Jon and Kate: Freebies R Us

Jon and Kate Gosselin became famous four years ago, in large part because of their "every family" feel. They struggled financially, as most of us would if we suddenly became the parents of eight. However, Jon and Kate are very wealthy today, thanks to freebies from "hither, thither and yon," as Kate might say.

As she travels the country, Kate frequently told a story from the days when her sextuplets were babies. The family was out of paper towels, Kate prayed, and voila! She went to the front door and discovered a large supply of paper towels which had been anonymously donated.

These days, it would take more than a stash of paper towels to excite Jon and Kate. US Weekly magazine's newest issue is listed just a few of the freebies that have come the Gosselins' way:

- Free beds
- Front-loader washing machines
- New furniture
- Free solar panels for "Going Green" episode
- Clothes from Gymboree and Gap
- Mady & Cara's birthdays at American Girl Place in New York (2 dolls and birthday package for 2 adults & 2 kids): $710
- Trip to Florida Keys for Jon's 30th birthday
-Tickets to Dutch Wonderland amusement park: $309.50
-1/2 an organic cow from Natural Acres Farm: $1,395.00
-Tickets to Philadelphia Zoo: $104.00
-Tickets to Walt Disney World: $654.00 per day
- Utah house rental (estimate: $5,000), ski lift tickets $72 for six days), ski school lessons ($140 per child)
- Upright piano, which they got rid of when they moved into their new $1.1 million home : $5,550-$6,350
- Violin: $100-$300
- Old house re-carpeted
-Crayola Factory Tour: $90.00
-Teeth Whitening (for Jon & Kate): $1,310 (average price for 2 adults)
-Hair plugs (Jon): $5,200 (average cost)
-Sesame Street Place tickets: $509.50
-Day with Thomas the Tank Engine: $180.00
-Beach trip to North Carolina, house rental, Jeep tour
-Sight & Sound Christian theatre tickets: $236.00
-SkyBox at Phillies game
-LegoLand tickets: $550.00
-San Diego Zoo tickets: $278.00
-Grand Wailea Resort (Hawaii) for 2008 vow renewal: Suites range from $725-$1,080 per night.
-2 purebred German Shepherd puppies: $1,000-$3,000 per dog
- Please Touch Museum tickets: $150.00
- Giants grocery store: $5,000 in gift cards and a year's supply of diapers

Many of these items have been featured in Jon and Kate Plus Eight episodes, but viewers may not have realized that all of it was free to the Gosselins. And these expenses, large though they are, do not even mention an additional huge benefit which most of us can only dream of: wherever they go, the Gosselins are sent to the front of the lines, and often the facility they're visiting is even cleared of other visitors.

We can't forget another huge freebie, because it was a first step to Kate's current glamorous image: her tummy tuck which was provided by the physician who performed it. He even invited Kate to stay at his house to recuperate, with his wife serving as a personal nurse.

Additionally, Jon and Kate are well-compensated for filming their show, which pays them between $50,000 and $75,000 per episode (season 4, just completed, included 41 episodes).

Perhaps realizing how indulgent their current lifestyle appears, Kate is careful to emphasize in her talks that her current job as reality show star is "the hardest job I've ever had," with production meetings, filming, and ... presumably even more.

It can't be denied that the Gosselins are no longer "every man" or "every woman" to whom the average family can relate. The celebrity lifestyle they now lead makes the "normal family with a few extra kids" premise of the show harder and harder to swallow.

SOURCES:
US Weekly
Attendance at Kate Gosselin speaking event