Big Brother just celebrated its 1000th episode with a star-studded special. Julie Chen Moonves has hosted the show since it began in 2000. She has reportedly earned a small fortune in the last 26 years. Keep reading to find out what she gets paid to host the reality TV show.
Big Brother Season 28 Schedule Shakeup
Reality TV competitions come and go. But Big Brother has kept fans interested for over two decades. Season 28 of the show kicked off in July with a mix of old and new contestants. This year’s theme is “Time Trip,” and the show didn’t disappoint when celebrating its 1000th episode.
CBS celebrated the milestone on August 27 with a 90-minute episode that included flashbacks from its previous seasons. Over 100 former houseguests returned to the studio for a trip down memory lane.
The last episode of Big Brother aired late due to the network’s tribute to Dolly Parton. It also ended in a cliffhanger as viewers were left wondering how the medieval competition ended. The answer will be revealed on Wednesday, September 2, in a 90-minute episode. The reality show returns to its regular schedule the following week.
But then football season starts and the Big Brother schedule changes to accommodate the games. TV Insider revealed that the Sunday, September 13, episode will air at 8:30 due to football and 60 Minutes. On Wednesday, September 23, Big Brother is pushed back to 10 PM Eastern for the 2-hour Survivor premiere.
Julie Chen Moonves’ Massive Reality TV Paycheck
Julie Chen Moonves accepted two Guinness World Records certificates during the show’s 1000th episode celebration. Big Brother now has the most episodes of a primetime show and the most episodes of a competitive reality show. And she’s reportedly been paid handsomely for her role as host.
A source close to the journalist revealed to The U.S. Sun that she’s earned nearly $80 million over the last 28 seasons. Julie Chen Moonves reportedly earns $3 million per season.
“Julie gets paid around $3 million per season. She has not always made that figure but has always done very well for herself,” the insider said. “Even if it wasn’t that number in the earlier seasons, she made more than seven-figures,” the insider said.
Julie Chen Moonves hardly needs the money. She’s been married to former CBS executive Les Moonves since 2004. She also worked as a reporter for years before joining Big Brother. CBS hasn’t officially renewed the reality show for Season 29. However, Season 28 has done well in the ratings and the likelihood of another season is high.
Share your thoughts on Julie Chen Moonves’ shocking paycheck in the comments. Does she deserve that much? Let us know.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
