A week after revealing on social media that she’s returned to a career in nursing, Kate Gosselin is addressing her current financial situation and explaining why she still has to work, despite appearing on— and presumably earning a ton of money from— reality TV for years.
In addition to Jon & Kate Plus 8 and Kate Plus 8, Kate has appeared on Dancing with the Stars (2010), Celebrity Wife Swap (2013), Celebrity Apprentice (2015) and Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test (2023). In 2019, she starred on Kate Plus Date, a short-lived show about her getting back into the dating world.
Because of her hefty reality TV resume, fans seemed surprised to find out that Kate still has to work a “regular” job, as many assumed that Kate had banked millions from her reality TV gigs, something Kate recently disputed on TikTok.
“What happened with all the income?” one fan asked Kate regarding her reality TV earnings.
“Honestly? Providing for 8 kids, college funds which I am proud to say covered all of their college and more and LAWYERS,” she replied. “Sickening but I was [dragged] into court constantly and that costs A TON.
“Sad [because] my kids could have a lot more saved and I could have a retirement saved if it weren’t for lawyers …”
Kate assured the fan that she finds her nursing job rewarding.
“It’s okay,” she wrote. “I’m helping other families and I feel needed and I enjoy helping.”
Kate also stated that she is fine living away from the spotlight.
“I love it. I love normal life,” she wrote. “Hollywood type stuff is so fake. I play the game when necessary but get out fast.”
When another fan commented that they assumed the ‘Jon & Kate Plus 8’/‘Kate Plus 8’ series had set the Gosselin family up “for life,” Kate insisted that was not the case, largely due to legal costs.
“I wish,” Kate wrote. “I spend sooooooo much money on attorneys. That killed us! 🙁 so sad!”
While Jon and Kate’s divorce was finalized back in 2009, the former TLC stars went on to engage in a messy (and expensive) custody battle for their twins and sextuplets, with Kate initially receiving primary custody of all eight Gosselin children. In 2018, however, Jon became the primary guardian of Hannah and Collin (two of the sextuplets), while the six other Gosselin children remained in Kate’s care until they turned 18. (Jon has stated that he spent over $1.7 million in legal fees in court battles with Kate and TLC.)
Kate also answered questions about how she affords her large house in North Carolina on a “regular” salary.
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(In 2018, Kate moved from the Pennsylvania home she filmed her shows at to a four-bedroom home in North Carolina that she purchased for $750,000.)
“Fortunately I put a lot down on it and got a really good mortgage rate back in 2018!” she wrote. “My mortgage is really average! Whew!”
Watch Kate’s workday recap TikTok below.
@kate.gosselin Kitchen Talk and Tips #kateplus8 #KitchenTalk
(Photos: TLC; Instagram; TikTok)
20 Responses
I hope this is my last comment on her, anyone else sick of all the Kate Gosselin stories on all the sites? She sure is selling it trying to get a new reality show for herself and the kids and $100 says she told all her kids to say Collin is lying and telling them if she can score them another reality show her and the kids will be rich and get to travel to all these really nice and fun places just like when they were kids, I kid you not, this bitch is evil. I would boycott any show that put her on again. #@Collin we are all rooting for you, STAY STRONG.
She’s giving me hardcore Roby Franke vibes. Such trashy and despicable “humans”.
Regardless of how you feel about Kate at least her kids are all college educated or in the process of finishing school. Those kids have never wanted for nothing as far as we can see and seem to be doing well. They stay out of the spotlight and live their life peacefully.
I don’t get it. Is working as a nurse supposed to be somehow shameful? Something you only do if forced to? What a messed up society we have smh
Also asking her how she can afford a house when she’s a nurse is so funny. Nurses have nice houses and it’s been years since the show, they act like her income is zero and she just got the mortgage yesterday. 😭
I mean…she is a big reason why lawyers were involved anyways. And imagine taking money from your kids’ trust funds and then claiming that paying lawyers is the reason why your kids don’t have more money.
She is that person who doesn’t even realize how unbelievable she sounds.
I hate to admit it but I would actually like to know the truth about “the money”. I don’t believe it was all college funds and lawyers. I’m sure Kate’s truth and Jon’s truth are very very different. I’d love for Jon reply to some of these current statements she’s making.
like NOT one got a scholarship???
lol, did all of them even go to college?!
I can’t believe there are people on this planet that would entrust their vulnerable, ill child to this woman.
It’s crazy to have 8 kids and still choosing to spend millions on attorney fees instead of just being an adult and putting the kids first. Spite is a hell of a drug.
Indeed – I have a relative going through a hideous divorce and the legal fees spent so far by both parties amount to a nice house in an expensive area. The angry, spiteful estranged wife has family money so their goal is to destroy the estranged husband because she can. There are kids involved and it’s such a waste. Only the lawyers win. The husband wants nothing more than to end it, but she keeps dragging it out.
And like Jon and Kate, plenty of blame to go around for the divorce. Questionable if the husband was cheating, but the wife cruelly emasculated the husband on the reg once children arrived.
Could have been a much less contentious bitch and saved A LOT of money on lawyers, but, nah, do it your way, Kate.
Did she provide for all 8 or just 7.
What a liar, she is so full of shit, her hair extensions alone were $7,000 she constantly had them changed out, her luxury vehicle wasn’t cheap,she spent a fortune on her clothes. The kids college was set up by TLC, instead of getting a job she probably tapped into it.
Also,if you notice in 2020 she went to court to block Jon from reviewing the kids bank accounts and Trusts TLC set up for the kids, Why, because she was draining the accounts instead of working.
Did Jon ever contribute to Colin’s medical bills? Or did he not have to because he didn’t agree with the treatment?
Inpatient treatment is very expensive.
Good reason to not want to pay half.
I read where she was responsible for everything including medical for the kids because she told Jon she wanted no child support in exchange for she got the house, money in the bank, and just her and the kids on the show, but when the show was cancelled instead of getting a job she was using the kids trust and bank accounts to pay bills, when the money was running low she ran to court to try to get child support from Jon.