Eddie Lucas might not have intended to leave "Below Deck" after Season 9, but the former crew member has been transparent about the fact that as far as Bravo reality shows go, this one didn't pay well. "There is somebody monetizing off of the show, but it's definitely not us," he told the New York Post.
Lucas pointed out that even though "Below Deck" is the most popular show on Bravo with ratings that rival the "Real Housewives" franchise, the show's cast members are not compensated at an equivalent level. Lucas admitted that the "Below Deck" crew members do get paid more than what yachties traditionally receive. Still, he said that he found the gap between "Below Deck" and "Housewives" pay frustrating, telling the outlet, "They're not really working — they're just going out to dinner and fighting."
After Lucas wasn't invited back for Season 10, he landed a new gig on the high seas as the captain of a Baltimore harbor tugboat named Lynne Moran. On Instagram, Lucas told fans it took him a decade to achieve this goal. He said, "I am working with a great crew, on a great tug, and I'm excited for 30 more years of harder work. Big thank you to my family, both on and off the water, I wouldn't be here today without you."
