'Celebrity Big Brother': As Ray J Pockets $1 Million, Who Got The Highest Fee Ever?

Six figures to sit in a house. Not bad, eh?
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This year has seen plenty of talk about how much the ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ housemates are earning for their stay in the house this year.

In particular, American housemates Ray J and Speidi have repeatedly been mentioned as the highest earners of the ‘All Stars And New Stars’ line-up, reportedly bagging some of the biggest pay packets for a ‘CBB’ housemate ever.

But just how much can a star actually pocket from a stay in the Borehamwood bungalow?

So far, more than 150 celebrities have passed through those famous doors over the past 16 years, and of those, here are the 15 who had the biggest offers...

15. Christopher Biggins - Series 18 (2016)
Karwai Tang via Getty Images
Paid: £150,000
Final position: Ejected, after nine days

Prior to entering the house, it was reported that Biggins would be the highest-paid of that summer's contestants, pocketing a £150,000.

However, once he was removed for a string of offensive comments, attention turned to whether he'd be paid it all.

It was later reported he pocketed just half of it, which admittedly is still not to be sniffed at.
14. Vicky Entwistle - Series 12 (2013)
Danny Martindale via Getty Images
Paid: £150,000
Final position: Sixth

Producers were keen to get former 'Coronation Street' couple Bruce Jones and Vicky Entwistle in the house, but seeing as he was a lot more willing to sign up than she was, he bagged just 10% of her fee.
13. Perez Hilton - Series 15 (2015)
Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images
Paid: £150,000
Final position: Sixth

Love him or hate him, there are few who would deny that Perez wasn't worth the money, proving to be the talking point on his series.

When 'All Stars' came knocking, though, he sent them away, claiming they couldn't afford to pay him the fee he felt he deserved.
12. Ulrika Jonsson - Series 6 (2009)
Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images
Paid: £175,000
Final position: Winner

Various outlets claimed that Ulrika earned £175K for appearing on 'CBB', later returning for 'Ultimate Big Brother' a year later.

Interestingly, she's the only housemate from the Channel 4 years to make the list of highest-paid housemates.
11. Stephanie Pratt - Series 14 (2014)
Karwai Tang via Getty Images
Paid: £250,000
Final position: Tenth

Admittedly, not someone we were anticipating seeing on this list, reality TV veteran Stephanie is said to have bagged a quarter of a million for her stint in 'CBB' back in 2014.
10. Danniella Westbrook - Series 17 (2016)
Karwai Tang via Getty Images
Paid: £250,000
Final position: Fifth

Danniella made no secret of the fact she'd fallen on hard times prior to entering the 'Celebrity Big Brother' house, and got an impressive quarter of a million for her much-awaited appearance.
9. Janice Dickinson - Series 16 (2015)
Karwai Tang via Getty Images
Paid: £300,000
Final position: Seventh

The highest-paid housemate of the 'UK vs. USA' series (yes, she got even more than Stevi Ritchie!), Janice was evicted just two days before the live final.
8. Jonathan Cheban - Series 17 (2016)
Jeff Spicer via Getty Images
Paid: £300,000
Final position: Walked, after six days.

Former housemate Cami Li has made a rather bold claim about Cheebs' 'CBB' fee, suggesting he convinced producers to give him a "daily fee", before then walking.

She wrote in the Daily Star: "[Jonathan] played them and they weren't too happy. When will they learn?"
7. Kellie Maloney - Series 14 (2014)
Karwai Tang via Getty Images
Paid: £400,000
Final position: Ninth

Kellie Maloney's arrival on 'CBB' came just weeks after she came out publicly as transgender, so producers were really willing to fork out to get her on side.

At the time, her fee was reported as being the biggest in 'CBB' history, though as you can see, she's since been overtaken.
6. Katie Hopkins - Series 15 (2015)
Ian Gavan via Getty Images
Paid: "More than £400,000"
Final position: Second.

Alright, so we don't know the exact figures, but it was widely reported that the former 'Apprentice' candidate had what was (again, at that time) the highest 'CBB' fee ever.
5. Katie Price - Series 15 (2015)
Karwai Tang via Getty Images
Paid: £500,000
Final position: Winner.

Katie Hopkins' glee at her high fee didn't last long, though, as Katie Price trounced her by a full hundred grand - and she wasn't even in it all the way through!
4. Heidi and Spencer - Series 19 (2017)
Eamonn M. McCormack via Getty Images
Paid: $700,000 (roughly £567,000)

When Speidi first entered the house in 2013, it's fair to say they pretty much dominated the show, and while they didn't end up winning, they were at the centre of the year's main storylines.

It's no wonder, then, that producers were so keen to get them back for 'All Stars And New Stars', to the tune of more than half a million pounds.
3. David Gest - Series 17 (2016)
Karwai Tang via Getty Images
Paid: £600,000
Final position: Walked, after 13 days.

Even The Pricey and Speidi couldn't compete with David Gest's fee, though, as he reportedly scooped £600,000 to appear on 'CBB'.

He eventually walked due to health problems 13 days into his run, and sadly died two months after the series wrapped.
2. Ray J - Series 19 (2017)
Mike Marsland via Getty Images
Paid: $1 million (£809,000)

There's been much discussion that at a million dollars, Ray J's fee is the biggest in 'CBB' history. Not the case, but he's still done pretty well for himself.

