How Much is Big Ed Worth in 2023? A Detailed Breakdown of His Income and Expenses
One of the most talked about characters on “90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days” is Big Ed. In 2020, he became a celebrity when he went to the Philippines to meet his 31-year-younger online girlfriend Rosemarie “Rose” Vega. Their parting was as acrimonious as their love had been dramatic, full of deception and cultural differences.
Big Ed seems to have a lot of money, but how did he get it? This essay will examine Big Ed’s wealth, revenue streams, expenses, and way of life. We will also evaluate his fortune in relation to that of the other show’s cast members and celebrities in a comparable position.
Big Ed’s Reality TV Career and Income
When Big Ed appeared on the fourth season of “90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days” in 2020, he instantly became a household name. The show follows American singles as they go to foreign countries to find potential life partners. Big Ed’s pursuit of Rose, a single mother of 23 from the Philippines, made him a noteworthy and divisive contestant this season.
Among the many interesting and controversial aspects of their connection are:
- Big Ed fabricated his height (4’11) and his motivation for wanting more kids (a vasectomy) in order to have a vasectomy.
- Big Ed’s request that Rose get an STD test and a leg shave is hilarious.
- Big Ed is being generous by gifting Rose some dental hygiene supplies.
- At Rose’s modest family home, Big Ed stayed and proposed to Rose with a false ring.
- Big Ed’s impending vasectomy was the final straw for Rose, and she ended their relationship.
- Big Ed claims that Rose only wants to use him for financial gain.
After Big Ed made an appearance on the show, he quickly became the target of memes, jokes, and criticism online. He has amassed a massive online following as well, with over 1 million Instagram followers and over 300,000 TikTok fans.
Big Ed reportedly made between $7,000 and $15,000 every episode. If he made an appearance in all 10 episodes, his reality show debut would have netted him $75,000 to $150,000.
Big Ed’s reality show participation, however, did not conclude there. He also made an appearance on the spinoff series “90 Day: The Single Life,” for which he was featured in two seasons. He dated Liz Woods, a California restaurant manager and 28-year-old on the first season. After a tumultuous second season, he proposed to Liz.
Another spin-off that follows married couples from “90 Day Fiancé” seasons, “90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After” is currently airing its seventh season, and Big Ed made an appearance on it. He wrote about his life with Liz after they became engaged, including their challenges with trust, family drama, and the scrutiny of the public.
Big Ed’s earnings from these offshoots are unknown, although it’s safe to assume they were at least as high as his salary from the original series. Based on this information, we may conclude that Big Ed’s reality TV career has netted him between $200,000 and $400,000 to date.
Big Ed earns more than most of the other cast members on the show and on shows like it.Some reports put Darcey Silva’s salary on “90 Day Fiancé” and its spin-offs at between $500,000 and $1,000,000 each episode. According to some reports, Jon Walters, who featured on “90 Day Fiancé: What Now?” with his wife Rachel Bear Walters, only made $250 each episode.
Big Ed’s Photography Career and Income
Big Ed’s photography career flourished long before he became a reality TV celebrity. He transformed his interest in photography into a full-time career. He took advantage of his education at San Diego’s New School of Architecture & Design to create breathtaking photographs.
For nearly 18 years, Big Ed was a professional photographer, and his work appeared on six different magazine covers. He has taken pictures of many famous people, including Snoop Dogg, Tyra Banks, DJ Khaled, Akon, Ludacris, and Ice Cube. In addition to shooting weddings, he has photographed events, fashion shows, and models.
Photographers in the United States can expect to earn an average annual salary of $30,000 to $60,000. Big Ed’s compensation, however, was probably more than that because of his prominence, popularity, and clients. Big Ed’s photography business likely brought in between $80,000 and $120,000 annually.
It would appear, however, that since becoming a reality TV celebrity, Big Ed has given up photography for good. His confession on “90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After” revealed that he “passed the torch” to Liz by instructing her in the art of taking photographs of models. Neither his photography website nor his Instagram account have seen any updates from him since 2020.
