Below Deck | Bravo TV Official Site (2024)

FAQs

How much do the guests actually pay on Below Deck? ›

The guests on the show pay 50% of the charter price. Their airfare is also included. A yacht that is $175,000 a week, breaks down to $25,000 a day.

In addition to their salaries, the crew members also receive tips from the guests on the yacht, which can be substantial.

Now, when it comes to the crew's Bravo paycheck, Business Insider has reported that they receive a small fee for their participation. Earlier, Below Deck cast members argued that they were severely underpaid. The fee is said to be around $5,000 to $6,000 a month.

Guests get a discount

Being filmed while enjoying a sailing trip isn't everyone's idea of a good time, so the rich and famous have the cost of their charter slashed by 50 per cent. Their airfare is also covered.

Below Deck executive producer Courtland Cox previously told Bravo, the production company behind the show, that the charter guests are usually seasoned charterers rather than individuals looking to appear on TV. This means the show isn't staged or rigged by producers in advance of filming.

Based on past seasons of the show, the cost of a 3-day charter on a luxury yacht can range anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000 or more. However, the cost of a 3-day charter can vary depending on several factors such as the size and luxury level of the yacht, the location of the charter, and the time of year.

Lee explained that in addition to making money from filming, Below Deck stars receive an hourly rate for their positions and tips from guests.

"Salaries, as far as I'm concerned, are normal. I don't have any issue with the salaries," the Below Deck Sailing Yacht star exclusively told Us Weekly in May 2022. "We do very well in tips. We get tips, whether there's cameras or not, and often they're very good.

The exact salaries of previous Captains Lee Rosbach, Sandy Yawn, Glenn Shephard, and others haven't been officially released. However, reports suggest that captains on Below Deck could earn an impressive total of around $150,000 to $210,000 a year.

That's right, none of that is included in their price and they're billed at the end of their trip. "Nope," Lee replied to one follower who asked if the extortionate six-figure fee covered fancy meals and endless booze on-board the flashy yachts. "Food and drinks not included!!!??? My god," Tweeted one follower.

How long is a yachting season on Below Deck? ›

Here's a little-known secret about Below Deck: The “charter season” on the show is just a few weeks. In fact, the yachts are actually booked for about six weeks, and their regular crews are sent home. In other words, the charters on Below Deck are actually a charter within a charter!

the camera crew don't sleep on the boat. they all sleep in a hotel.

While most guests on the show are generous with their tips, there was one instance where the crew received no tip at all. In their very first charter back in 2013, the crew had to report illegal drug use by the guests, resulting in their removal from the yacht and no tip.

Trying to get on Below Deck Mediterranean comes with a hefty price tag. Guests on the show pay a discounted rate, but still shell out over $8,000 each to be on the boat. The $65,000 price tag for the show is a steal compared to the usual cost of chartering a yacht, which can reach up to $200,000.

Lee explained that in addition to making money from filming, Below Deck stars receive an hourly rate for their positions and tips from guests.

Below Deck Salary

The chef, arguably the most temperamental on the ship, yet most needed to feed the hangry guests, makes about $7,000-$10,000 a month. Still, all is dependent on their particular training and experience. While the deckhands usually are pocketing $4,500 per month, the bosun earns $5,000.

But the mega bucks go to the top dogs, Captain Lee and Captain Sandy, who on a 185-foot superyacht make between $150-$210,000 a year. Then you have to add on the tips, reportedly average at around $15,000 per person for about six weeks of work.