The actual highest 'CBB' earners ever are...
1. Jedward - Series 8 (2011)
Chris Jackson via Getty Images
Paid: £1 million
Final position: Third.

Yes! Channel 5 were keen to make sure that their first 'CBB' went off with a bang, so allegedly forked out a MILLION quid - the most they've ever spent on a housemate - to get Jedward involved.

They did manage to last the whole series run, so Channel 5 got their money's worth, but Kerry Katona and Paddy Doherty were the year's runner-up and winner, respectively.
'Celebrity Big Brother' Winners
Jack Dee(01 of19)
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Jack Dee won the first ever series of 'Celebrity Big Brother' in 2001. His experience lasted a total of just eight days, but even that was clearly too much for the comedian, who memorably tried to tunnel his way out of the house.
Mark Owen(02 of19)
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In one of the most overlooked series of 'CBB', Take That singer triumphed over Melinda Messenger and Les Dennis to be crowned the winner, after a total of ten days in the house back in 2003. (credit:Andy Butterton/PA Archive)
Bez(03 of19)
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Series three was when 'Celebrity Big Brother' really came into its own, thanks to housemates like John McCririck, Jackie Stallone and Bez. This series in 2005 lasted 18 days. (credit:Bruno Vincent via Getty Images)
Chantelle Houghton(04 of19)
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In a twist for series four, Chantelle became the first non-celebrity to enter the 'CBB' house, eventually emerging as the winner after 23 days in 2006, making this the first series to last for over three weeks. (credit:Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images)
Shilpa Shetty(05 of19)
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One of the most shocking and controversial series of 'Big Brother' or 'Celebrity Big Brother' ever ended with Shilpa Shetty voted the winner by the British public in 2007.Shilpa had a difficult time in the house, after failing to get along with housemates Danielle Lloyd, Jo O'Meara and Jade Goody, who some viewers felt were unfairly ganging up on the Bollywood star.The series lasted 26 days, which was then the longest 'CBB' ever. Following the worldwide controversy provoked by the series, 'CBB' took a year out the next year. (credit:Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images)
Ulrika Jonsson(06 of19)
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Although 'Austin Powers' actor Verne Troyer had been named the favourite to win throughout the series, Ulrika was crowned the winner after 22 days in the house back in 2009.She later returned to the house for 'Ultimate Big Brother'. (credit:Zak Hussein/PA Archive)
Alex Reid(07 of19)
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Beating his then-girlfriend Katie Price's ex Dane Bowers to the title of 'CBB' winner in 2010, Alex was triumphant in the last series of 'Celebrity Big Brother' to air on Channel 4.He later had a baby with fellow winner Chantelle Houghton, following his split from Katie. (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Paddy Doherty(08 of19)
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Channel 5's first roll of the 'Celebrity Big Brother' dice in August 2011 saw 'Big Fat Gypsy Weddings' star Paddy Doherty voted the public's favourite over Kerry Katona and Jedward (what an honour). (credit:Nat Jag via Getty Images)
Denise Welch(09 of19)
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Denise's time in the 'Celebrity Big Brother' house back in January 2012 wasn't an easy one, largely thanks to her arguments with Nicola McLean, Karissa and Kristina Shannon and Michael Masden. She also famously enjoyed some near-naked time in the 'CBB' hot-tub with 'X Factor' contestant Frankie Cocozza, which drew criticism from some viewers... not to mention her housemates. (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Julian Clary(10 of19)
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In the summer of 2012, Julian won over viewers with his quick wit, pleasant demeanour... and the fact he managed to stay out of trouble, something his fellow 'CBB' housemates could have done with learning how to do themselves. (credit:Ben Pruchnie via Getty Images)
Rylan Clark(11 of19)
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Rylan's stint in the 'CBB' house came in January 2013, almost immediately after he left 'The X Factor'. He became so popular with the public following his appearance on the show that he was later offered a job hosting spin-off series, 'Big Brother's Bit On The Side'. (credit:Doug Peters/Doug Peters)
Charlotte Crosby(12 of19)
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She arrived. She punched a cake. She wet the bed. And she won in summer 2013. Well done, British public. (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
Jim Davidson(13 of19)
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And speaking of "well done, British public", somehow controversial comic Jim Davidson managed to turn around his public image, and beat Dappy, Luisa Zissman and Ollie Locke in the 'CBB' final in January 2014. (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
Gary Busey(14 of19)
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Gary was the first ever American winner of 'CBB' in the summer of 2014, much to the chagrin of his housemates. (credit:Doug Peters/Doug Peters)
Katie Price(15 of19)
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Katie Price entered the house after the first batch of housemates in January 2015, and went on to nab the 'CBB' crown. (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
James Hill(16 of19)
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Proving there's something to be said for keeping your cool, James won it for Great Britain during 2015's 'UK vs USA' showdown. (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
Scotty T(17 of19)
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Proving 'CBB' viewers really do love people from Newcastle, Scotty T became the second 'Geordie Shore' star to win the show in January 2016. (credit:Ian West/PA Wire)
Stephen Bear(18 of19)
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We still don't know how he pulled it off, but Bear won over viewers to be named his series' champion in summer 2016. (credit:Jeff Spicer via Getty Images)
Coleen Nolan(19 of19)
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She entered an 'All Star' and left a winner in January 2017. (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)