You know a TV show is successful when it goes on to spur its spin-offs and turns its cast members into pop culture icons, and over the course of six seasons, that was what the reality TV show Jersey Shore became. The show, which ran on MTV between 2009 and 2012 was one of the most popular shows on television during its run which spanned 71 episodes and a host of controversies.
Since the show ended in 2012, some of its cast members have grown in relevance in the industry while some have simply drifted away from the spotlight. Regardless, a majority of the cast members have been able to maintain a decent net worth earned through their time on the show and we take a closer look at the cast members with the highest net worth on the show. Check them out below.
1. Paul ‘DJ Pauly D’ DelVecchio – $20 million
Although every cast member of Jersey Shore was one of the most popular faces on television, Paul DelVecchio, who is mostly known as DJ Pauly D, may not hold the title as the most popular cast member of the show, with that title going to Nicole Polizzi, aka Snooki.
However, he does hold the title as the cast member with the highest net worth with a personal net worth of $20 million. As his name suggests, Pauly D is a disc jockey who is a native of Johnston, Rhode Island. While he was one of the highest earners on Jersey Shore, earning as much as $150 thousand per episode through the show’s last season, Paul DelVecchio’s position as the richest Jersey Shore cast member has come through his career as a DJ, which became extremely successful following his appearance on the show.
Via his career as a DJ, DJ Pauly D began to deejay at various major venues like the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas and earned as much as $40 thousand for each club and private gig appearances. His net worth has also come from his appearances in other shows like The Pauly D Project and Famously Single. Aside from his appearances on shows and his career as a DJ, Paul DelVecchio’s net worth also comes from his cosmetics line of tanning lotion products.
2. Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi – $4 million
If you were to suggest that Nicole Polizzi, aka Snooki, was Jersey Shore, those who would debate such a fact are in the minority. Although she has grown to become the richest cast member of the show, Snooki is the most popular cast member of Jersey Shore.
Nicole was raised in Marlboro, New York having been born in Chile and adopted by Italian American parents. On the show, Snooki was known for her fascinating personality and crazy antics, which made her a favorite of several fans of the show.
She began her time on the show earning as little as $2,200 per episode but was earning as much as $150 thousand per episode towards the last season of the show. While such drastic increase has contributed to her high net worth, other contributors also include appearances in other shows like her spin-off show, Snooki & JWoww, The New Celebrity Apprentice, Dancing with the Stars and owning her clothing line.
Her net worth, which is estimated at $4 million, has also been earned through the sale of her books like A Shore Thing, Baby Bumps, Strong is the New Sexy and a few more others.
3. Jennifer ‘JWoww’ Farley – $4 million
The third cast member with the highest net worth is Jennifer Farley, who was popularly known as JWoww, during and after her time on the show. Jennifer, who is a native of Franklin Square, New York is a graphic designer and club promoter who has since ventured into other career paths since her time on the show came to an end.
Jennifer did not earn as much as the first two cast members of the show, earning $100 thousand during the latter years of the show. However, she has been able to build sizeable net worth through her appearance on other shows like Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars, and the spin-off of Jersey Shore, Snooki & JWoww.
Her net worth also comes from a role as the host of the TLC talk show, Young Americans, running the Miss Domesticated website and hosting a YouTube series that features her family members. Jennifer is estimated to have a net worth of $4 million
4. Vinny Guadagnino – $3 million
When Jersey Shore came to an end in 2012, Vinny Guadagnino was earning just $90 thousand per episode towards the show’s last season. While that certainly placed him well behind other personalities on the show in terms of income, Vinny Guadagnino more than made up for it by remaining on television and appearing on shows like 90210, The Hard Times of RJ Berger and getting his talk show, The Show with Vinny.
Aside from his show, he also got another show with the Cooking Channel, Vinny & Ma Eat America, which featured himself and his mother. Combined with a clothing line, Name Brand NYC which he owns and a published book he wrote, Control the Crazy, Vinny Guadagnino has been able to maintain a stable income with a net worth of $3 million.
5. Ronnie Ortiz-Magro – $3 million
The Bronx is one of the most popular and iconic places in New York and it has produced several popular personalities in American entertainment. One of them is Ronnie Ortiz-Magro who is an Italian-Puerto Rican American. Ronnie Ortiz-Magro was not high up in the earnings ladder during his time on the show but he has more than made up for the gap since the show ended.
During his time on Jersey Shore, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro made as much as $80 thousand per episode during the show’s last season but today has a net worth of $3 million.
Ronnie has been able to make up the gap through other TV appearances like Famously Single and getting a gig with the wrestling promotion company, TNA. He has also leveraged on his popularity as a commercial face for the brands Xenadrine and Gen X Biotech.
6. Angelina Pivarnick – $2 million
While a majority of the cast members of Jersey Shore appeared on the show throughout its six seasons, a couple of them did not, like Angelina Pivarnick, who only appeared in the first and second seasons of the show as a main cast member, making only cameo appearances in the fifth and sixth season of the show.
Pivarnick was a New York City bartender prior to appearing on the show but had a tumultuous time on the show that led to her eventual departure in the show’s second season. Despite appearing in just two seasons, Angelina Pivarnick has been able to maintain a modest net worth via her work with TNA Wrestling and appearances in other shows like Couples Therapy and How Far is Tattoo Far?.
7. Samantha ‘Sweetheart’ Giancola – $2 million
Number seven among the cast members of Jersey Shore with the highest net worth is Samantha Giancola, who has a net worth of $2 million. A native of Hazlet, New Jersey, Samantha was a soccer player for William Paterson University before she joined the show. She was a member of the show throughout its entire run although she did not return for the show’s reboot – Jersey Shore Family Vacation.
While she was not one of the highest earners on the show during its run, Samantha, who was often referred to as Sammi Sweetheart leveraged on her popularity to start her own business, which included an online fashion boutique named Sweetheart Styles. She also has her podcast, which she hosts along with Siggy Flicker and Claire Galtero.
8. Deena Nicole Cortese – $1 million
Cortese is considered one of the most popular faces of Jersey Shore but she did not join the show until its third season. Deena, who is a native of New Egypt, New Jersey was a close friend of Snooki and had auditioned for the show in its first season. She was not one of the highest-paid cast members of the show, with her highest salary per episode on Jersey Shore being $40 thousand.
However, she has remained in the spotlight since the show ended, enough to become a worthy destination for brands who wish to advertise their products via her page on Instagram. Combined with other appearances in other reality shows like Couples Therapy, Deena Nicole Cortese has a net worth of $1 million.
See Also: Here’s How Much Each Of The Kids On Stranger Things Are Really WorthÂ
9. Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino – $300 thousand
Rounding up the cast list of Jersey Shore and their respective net worth is Mike Sorrentino, a native of Staten Island, New York. Before he joined the show, he was an assistant manager for a fitness center and he was also an exotic dancer.
During his time on the show, Mike, who is nicknamed ‘The Situation’ was one of the show’s most popular faces and earned as much as $150 thousand per episode. His popularity on the show also made him appeared in other reality TV shows like Dancing with the Stars, Celebrity Big Brother, and a few others.
Aside from his appearances on TV, Mike Sorrentino also invested in a clothing line, a vitamin line and fitness DVDs, all of which earned him a considerable amount of income. However, in 2014, Mike suffered a significant reduction in his net worth when he faced tax-related offenses, forcing him to part with an estimated $9 million. He was also sentenced to prison for tax evasion.
