There is no doubt that there is adventure out in the deep blue ocean and more interestingly, there are people who love being out on the sea to catch the many fishes and crustaceans that live there.
So, imagine a show about fishermen who make a living hunting for the many great crustaceans of the sea. Well, here comes the great news, the show already exists, and it is a featured show on Discovery called 'The Deadliest Catch.'
Of course, life aboard is not easy for the deckhands employed and there are many things that members of the boat crew would not want their viewers to know. As a result, viewers can help but wonder how much these crew members make and what their life is like on board. Fans have always been suspicious about the truth when it comes to the show.
Look no further, this article comes to the rescue. Let's find out if the financial compensation is worth all the deep water navigation.
Who Has The Highest Net Worth On Discovery's Channel 'The Deadliest Catch'?
It is no doubt that crab fishing vessel captains are heads of multi-million-dollar operations. For instance, if one were to take into account how much the specially constructed boats, not many would make the right guess. In fact, a used boat costs about $1 million. Surprising, right? Do not forget to add in various apparatus and heavy gear to sustain the captain and his crew as they sail through some of the harshest seas on the planet.
The captain of a crab fishing vessel can earn about $200,000 USD in annual salary. This is impressive, considering that the typical crab season lasts around three months. For the seven captains on 'The Deadliest Catch,' this figure is likely higher given the additional opportunities for income that being on a highly rated television series affords.
The richest Deadliest Catch captains are Sig Hansen, Captain F/V Northwestern with a reputed worth of about $3.5 million. He is then followed by "Wild" Bill Wichrowski, Captain F/V whose wealth is estimated to be around 3 million, and Jake Anderson, Captain F/V Saga has accumulated about $1.8 million.
Keith Colburn is Captain of F/V Wizard and has a reported net worth of $1.5m and Captain Steve Davidson of F/V Southern Wind has a net worth of $1.5m in 2020.
Captain Josh Harris of F/V Time Bandit has a net worth of $800k while Captain Johnathan Hillstrand of the same ship has a net worth of $2.2m as per Celebrity Net Worth.
The two captains with the lower-end net worth include Casey McManus of F/V Cornelia Marie has an estimated net worth of $700k whilst Scott Campbell Jr, Captain of F/V Lady Alaska has a net worth of $600,000.
How Much Does The 'Deadliest Catch' Deckhands Make?
In addition to the individual incomes earned by the captains, 'The Deadliest Catch' is one of the Discovery Channel shows that is very highly esteemed especially since it deals with documenting life at sea of crab-catchers. The job is an incredibly dangerous one which sometimes includes unfortunate incidents such as fishermen drowning or their bodies undergoing subnormal body temperatures. Therefore, people are well-paid for risking their lives.
Like the captains, the crew members on the boats featured in the show work on their vessels for three months out of the year. On average, the deckhands make approximately $15 per hour, which is like a drop in a bathtub of water compared to their captains. However, all hope is not lost since deckhands also receive a percentage of the boat's haul, which is roughly about $50,000 per person.
Most deckhands sometimes work a second job for the rest of the year, so their annual income potential is high. Others rely only on their deckhand salary to pursue further schooling or travel.
How Many Seasons Are There Of The 'Deadliest Catch'?
The Deadliest Catch officially premiered on the Discovery Channel in April 2005 and to date, the airs worldwide for a total of 18 seasons. For the last 18 seasons, audiences have watched captains and their crews navigate treacherous seas to find ways to make a living.
Anyone who follows the show throughout the seasons is definitely intrigued by the struggles the fishermen and captains go through to catch the Alaskan king crab and snow crab during the fishing seasons at the Bering Sea. A few audiences might also be questioning whether the struggles are worth it. Many of the featured crab hunters on board definitely seem to be appreciative of their experience on the sea regardless of their income.
