As the wealthiest Family Feud host, Steve Harvey began hosting the reality competition series in 2010, and he also hosts the spin-off Celebrity Family Feud. The star-studded version has seen everyone from Kanye West and the Kardashians to Dixie And Charli D’Amelio and JoJo Siwa go up against each other. While the premise of the original show is a lot of fun, as two sets of relatives attempt to answer questions and be crowned the winner, the addition of favorite stars makes it even better.
While of course actors get paid a ton of money when cast in movies and TV shows, what about when they appear on a reality show that is all about competition and winning a prize? Do stars receive any payment for competing on Celebrity Family Feud?
Are Stars Paid For Celebrity Family Feud?
Each new season of Celebrity Family Feud brings the excitement of seeing favorite singers, actors, and big personalities battling one another. When it comes to whether the celebrities are compensated for appearing on the series, it seems that when a celebrity team wins, they give the money to charity.
According to the Wiki for Celebrity Family Feud, the stars who don’t win still have some money that they can donate to charity and they are given $5,000. The team that wins is given $25,000.
However, it’s possible that celebrities do receive some kind of payment, although it wouldn’t be as much as they would get for a movie or TV role. The Daily Mail reported that actors are often given some compensation for a reality series classified as a game show. Since Celebrity Family Feud would fall under that category, that could be true.
Celebrity Family Feud hasn’t made this information public, so it’s unclear whether stars actually get paid for this show. However, they definitely win money that they then give to charity. If a celebrity has a cause that they truly believe in, that would be a great reason to compete on the show, as they can make a difference. It’s also seen as a fun and entertaining activity, it’s likely memorable, and of course, it also gives stars more press and exposure.
Steve Harvey talked about the show in an interview with E! News and said that it’s fun working with stars. When asked about a “favorite moment” he said, “I don’t know if its moments on the show as it is the experience with people. Because the thing about celebrities that I get to enjoy most is I get to see people that I haven’t seen in a long time, or people that I’m fans of.”
Do People Win Money On Family Feud?
While famous contestants on Celebrity Family Feud are given money that they then donate to charity, how does that differ from people competing on Family Feud? Both shows have one thing in common: the contestants play two games. After the first game, families on Family Feud play Fast Money and win $20,000. According to The List, this has been the amount since 2001.
Cole Simmons, who appeared in an episode, shared some behind-the-scenes facts during an Ask Me Anything on Reddit and said, “You don’t get your winnings until 90 days after the show airs. It is automatically divided five ways. It will be subject to income tax…If you get the car, they just give you a car and you figure it out. If you take the cash equivalent, that is divided.”
Anyone who is interested in auditioning for Family Feud will be glad to know that their trip will likely be paid for. A casting call for Family Feud Canada noted that auditions take place in Toronto and production would pay for travel-related costs, according to Winnipeg For Free.
Which Stars Have Appeared On Celebrity Family Feud?
The reality competition series has included a wide range of stars over the years. Season 1, which aired in 2008, featured Mo’Nique, Vivica A. Fox, Larry the Cable Guy, and Bill Engvall. Season 2 included Mario Lopez and Joey Lawrence.
Everyone from singers like Lance Bass and John Legend have competed on the show, and season 9 included Simu Lu, Kal Pen, and Salt-N-Pepa. It’s very likely that even someone who only watches Celebrity Family Feud every once in a while will catch one of their favorite stars.
In 2020, Andy Cohen played on Celebrity Family Feud against Real Housewives cast members Kyle Richards, Lisa Rinna, Dorit Kemsley, Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave, and Garcelle Beauvais.
Cohen’s teammates included Jeff Lewis, Bevy Smith, Amy Phillips, and John Hill. This was a great idea since it’s always fun watching Cohen host the Real Housewives reunion at the end of every season, and fans who watch his Bravo series Watch What Happens Live know that he has a memorable TV presence.
Kyle Richards told People, “It was just really fun playing opposite our boss and being able to take him and his team on. That was fun.”
Rob Lowe and his wife appeared on Celebrity Family Feud in 2021 and since he knew that it was something that she really wanted to do, he set it up. According to The Daily Mail, Lowe planned it for Sheryl Berkoff’s birthday, which is definitely a fun and romantic gesture.
Harvey said in an interview with People that he knows when something is about to happen on the show that people will talk about. He said, “You’re going to go viral if you give me that high-level unintentional shot of ignorance. But every viral moment that’s ever happened on the show – I knew it, I recognized it. I tell people all the time: ‘You’re going to be on YouTube.’ I know the moments.”
Celebrity Family Feud viewers know that the questions are meant to be attention-grabbing, and Kristen Chenoweth was honest about starring in a season 9 episode that aired in 2022.
The actress talked to Entertainment Tonight about answering a question about intimacy. She definitely felt more than a little uncomfortable afterward.
Chenoweth said, “We all know Steve does a slow burn. He went, ‘I just told the audience you were the best, nicest person.’ I am sorry, ladies and gentlemen, that I said that. I will never do that again. I will never be on ‘Family Feud’ again.” For fans, this was another example of the awkward moments that occur on Celebrity Family Feud.