‘Duck Dynasty’ season 4: Willie Robertson and the clan earn big raises before premiere
The rich just got richer when it comes to the cast of A&E’s smash “Duck Dynasty.” Going into the show’s fourth season, we heard rumor after rumor about how production was being pushed back thanks to prolonged salary negotiations. While the Robertson family clearly makes plenty of money thanks to the promotion that the show brings them for Duck Commander, they also felt like they deserved a bigger piece of the pie for the episodes that were actually airing.
Luckily for them, they pulled that off without a problem. According to Deadline, the Robertsons have finally signed off on a deal that earns the family (which includes nine adults and eleven children) a whopping $200,000 an episode, and this deal also includes additional seasons and series / cast options. The Robertsons signed with a major agency in WME prior to the negotiations heating up, obviously understanding what their value was as a pop-culture phenomenon.
In all honesty, the network still got a deal that was pretty lucrative for them. The finale drew almost 10 million viewers and a 4.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic, but when you divide the money all up, the Robertsons are each earning less than the “Jersey Shore” cast each did for the final season of their MTV hit. Meanwhile, they are also earning far less than Ashton Kutcher and Jon Cryer of “Two and a Half Men,” despite having comparable demo numbers. In our mind, this is a steal for A&E, but like we said earlier, the Robertsons really make more of their money selling their Duck Commander products. This salary is more to just give them an extra reason to stay on television, which has at times made their personal lives difficult given that it’s hard to be incognito when you have these kinds of beards. It has also opened new avenues, including Willie and Si guest-starring on the upcoming “Last Man Standing” premiere.
The new “Duck Dynasty” season premieres tomorrow night, and we will of course be back with a full review then.
Photo: A&E