So much has changed for Kate Gosselin over the years. In the early 2000s, when she and ex-husband Jon Gosselin started on Jon & Kate Plus 8, she was practically a household name. And her fame didn't seem to waver post-divorce, as she picked right back up with Kate Plus 8 in the meantime. But now with her reality TV career firmly behind her, rumors that she's going broke, and a big family to care for, how is Kate doing financially? What is her current net worth?
Though there's not an exact, confirmed answer to that question, we can estimate what Kate is worth and how she's managed to build up her bank account through the years. Between being a reality star who had her own show and participating in big reality competitions (including Dancing With the Stars and Celebrity Apprentice) it's easy to see how the money rolled in — especially when we add in what she's made from other gigs, like speaking engagements and book sales. But then, in 2020, Kate sold the famous Pennsylvania home that she and Jon lived in while filming their reality series and she moved to North Carolina to start a new, more low-key life, making fans believe that she might have been struggling for money at the time.
Read on to find out what Kate is worth these days.
Kate's Net Worth Is Estimated at $500,000
According to Celebrity Net Worth, these days, Kate is worth an estimated $500,000 — which is not too shabby for 2022, more than a decade after hitting her reality TV peak. But now that she's no longer broadcasting her life on TLC, how does Kate make her money? It seems it comes from several different places, mostly from money she raked in years ago.
Nurse Life
Before becoming a mother to eight children and finding reality TV fame, Kate worked a regular job just like everyone else. She was a labor and delivery nurse in a hospital, and after moving to North Carolina, she picked that career back up. According to In Touch, Kate obtained a multistate nursing license in her new home state and is working as a nurse in Troutman, just outside Charlotte.
'Jon & Kate Plus 8'
Kate's first big money maker? Starring in Jon & Kate Plus 8, alongside her now ex-husband. Though an exact figure hasn't been confirmed, The Sun reported that Kate and Jon were making between $25,000 and $50,000 per episode, which is certainly a pretty significant paycheck, considering how long the show ran on TLC.
Money Disputes During Divorce
It's no secret that Jon and Kate had an incredibly messy divorce, but one of the biggest points of contention in that divorce was money. During an interview on Today in 2009, Kate said that Jon drained their joint bank account, taking out $230,000 and leaving her with only $1,000. Their divorce alone must have put a serious dent in Kate's net worth.
'Kate Plus 8'
After their divorce, Jon left the show, and it continued on without him, becoming Kate Plus 8. This time, it became more lucrative for her — and not just because she didn't have to split her paychecks with her husband. In 2014, Radar Online reported that Kate was making $40,000 per episode.
'Kate Plus Date'
Kate's next foray into reality TV was Kate Plus Date, a show that aired on TLC in 2019 that was all about her oldest daughters, Mady and Cara, helping her go on dates with various men. It would make sense if she was being paid similarly to what she was making on Kate Plus 8 — if not more — but the show only lasted one season.
Writing Books
Kate has also made a profit from books she's written. Along with Jon, she wrote a book about their family's journey called Multiple Blessings, and on her own, she's written a cookbook of family recipes called Love Is in the Mix, as well as two more books about her life, I Just Want You To Know: Letters to My Kids on Love, Faith, and Family and Eight Little Faces.
Appearing on 'Dancing With the Stars'
In 2010, Kate competed on Dancing With the Stars, making it through to the fifth week of the show before she was kicked off — and yes, she did get paid for her time. Reportedly, contestants make a base salary of $125,000 for their participation, plus bonuses for each round they manage to stay in the competition.
Living Frugally
Something else that may contribute to Kate's net worth is the fact that she's spoken openly about her commitment to frugal spending. In 2012, Business Insider reported that she told LearnVest that she keeps a budget and tries to only buy what she and her family need.
"I have always been frugal. I am obsessed with saving money, and I grew up understanding the concept of saving, sales, and coupons," she said. "I've always felt the exhilaration of getting the same exact item for the lowest possible price, and coupons definitely help me reach that goal."
Speaking Engagements
Kate also makes money through speaking engagements. According to AAE speakers, Kate is available as a speaker for both live and virtual events on topics including entertainment, broadcast media, and health and wellness. Her booking fee ranges from $30,000 to $50,000. Obviously, that is a nice chunk of change to pick up from a single gig.
High Expenses
Though Kate has made a lot of money in her lifetime, she also has a lot of expenses. Raising eight kids definitely isn't cheap by any means, and according to what sources have told In Touch in the past, Kate reportedly pays about $150,000 a year in private school tuition alone. Ouch!
Putting Money Aside for College
A lot of Kate's money has gone into education funds for her kids, and with Mady and Cara already in college — and the other kids just about to graduate high school — those funds are already coming into good use. As Kate told Bethenny Frankel on YouTube, she's put a lot of money aside for college already, which definitely has an effect on her ultimate net worth and spending power.
Accused of Hoarding Money
There have been a few signs of Kate struggling with money lately, and one of them is what she allegedly did with her TLC paychecks. According to what Jon told The Sun, she refused to turn over the kids' trust accounts to him, which contained the money they made while filming Kate Plus 8. Hmm …
Many Lawsuits
Most fans know that Kate and Jon's legal history is a long one — and getting longer by the day. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what all of their court battles must cost Kate in legal fees, but for how long it's been going on, it definitely can't be a small amount, which could end up hurting her financially in a big way.
House for Sale
Fans thought that Kate could be in serious financial trouble when they found out that she was selling her Pennsylvania home in 2020. At the time, she reportedly put the house up for sale for $815,000, even though she and Jon originally paid $1.2 million for it when they bought it, making it seem like she was in a desperate enough situation to be willing to take a loss. Fortunately, the sale ultimately went through for $1.1 million.
New Digs
Though it came at a lower price tag than her previous home, Kate's new North Carolina house is nothing to be unimpressed by! Kate purchased the $750,000 lakefront residence in Troutman in late 2021, complete with four bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a swimming pool in the backyard.
Life as a Nurse
In the days since Kate's big move to North Carolina, she's been living the regular mom life. In January 2022, she was spotted grocery shopping and going to work as a nurse, and her children have been seen working part-time at a Chipotle nearby. It might be less glamorous than her past life, but it does seem like she now has money coming in.