Big Ed’s salary was above average for photographers and others in related fields. Some reports state that “90 Day Fiancé” couple David and Annie Suwan Toborowsky’s $40,000-$50,000 annual income came from David’s job as an online college professor. Colt Johnson, who starred on “90 Day Fiancé” with ex-wife Larissa Dos Santos Lima, is said by other sources to make between $60,000 and $70,000 annually as a software developer.
Big Ed’s Merchandise Business and Income
Big Ed became famous after appearing on a reality TV show, and he quickly expanded into a product line of his own. His designs may be found on sites like Teespring and Redbubble, as well as his own website, bigedwear.com. His wares range from t-shirts and mugs to stickers and masks to pillows and posters.
Big Ed’s catchphrases, slogans, and graphics may be seen on a wide variety of items, with words like “Big Ed Approved,” “Hey Big Ed,” “I Like the View,” “No Neck Ed,” and many more. In addition, he offers memorabilia based on his relationships with Rose and his dog Teddy.
Merchandise sellers on sites like Teespring and Redbubble can expect an annual income of $10,000 to $30,000. Big Ed’s income is undoubtedly greater than that, given his fame, following, and breadth of offerings. This means that Big Ed’s annual income from goods sales is roughly $40,000 to $60,000.
Big Ed’s income is substantial in comparison to other item vendors and enterprises like his. Some reports state that Angela Deem, who starred on “90 Day Fiancé” with her husband Michael Ilesanmi, makes $5,000 to $10,000 year by selling candles on her website, angeladeem.com. Azan Tefou’s “90 Day Fiancé” fiancée Nicole Nafziger allegedly makes $1,000 to $2,000 per month from selling weight loss goods on Instagram.
Big Ed’s Expenses and Lifestyle
Big Ed uses his wealth to satisfy both his immediate and long-term demands and needs. His fame and fortune are affected by his numerous outlays and personal preferences. Here are just a few examples:
- Housing: Big Ed and his dog Teddy reside in a San Diego studio apartment. His monthly rent comes to almost $1,500.
- Transportation: Big Ed gets around on a Vespa scooter he purchased for about $4,000. When he needs to get across town, he orders an Uber or Lyft.
- Travel: Both for his reality programme and his own pleasure, Big Ed spends a lot of time on the road. Among the many places he’s been, you can include the Philippines, Mexico, Turkey, France, and Italy among them. On average, he spends between $3,000 and $6,000 on his travels.
- Health: Big Ed’s health is hampered by Klippel Feil syndrome, a disorder that damages his neck and spine. Both his blood pressure and cholesterol levels are abnormally high. His monthly drug and supplement costs are about $500.
- Entertainment: Big Ed likes to have fun, therefore he frequently goes to restaurants, bars, theatres, and concerts. He also enjoys treating himself to massages, manicures, pedicures, and other forms of self-care at the spa. His monthly amusement budget is close to $1,000.
- Relationships: Since breaking up with Rose, Big Ed has dated other women. He has blown his cash on a variety of luxuries for his ladies, including presents, flowers, jewellery, and vacations. In addition, he used a ring that cost roughly $3,000 to propose to Liz.
Big Ed’s monthly spending on necessities and luxuries is estimated to be between $6,000 and $8,000. That translates to an annual outlay of $72,000 to $96,000.
Big Ed’s spending and lifestyle are modest in comparison to those of other reality TV stars and celebrities in the same genre. For instance, her “90 Day Fiancé” co-star Larissa Dos Santos Lima reportedly dropped over $72,000 on cosmetic operations and plastic surgery after her split from spouse Colt Johnson. Michael Jessen, who appeared on “90 Day Fiancé” with his wife Juliana Custodio, is said to be a wealthy man with a $1 million mansion and a $150,000 wine collection, according to other reports.
Conclusion
According to our research, the majority of Big Ed’s wealth comes from his reality TV career, his photography business, and the selling of items. It has also come to our attention that Big Ed’s individual and professional requirements and preferences play a role in shaping his spending habits and quality of life. His fame and fortune are affected by a variety of costs and decisions.
Big Ed has built a name for himself in the reality television industry, where he is both celebrated and reviled. No matter your feelings towards him, you have to admit that he has changed the world.