West Wilson has multiple sources of income — but his big money maker may surprise fans.
Wilson, 30, revealed during the Monday, February 24, episode of the “Trading Secrets” podcast that he does make “way more” money in brand opportunities than he does for starring on Summer House.
The reality star, who joined Summer House during season 8 which aired in 2024, noted that he’s not sure what his castmates bring in for the show.
“I do think it is tenure. If they have it in their contract that it’s just gradual. Then it is that,” he explained. “It’s not like Paige [DeSorbo] needs to make an extra $2,000 an episode.” (DeSorbo, 32, has been on the show since season 3 and is a fashion correspondent, podcast host and does tours for “Giggly Squad” when she’s not filming.)
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Wilson noted, “I know that the people who have been there from the beginning certainly make way more than [season 8 addition] Jesse [Solomon] and I do.” He concluded, “I was under the impression that it was just linear.”
Being a Bravo personality isn’t Wilson’s only job — he is also a sports social and editorial producer at Complex Networks, but that isn’t his main source of income.
“I’m assuming at this point you’re probably making more in brand opportunities than you are at your current job,” podcast host Jason Tartick said on Monday, to which Wilson replied, “Oh, yeah.”
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Wilson shared that while his brand opportunities, like paid partnerships and doing product promotions are higher paying, Complex is aware of his side hustles. (Complex is a magazine, online news outlet and hub for popular trends and cultural updates as well as a place to purchase clothing and talk about sneakers.)
“Complex has been so dope in the way that they’ve handled it. Flexible with me,” he said, revealing, “I’m part time with Complex now.”
Wilson used the Super Bowl earlier this month as an example of his workload, saying it was five “straight days” of work for Complex.
When it’s not a big sports week, however, he said that isn’t the case. “If I have a busy week, they don’t ride my a— crazy,” he shared. “Work together when we can.”
Prior to Complex, Wilson worked for Bleacher Report, another news outlet dedicated to sports news.
“It’s good in your 20s. I think at BR, I ended, I was probably making $90,000 at the end,” Wilson recalled, noting that included the “bonuses we made for being on camera.”
He was laid off from the company shortly before he joined the cast of Summer House — but was given six months’ severance.
Wilson remembered being offered his current job at Complex in summer 2023. He started the “Wednesday after we wrapped filming” season 8 of the Bravo show, he said.
While Wilson does make money from Summer House he told listeners he doesn’t like to rely on that for his main income. “I think it’s very important, maybe not to everyone, but for me, to keep a job outside of the show to keep you grounded in real life,” he confessed.
Summer House airs on Bravo Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET.
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