forget Harry Styles began his dazzling musical career on the X Factor back in 2010, coming third in the competition in boyband One Direction.
Despite the group’s fame and wealth, Harry decided to start his solo music career in 2016, shortly followed by his first acting debut in 2017 in film, Dunkirk.
Whilst in the band, it was reported they consolidated a net worth of over £280m, with Harry Styles leading the way through greater popularity.
In March this year, Mr Styles collected a Grammy followed by a BRIT award in May for song, Watermelon Sugar, from the album Fine Line, which happened to be the second-biggest selling album in the UK of 2020.
The global superstar has a vast property empire, owning various houses in north London, as well as other properties in the US that’s worth millions of dollars.
Like his song Golden, the future is looking glistening for the 27-year-old.
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
