A raise for the Shannon clan of TLC’s Here Comes Honey Boo Boo has been in the cards for a little while, and in light of a major ratings surge from the season finale and anticipated bonus holiday episodes , the reality TV channel has decided to fatten the paychecks of everyone’s favorite redneck family.
Sources close to the show told TMZ that the Shannon family were originally making between $5,000 and $7,000 per episode at the beginning of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo . Rumor has it that the second episode was so popular that TLC sensed the star-power of Honey Boo Boo Child and offered the family a raise before they even had to ask.
So how much will they be making now? Boosted salary details are still murky, but sources say that Honey Boo Boo and family will be making somewhere between $15,000 and $20,000 per episode.
Additionally, TLC will be footing the bill for various other expenses, including a bodyguard/driver for Sugar Bear, who was recently down for the count after an ATV accident that almost claimed one of his legs.
Furthermore, the network apparently offered to relocate the family to a larger, more secure home, but June declined because she’s very heavily involved in her community and makes a big deal decorating the house for Christmas. Though their digs may seem dumpy to some, the family is perfectly happy where they’re at.
Furthermore, the Honey Boo Boo clan doesn’t seem terribly interested in fame or money at all. Rumors say that agents have been “swarming” around the family to sign them for various ventures, but June has turned all of them down because she doesn’t want money to be the sole object of the show, and is worried about signing deals that would keep her busy with promotional appearances, and away from her family.
For all of the clan’s haters, I have to say … if these reports are true, the Honey Boo Boo family just went up big time in my book.