’90 Day Fiancé’ Star Danielle Jbali Reveals How Little Cast Gets Paid, Says Foreign Cast Members Sometimes Don’t Get Paid at All
Danielle Jbali is no stranger to the 90 Day Fiancé franchise. She was on the second season of 90 Day Fiancé and also 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?. Fans have seen her most recently on 90 Day Fiancé: Self-Quarantined.
In an interview Danielle did with The Domenick Nati Show on June 16, she spoke about some of the behind-the-scenes specifics of making the show, like how much (or how little) cast members get paid.
How much ’90 Day Fiancé’ stars get paid, according to Danielle Jbali
“I would say it’s around $10,000 if you’re in all the episodes for the season,” she said when Nati asked her how much the reality stars are paid. The host pointed out that that’s only $1,000 per episode.
Because the pay is so minimal, Danielle has always made it a point to keep a job during and after filming.
“I’ve always had a job, even doing the show, I’ve always kept my job. I’ve never quit my job. I’ve always kept it because you can’t live off of not knowing if you’re gonna be filming again,” she said.
Danielle says cast members get half of their money before filming and the remaining half after. They only get the second half if they didn’t break their NDA.
“When I first started in 2014, we got half of it upfront and half of it at the end of the season. They hold it so if you break your NDA you don’t get the rest of your money,” she explained.
Danielle said the NDAs last 9 months after the last episode a cast member is featured in. But most cast members want to remain a part of the franchise, so they try to abide by the rules even after the nine months are up.
“More likely, they resign you after that for like specials. So you really can’t go talking off. I’ve done it long enough. I know what to not talk about,” she said.
Foreign cast members only get paid if they have a work permit
Danielle also said that foreign cast members cannot get paid until they have a work permit if they’re filming in the U.S. But if 90 Day Fiancé films in their country of residence, then they can get paid.
“I understand that if they film in another country, the foreigner can get paid. But when they’re filming in the U.S., only the U.S. citizen gets paid unless they have the work permit,” she said.
Danielle continued: “When they get to the U.S., they’re not allowed to work until after they do the adjustment of status and get the work permit. But when they go overseas to film, like the other show, Before the 90 Days and The Other Way, they get paid because they’re in their country and they’re able to work.”
Danielle said that, initially, she was paid for being on the show but Mohamed Jbali (her ex) wasn’t.
“When Mohamed first got here, I was the one that got paid until after he got his work permit and had his social security number. Then he started getting paid. So the first season, I’m the only one who got paid,” she said.
But the reality TV star says she was sure to “share the money with Mohamed.”
