Bling Empire star Kevin Kreider has revealed he was paid less than a UPS driver while filming three seasons of the hit Netflix reality show – and that now he can’t even afford a car due to reality stars’ criminally low wages.
The 39-year-old actor starred in all three seasons of the unscripted docu-series that followed the lives of wealthy, materialistic East and Southeast Asian Americans in the Los Angeles area before it was shelved last year.
Kevin was part of the main cast and first appeared on screen with the late billionaire heiress Anna Shay, who died “unexpectedly” in June after suffering a stroke at the age of 62.
Despite starring alongside a series of shockingly wealthy cast members, Kevin was not from the same background and was positioned as an outsider on the show and often treated to lavish gifts from Shay.
Getting real about reality show pay: Kevin Kreider has revealed he made less than a UPS driver for his time on Bling Empire
Beware: the 39-year-old actor can’t afford his own vehicle and often relies on friends for lifts
In an exclusive conversation with DailyMail.com, Kevin has now shed light on how little he made — despite the grueling movie schedule — and how the fame of being on television doesn’t necessarily translate to a life of luxury.
It comes after former Love Is Blind star Nick Thompson revealed he is on the brink of losing his home after paying less than minimum wage for his performance on season two of the dating show.
“UPS employees were paid more than I was, and they have benefits,” he said. “That’s how little we got paid.”
For context, a UPS delivery driver can expect to earn about $18 per hour, with a warehouse package handler taking home a similar wage. The minimum wage in the state of California is $15.50 compared to $15 national minimum wage.
“I heard how much a friend of mine made on a pilot and he wasn’t even the lead, yet he made more than I did on an entire season of Bling Empire,” he continued. “I worked my ass off for Bling. I mean, I was literally filming almost every day.
‘We had to be available for almost a whole year. I dragged my ass to like three, six hour long interviews. So if you add up the hours, I probably worked below minimum wage.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to Netflix for comment.
“If we went to another season, I would definitely get paid more fairly, but being a newer show, we didn’t get paid as much,” Kevin said.
Renting Stuck: Kevin can’t get out of the Los Angeles real estate rental cycle either
Hustling: Kevin told DailyMail.com that he “worked his ass off” for Bling Empire and filmed almost “every day”
Core cast member: Kevin starred in all three seasons of the unscripted docu-series, which was canceled last year
Not all glitz and glamour: He revealed that just because he starred in the Netflix series, he’s “not just sitting here (on) Easy Street”
“As a minority, no one tells you to bust your ass,” he added. “I rush to get brand deals.
“In reality TV, you either get paid nothing or nothing at all.”
Kevin pointed out that studios lure you in with the idea of branding and recognition, but of course making money after a show airs is never guaranteed.
“I go to all those empty promise network deals, I speak events, I write a memoir, novels, comic books, high profile deals, like all this stuff, but none of it came to me, I had to go out and get it. So it’s not like I’m sitting here (on) Easy Street.’
Kevin pulled the curtain on Hollywood’s supposed glamor and luxury, opening up about his financial situation, sharing that while he’s made enough to get by, he’s not swimming in cash.
“I can’t buy a house in Los Angeles, I still have to rent,” he said. “I don’t even have a car because I chose to live in a nicer apartment. It was either downgrade and rent a studio and have a car or have a nicer bedroom and not have a car.
“I still have friends who pick me up and take me places, you know, it’s not that great.”
Other World: Bling Empire followed the lives of wealthy, materialistic East and Southeast Asian Americans in the Los Angeles area
While Kevin supports the ongoing SAG-AFRA and WGA strikes, he opposes the idea that reality stars are also taking industrial action.
“Reality TV is always used as a backup,” he said. “I understand why there is a strike. I kind of wish the reality TV people would be on strike too and at the same time I wish they weren’t because right now that’s the only thing I make money with.
“I really wish TV would reward the talent that is so unique and rare…and I’d like to be paid better because there were tons of viewers (on Bling Empire) and we didn’t make a dime.”
On Thursday, SAG-AFRA stated that it stood behind Real Housewives of New York alum Bethenny Frankel and fellow reality stars in their mission to unite.
While Kevin emphasized his hopes that actors and reality stars would join forces, he feels shunned by the acting world because he has worked in reality television. “A lot of actors look down on reality TV people,” he noted.
“There’s a bit of an ego fight there where they think we’re affecting their craft, but they’re making it harder by not accepting us.
“You know, I use a lot of my acting skills to help me with the show to get the best out of myself and the storytelling. And so I really wish the acting community would have a little more respect.
‘I want to be seen as a serious actor and artist, that’s where I come from. I don’t want to be pigeonholed into just doing reality TV shows. But what’s sad is that even my friends who are in TV and film only see me like that. And it’s a bit sad because that’s not where I’m from.’
Giving his verdict: Kevin wasn’t surprised that Bling Empire was canceled by Netflix
In a nutshell: Bring Empire premiered in January 2021, with season two in May 2022 and the third and final series in October 2022
Bling Empire was canned by Netflix in April, six months after its final season aired. Kevin said he was “not surprised” that the show was shelved.
“I knew our viewership wasn’t that strong,” he said. “The pandemic was the perfect formulation for us to succeed because no one was filming and everyone was watching Netflix and all the online streaming platforms, so we had a great opportunity there.
“The pandemic was also a perfect recipe for the disaster of Bling Empire because it exploded so big, so fast and then all of a sudden you mix fame with narcissism and rich people and control.”
The second season filmed during the pandemic as lockdown restrictions began to ease.
“We didn’t have any bling bling about season two because all we can do is go to restaurants, and you couldn’t even have real life stuff because people weren’t doing real life stuff except stay home.”
Kevin revealed that he believes white privilege played a role in Bling Empire’s demise, adding, “Netflix’s number one reality shows right now didn’t even have a good rating for the first and second seasons, but they got another opportunity.
“We weren’t that strong and they canceled us.
“We are Asians, we are hard on ourselves, we come from a privileged position, I get that. I don’t think we were the easiest cast ever to work with. People didn’t show up like it was a job. I think a lot of us got a little too stubborn, a little too far ahead.”