Random Things You Never Knew About The Bachelor Contestants' Contractual Obligations (14 items)

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  (#7) The Bachelor/Bachelorette Gets Paid

  True love might not be the only motivation for members of the Bachelor franchise. While contestants are paid nothing - and actually lose money paying for weeks upon weeks of formal wear and taking a leave of absence from their jobs - the leads of The Bachelor/The Bachelorette rake in six figures.

  On average, they make $100,000, with Emily Maynard rumored to make $250,000 as the highest paid Bachelorette. It's not a bad salary for a month-and-a-half of filming. And that doesn't include the money potentially made from book deals, Instagram endorsements, and spin-off shows.
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  (#10) ABC Requires Continued Promotional Appearances

  Just because the show is over doesn't mean you're done. After completion of the season, the happy couple is contractually obligated to engage in whatever promotional activities ABC deems necessary for a certain period of time (for Bachelorette Trista Sutter, for example, it was one year after the finale).

  So the appearances at every Bachelor-related function and that People magazine interview that comes out after every season like clockwork? Not exactly optional.
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  (#1) Producers Get A Say In Who Stays

  If you've ever watched a season of The Bachelor or The Bachelorette and wondered how the lead could possibly keep the crazy psychotic villian for yet another episode, the answer is they might not have wanted to.

  The shows' contracts state that the lead agrees "to follow all of Producer’s rules, directions and instructions in all matters, including Participant selection." Ultimately, if the producers wanted to dictate who each and every rose goes to, it's within their rights.

  That being said, it's in the producers' best interests to have a happy and cooperative lead. A star who isn't invested could sabotage the season. The Bachelor or Bachelorette also has the option to quit the entire season at any point if they so choose. So while producers likely have a hand in keeping a ratings darling around a bit longer, the lead still ultimately holds the power.
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  (#3) It Has To Look Like A Tight Race

  Many Bachelors and Bachelorettes have admitted later that they knew who their final pick was going to be much earlier than the finale. But of course, that's not as entertaining as a neck-and-neck competition for one person's heart.

  The lead is contractually obligated to adhere to the format of the show, which includes weekly eliminations of a certain number of contestants. While they might be allowed to make a random or out-of-order cut here and there, the show is slated for a certain number of episodes, and therefore a certain timeline.

  Trista Sutter, the first Bachelorette, later lamented that she didn't tell her now-husband, Ryan Sutter, how she felt about him on the show. She didn't share her feelings at the time because she was worried about the money on the line if she broke her contract with ABC. The leads can't just express their love for a contestant willy-nilly.
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  (#13) ABC Maintains Exclusive TV Rights To Their Leads

  ABC not only dictates what their leads must do after the show, they also dictate what they cannot do. Contracts for The Bachelor and The Bachelorette include an exclusivity clause, allowing ABC to determine what (if any) TV shows they can appear on for a certain time post-show.

  For instance, many leads have gone on to participate on ABC's Dancing With The Stars immediately following their season. Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe called out Bachelor creator Mike Fleiss for allowing male leads to participate in the competition, but not her. Bristowe claimed that she was offered a spot on DWTS after her season, but wasn't allowed to sign the contract, as Fleiss said he didn't want his contestants looking for fame.
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  (#5) The Winner Gets To Keep The Ring, But Only If They're Together For Two Years

  Every season, jeweler Neil Lane swings by in the penultimate episode to show rings to the Bachelor or remaining two Bachelorette contestants. These rings cost a pretty penny (the ring Jef Holms picked to propose to Emily Maynard cost an estimated $150,000) but the huge advertisement for Neil Lane is worth the cost. 

  Contestants only need to stay together for two consecutive years, and the ring is theirs to keep - no marriage required. If they break up before this time period is up, they're contractually obligated to return the ring. This system has led to fan accusations of winning couples staying together just to keep the ring, but the numbers don't make a strong case. After a combined 33 seasons, only a few couples have made it past two years.

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