While fans know that there was lots of editing on Love Is Blind, just like any other reality show, it's still an entertaining series, and fans are very exctied for the upcoming third, fourth, and fifth seasons (Netflix has already renewed the show for three more seasons).
Some viewers questioned whether the couples could really fall in love so fast, but the show seemed to prove that they really could, because there are two couples who are still married: Matt Barnett and Amber Pike, and Lauren Speed and Cameron Hamilton.
It often seems like reality TV stars must be getting paid a lot of money, so it's natural to be curious about the cast salaries on Love Is Blind. Let's take a look.
Updated on April 7, 2022: Season 2 of Love Is Blind premiered in February 2022 and was just as successful as its predecessor. Netflix is so happy with the show's success that it has already ordered three more seasons. However, despite the show's popularity and all the money it must be bringing in for Netflix, the contestants still are not paid much of anything (if anything at all).
That being said, many of the contestants have used their success from the show to jumpstart their careers as online personalities, social media influencers, or entrepreneurs. While it's not the same as a paycheck, exposure on a hit Netflix reality show can be very lucrative down the line. And of course, love is its own reward too!
Do The 'Love Is Blind' Cast Members Get Paid?
Contestants on another Netflix reality show, The Circle, can win a cash prize of $100,000, but otherwise, they don't make any money from the show.
What about Love Is Blind?
It seems like the cast aren't paid much to appear on the show. A source explained to Women's Health, "The participants are paid little if anything. They are truly in it to find love!"
This is interesting, as fans of reality TV are definitely used to hearing about what cast members are paid.
If the source is correct and the couples got a small salary or nothing at all, that could be because the goal of the show was to help them find love and get married. It's definitely a different type of reality show than a slice-of-life series where cameras follow someone during their daily lives.
In contrast to some other shows, Love Is Blind is a dating show and not a competition. According to E! News, some contestants on The Challenge are paid $3,000-$5,000 for each week that they're on the show. And an "elite" player can earn $80,000 when they're cast.
As for Love Island, which is also a dating show, the cast members do get some money, but it's not very much. According to E! News, a source explained to The Sun that they were paid £200 per week, which equals $264 USD.
For comparison's sake, the cast salaries on Bravo's Real Housewives franchise are definitely high. According to The List, while former RHOC favorite Tamra Judge was paid $7,000 for her first season, she said, "I probably made $50,000 by the next year."
Denise Richards's contract was for $4 million for four seasons, and she was going to be paid $1 million per season.
This Is What The Experience Of Being A 'Love Is Blind' Cast Member Is Really Like
While it doesn't seem like the cast members are given salaries for appearing in Love Is Blind, that brings up the question: what was the experience like for the couples? And why did they want to be cast members?
Lauren Speed said her dating life wasn't successful and she thought it would be a good idea to go on a show that was all about what was on the inside. She told Buzzfeed News, "I decided to go on the show just because my dating life wasn’t really going anywhere. And I had these constant failed romances so I was really intrigued that I would be able to date someone and it wasn’t just based on physical appearance, but based on something deeper. I could really make a connection with somebody outside of just being cute or attractive." Lauren said that it feels like the world is "a shallow society" thanks to dating apps and social media.
Mark Cuevas said he's a "hopeless romantic" and that's why he wanted to be a cast member.
Jessica Batten told Uproxx that she liked the idea of Love Is Blind as it isn't based on someone's physical appearance: she said, "I had no intention of signing up for the show, but they sold me on the concept — that they’re turning dating on its head, no longer are you going to be swiping on someone’s face, but you’re getting to know someone for who they really are."
Lauren Speed told Self.com that the cast members were "emotionally invested" in talking to each other via the pods, so it sounds like they liked this part of the show.
What The 'Love Is Blind' Creator Has To Say
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, creator Chris Coelen said the pods were similar to "speed dating" and sometimes the cast members would get caught up chatting and not even want to go to bed.
The creator also said that while eight couples got engaged, not all of them were included on the show, as only a few were given the chance to go on vacation, move in together, and plan their weddings.
While it sounds like the couples weren't given salaries to appear on Love Is Blind, it sounds like many of them had a good experience, and of course, two couples ended up married.
