How Much Money Does MTV's Jersey Shore Cast Member Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino Make?

For most reality TV stars you could assume they aren't exactly rolling in the money. Why else would they put themselves on a reality tv program? But for some reality TV stars, especially those capitalizing on their appearance on The Jersey Shore, being a reality TV star is quite lucrative.

Mike Sorrentino aka The Situation, is making sure he profits from his reality show experience. A source familiar with Sorrentino's finances estimates The Situation will make more than $5 million in 2010. Yes, The Situation is going to make more the five million dollars this year. Turns out it really pays to be a reality tv star.

How is The Situation making so much money?

Jersey Shore episodes bring MTV their biggest ratings in the past seven years and each episode brings The Situation roughly $60,000 after bonus incentives.

Appearance fees bring in a good portion of The Situation's income. He is expected to make at least $1 million in appearance fees. Yes, Mike Sorrention, The Situation, is so popular that he will make one million dollars just for showing up at events this year. His event appearance fee ranges from $15,000-$50,000. Who exactly is hiring him to appear is a mystery but he is making very good money at being himself.

Product development also brings in a portion of Mike Sorrentino's yearly earnings. An ab workout developed based on the abs that made The Situation famous and a chewable supplement are both on the market. He also has an iphone app and a rap song available in iTunes. This is just the beginning for The Situation's product development options.

Product promotions account for another section of The Situations money making. The Situation received a $400,000 signing bonus with a vodka company called Devotion to promote a protein enriched vodka that appeals to mean in a weight training program. He has also signed deals with other companies to promote their products with lucrative deals.

It's easy to see how The Situation makes money. A lot of money. And the kicker? The deals just keep coming his way.

Coming soon for The Situation: a book deal and movie appearances. Sorrentino has signed with Gotham Books to write his autobiography "Here's the Situation," earning him a six-figure advance. He is also working on deals to appear on the big screen soon.

The Situation and his management team couldn't be happier about the reality stars success in promoting himself and turning his reality show stint into a full blown career.

"We are really excited about all the opportunities coming Mike's way," said Sorrentino's manager, Mike Petolino of Gotham Entertainment. "He has been able to secure many endorsement deals, business opportunities and additional television offers based on the success of the show. Our goal has always been to try to build a brand if the situation presented itself."

Whatever he decides to do in the future will just keep bringing in money for The Situation. It doesn't matter, because Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino is already rich!

Sources:

http://www.tmz.com/2010/08/24/the-situation-vodka-endorsement-jersey-shore-protein

http://www.tmz.com/2010/08/23/situation-jersey-shore-book-endorsement-autobiography-five-million/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i0aa95b30b2cefc020fe37ded26061f7c