Shep Rose has had fans scratching their heads since Season 1. The Bravo star has dealt with his Peter Pan Syndrome for years, which has led him down a road of partying and skirting any real responsibility. He has been able to live a semi-charmed kind of life in part due to his generational wealth. During earlier Southern Charm seasons, Shep noted that he never had a real 9 to 5 job. He loved the fact that he could wake up and go surfing instead of putting on a suit and tie. But how does Shep really make his money?
Shep Rose was born with a silver spoon in his mouth
Shep’s family roots run deep into South Carolina history. His father worked as a successful lawyer, while his grandfather was highly successful in the steel industry. While at BravoCon 2019, Shep revealed, “My great-great aunt Mildred… no, Mary Chestnut. If you watch the PBS Civil War documentary, they quote her. She kept a journal during the war, and it’s fascinating, so that’s my little nugget.”
The latest Southern Charm episode had Shep opening up even more about his family. The 44-year-old revealed that his family has a dog named and a town named after them. Hunters bred the Boykin spaniel, which eventually became the South Carolina state dog. And let’s not forget the time Shep revealed one of his ancestors was immortalized in The Great Gatsby. Shep revealed, “The character in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is named Jordan Baker, and that’s my great aunt. It was written after her. She’s a champion golfer, so I’ve got golf in my blood.” Needless to say, Shep is under a lot of pressure to be his best self, thanks to her overachieving relatives.
Shep Rose owns a few restaurants
Just like his two buddies, Craig Conover and Austen Kroll, Shep owns a few eateries around town. Shep co-owns three restaurants in Charleston: the Commodore, The Alley, and the restaurant in the Palace Hotel. Each restaurant is popular enough to generate some income for Shep. But his big slice of pie comes from him being the only remaining OG left on Southern Charm. According to Radar Online, in 2019, the cast, including Shep, only earned $25,000 per episode. Shep and his co-stars were reportedly given a $60,000 bonus for their participation in the reunion. The Sun later reported that in Season 7, Shep and the others were given a pay raise to $80,000.
If my math is right, Shep would have appeared in 131 episodes, meaning he would have earned roughly three million dollars overall. I often forget that Shep had his own spinoff, a failed dating show, RealtionShep. He was supposed to find a romantic partner, but in the end, he just worked on his flirting skills. Naturally, he would have received a paycheck from that show, too. During an earlier season of Southern Charm, Shep also touched base on his passive income, like his investments, noting he let his money work for him.
Shep Rose has Shep Gear
I’m not sure who buys Shep’s merchandise but he has his own store in case you want an American flag hat. Shep Gear is a coastal fashion brand that portrays the Bravo star’s love of the ocean and easy living. The business launched in 2016 and runs on the motto, “Formality is for suckers; casualness exudes confidence.” Shep sells shirts and hats for around $30. While it is unclear exactly how much his business earns, the income would still be added to his bank account. Shep seems to enjoy being in front of his adoring fans and often will get paid for appearances or ads.
Shep has promoted himself at bookstores and bars. Southern Charm fans often forget that Shep once worked in commercial real estate. He worked as a market researcher and in land acquisitions for Medalist Golf. He also wrote a popular memoir, Average Expectations: Lessons in Lowering the Bar. So yes, Shep has had a very privileged upbringing. But he has also worked hard for his success. The old saying rings true: it’s not about what you know; it’s who you know.
Southern Charm airs on Thursdays on Bravo.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK SHEP ROSE HAS WORKED HARD FOR HIS MONEY?
