Celebrity Big Brother wages: best and lowest paid housemates ever

Former TOWIE star, Kirk Norcross recently revealed on an interview with Liam Tuffs about how much buck he made for his CBB stint and DAMN, sign us up.
"I got £200,000 for doing Big Brother. It was 2011, the beginning of," which was smack bang in the middle of Kirk's reality TV hence the big pay out.

Producer and star of multiple reality shows over the years, David Gest brought American-style zaniness to CBB in January 2016 and was the unwitting participant of one of the most iconic scenes in the show's history when Tiffany Pollard mistakenly thought he was dead. Sadly, he actually did pass away just months later. It is believed he was paid £600,000 to appear on the show.

Celebrity Big Brother returned with a bang in 2024 when Sharon Osbourne entered the house alongside her bestie Louis Walsh. However, Sharon was Big Brother's celebrity lodger and not a fully-fledged housemate. It's claimed that this was because bosses couldn't afford the fee Sharon wanted for the whole run, which was thought to be in the area of £1.9 MILLION. Sharon was in the house for nine days and it's reported that she earned £500,000 for her stint.

Pricey was worth every penny of the half a million she was reportedly paid for CBB in 2015. She devoured rival Katie Hopkins and went on to win the series.

Gary Goldsmith revealed how much ITV bigwigs paid him to be on the show. Spoiler alert: it's a lot.
"Half a watch," Gary told The Times when asked how much producers coughed up to get him in the house, "£100,000. That’s a half a watch. I collect them.”
Blimey, that's not bad considering Gary was only in the house for five days.

The controversial columnist provided plenty of inches with her flood of scathing comments and rivalry with Katie Price. She even allegedly left housemate Perez Hilton in need of therapy. Katie was allegedly paid £400,000 to participate.

Kellie Maloney claims to have left the house stronger and more confident (not forgetting £400k richer) than when she entered in 2014. The former boxer even kissed the floor as she left.

Not everyone can claim to be a BFF of Kim Kardashian. Media boss Jonathan Cheban flopped in his own show, but did kinda OK in this one. It's not known if he received his full fee – allegedly £300,000 – after walking out though...

Despite the constant bickering that was "humiliating" for the former supermodel, Janice Dickinson left the house in good spirits, claiming CBB was "the most valuable experience in my life". We'd probably say that too if we were paid £300,000 to go on Big Brother.

Made in Chelsea's Stephanie Pratt didn't pull any punches when friend Edele Lynch "betrayed" her by kissing former flame, George Gilbey, on the show in 2014. Let's hope they've all moved on. She is rumoured to have earned £250,000 from her stint.

Danniella Westbrook finally appeared on the legendary 2016 series of Big Brother alongside Gemma Collins, Tiffany Pollard and Geordie Shore's Scotty T after previously failing the show's strict psychiatric tests. She earned £250,000 from the series.

The Gladiators presenter was the only female to make it to the final in 2009. Despite being nominated for the most evictions, the Swedish star went on to win the sixth series and earned £175,000 for taking part.

It seems pretty low compared to some of the big hitters here, but Christopher Biggins' alleged pay check – £150,000 – was the most paid to any housemate in his series. And that's quite something, especially as he was booted out of the show on day nine.

Internet personality Perez Hilton lived up to his reputation with a variety of attention-seeking and outrageous antics in 2015. Perez claimed his own brain was his biggest rival. They both earned £150,000 for taking part.

Corrie actress Vicky Entwistle had a bitter feud with Geordie Shore's Charlotte Crosby in 2013. Vicky threatened to quit the UK if Charlotte won (she did). But she saw the light and took to the stage instead – £150,000 richer.

Kate Middleton's self-proclaimed "buncle" (that's bad uncle), was one of the 12 housemates who appeared on ITV's first series of Celebrity Big Brother in March 2024. Gary was the first housemate to be evicted and he later revealed that he got paid £100,000, which is kinda wild considering he got paid the same as some CBB icons.

CBB bosses certainly got bang for their buck with former TOWIE star Gemma Collins, who was responsible for SO many of the show's most memorable moments in 2016. All together now: "I'M CLAUSTROPHOBIC, DARREN". She earned £100,000 for her iconic stint.

Nice earner for a cameo. Professional dancer from Pineapple Dance Studios Andrew Stone compared himself to Tom Cruise in the first week. But the public thought different, evicting him in the first round. He still walked away £100,000 richer, so who cares?

Fresh from finishing in fifth (fifth!) place on The X Factor, now recognised national treasure Rylan scooped £100,000 for his time on the show. He won.

Brummie lass Dee Kelly went from Benefits Street to national sweetheart in 2014 as the public lapped up her straight-talking, maternal style. She earned £100,000 for her time on Big Brother.

Former EastEnders actor Bobby Davro made it to the final and came fourth. Good on him. He was paid £75,000 for his stint.

Atomic Kitten icon turned Real Housewives of Cheshire star Natasha Hamilton finished in third place. The self-described "mum with a big gob" survived a few spats with feisty American, Farrah Abraham and cried tears of joy on her exit – we would too if we'd just been paid £75,000.

Calum managed to shrug-off his playboy image on CBB, coming third in the series won by Katie Price. He earned £50,000.

The former Corrie star Bruce Jones' on-screen wife, Vicky Entwistle, was reportedly paid TEN times his meagre £15k in 2013. CBB rescued Bruce from a £120-a-week mechanic's job and launched him into film work.