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Below Deck has taken Bravo by storm and become one of its most popular shows. And Kate Chastain, who has been part of the cast since the first season, is Captain Lee’s right-hand woman. But how much is she worth between six seasons of filming, a full time job, and plenty of tips?

Kate Chastain
Kate Chastain | Greg Endries/Bravo

Chastain makes about $75,000 per year as Chief Steward

Chastain has the most important job on the ship next to Captain Lee. While Lee technically oversees all of the employees, Chastain is his right-hand woman and enforces most of the rules on the ship that the employees must follow. She is one of those people who doesn’t take back-talk from anyone and will make sure everyone sticks to their duties. Since Chastain works on such high-end yachts, she likely gets paid toward the higher end of average salaries, which would put her around $75,000 annually. Less-experienced chief stewards on smaller yachts might make as little as $40,000 annually. Those on extremely large vessels might make more than $90,000.

The crew makes thousands of dollars in tips

The crew earns plenty of money in tips in addition to their regular salaries. Mark Cronin, the producer who developed the show, spoke with Reddit about the crew and said they make anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 in tips per charter. Each charter lasts three days, and the show films for about six weeks. This means the crew is taking home anywhere from $14,000 to $28,000 in tips each season. Those who rent the charters often have plenty of money, so generous tips of about 20% are the norm for everyone working on the ship, including Chastain.

The cast earns a ‘small sum’ for being on the show

While some reality television stars earn more than $150,000 per episode, the Below Deck cast does not. According to Cronin, the cast only makes a “small sum” for appearing on the show. He doesn’t disclose what the amount is, but it’s probably not more than a few thousand per episode. Depending on the level of Bravo stars’ fame, some television shows have casts that make more money than others, even though both shows are on the same network. The pay for reality television all depends on how well-known and in-demand the show is.

Chastain has an estimated net worth of about $300,000

All things considered, Chastain is worth somewhere around $300,000. She has been on the show for a few years now but likely wasn’t making that $75,000 annual salary when she started out. While $300,000 is still a solid net worth, Chastain isn’t making quite the money other reality television stars are (the cast members of shows such as Jersey Shore are all worth at least a few million). Also, there is little information known about Chastain’s assets, so she may be worth more than $300,000. But as Below Deck grows in popularity, and Chastain gets more experience as chief steward, that net worth will definitely go up. For now, viewers love the drama and attitude she brings to the network.

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