Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino from "Jersey Shore" and Kate Gosselin from "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

Reality television has come a long way since the popular first season of “Survivor” marking the onslaught of cheaper, faster and arguably more entertaining “unscripted” television. Now almost nine years later, we’ve grown to know a new kind of reality TV featuring a different kind of star. From fist-pumping to raising eight kids to simply looking pretty, the reality stars of today are raking in loads of cash doing what they do best.

Take a look at The Daily Beast‘s new list of the 10 Highest-Earning Reality Stars which they explain was calculated from dozens of discussions with industry professionals, agents, managers, and publicists, as well as published reports and public financial disclosures.

10.) Kendra Wilkinson — $2 million 

9.) DJ Pauly D — $2 million

8.) Kourtney Kardashian — $2.5 million

7.) Khloe Kardashian — $2.5 million

6.) Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino — $3 million

5.) Kate Gosselin — $3.5 million

4.) Audrina Patridge — $3.5 million

3.) Bethenny Frankel — $4 million

2.) Lauren Conrad — $5 million

(Photo: Sadao Turner/Ryan Seacrest Productions)

1.) Kim Kardashian — $6 million

VIA JUST JARED