You’ve probably seen the headlines. You know the ones—screaming about million-dollar deals and reality TV royalty. But honestly? The truth about June Shannon net worth is a whole lot messier than a TLC script. As we sit here in early 2026, the woman everyone knows as "Mama June" is a walking lesson in how fast a fortune can vanish.
Most people think being on TV for over a decade makes you set for life. It doesn't. Not when you're June Shannon.
Currently, experts and financial trackers estimate her net worth is hovering somewhere around $100,000. If that sounds low for a woman who once anchored one of the biggest shows on cable, that’s because it is. We’re talking about a woman who reportedly blew through over a million dollars in less than a year during the height of her well-documented struggles with addiction.
It's wild. One day you're the queen of "sketti" and coupons, and the next, you're admitting on national television that you can't even help your daughter, Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson, pay for college.
Where Did the Money Go?
Let’s get real for a second. The Shannon family wasn't just "doing okay" during the Here Comes Honey Boo Boo era. They were raking it in. Reports suggest the family earned roughly $2.75 million from their initial TLC run. In a normal world, that’s "buy a house in cash and never work again" money in rural Georgia.
But June isn't exactly a Wall Street wiz.
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The downfall started around 2019. It wasn't just one bad investment; it was a total financial collapse. June has been open—sometimes brutally so—about her past crack cocaine addiction. She once claimed she and her then-boyfriend, Geno Doak, were spending upwards of $2,500 a day on drugs. Do the math. That’s nearly $75,000 a month. Just on a habit.
By the time she started her "Road to Redemption," she had sold her house for way under market value just to get quick cash. She was living in hotels. The cars were gone. The savings accounts were drained. Even the "Coogan accounts" (money legally set aside for child actors) became a point of massive contention and lawsuits within the family.
How June Shannon Makes Money in 2026
So, if she’s only worth a hundred grand now, how is she paying the bills? Because let’s be honest, she’s still living a lifestyle that requires a steady flow of cash.
- WE tv Salaries: June is still the "engine" of the Mama June: Family Crisis franchise. While she doesn't make the $50,000 per episode some top-tier Bravo housewives pull, she’s likely earning between **$15,000 and $25,000 per episode**. It’s her main lifeline.
- The Social Media Grift: If you follow her on TikTok, you’ve seen it. The battles. The "Mama June’s Favorites" shop. The constant pushing of random products. It's frantic. Estimates suggest she can pull in an extra $5,000 to $10,000 a month just from social media engagement and brand shoutouts, but it’s inconsistent.
- Appearance Fees: She still gets paid to show up at clubs or events, though those checks are smaller than they used to be. Usually, it's a few thousand bucks plus travel.
The problem? Most of this money is gone as soon as it hits her account. Between legal fees, supporting her husband Justin Stroud, and the "rebuilding" process she’s been talking about for three years, there isn't much left for a rainy day.
The Honey Boo Boo Trust Fund Scandal
This is where things get truly dark. In late 2024 and throughout 2025, the biggest drain on June's reputation (and potentially her wallet) was the reveal that Alana’s money was... well, missing.
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Alana Thompson openly accused her mother of stealing her childhood earnings. June claimed she was "legally" allowed to spend a huge chunk of it on "expenses" like travel and management. But fans weren't buying it. When Alana moved to Colorado for nursing school, the "net worth" of the family became a legal battleground.
Seeing a mother tell her child there’s only $33,000 left in a trust that should have had six figures? That’s a PR nightmare that ends brand deals fast.
Current Financial Standing (Estimated)
- Total Liquid Assets: Under $50,000
- Real Estate: Minimal (mostly rentals or lower-value properties)
- Debt: Significant legal and back-tax issues
- Annual Earnings: $250,000 - $350,000 (pre-tax)
Why the "Net Worth" Number is Deceiving
When you Google June Shannon net worth, you might see sites claiming she’s worth $1 million or more. Don't believe them. Those sites often use outdated data from 2014 or they assume she still owns property she sold years ago.
The reality is that June is a "high-income, low-asset" individual. She makes a lot of money when cameras are rolling, but she has almost zero net equity. She doesn't own a portfolio. She doesn't have a 401k. She has a TV contract and a smartphone.
Honestly, if WE tv canceled the show tomorrow, that $100,000 net worth would hit zero within six months.
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Practical Lessons from the Shannon Finances
If there is any takeaway from the mess of June Shannon's bank account, it’s about the "burn rate." You can earn millions, but if your burn rate exceeds your income, you are effectively poor.
If you are looking to avoid the "Mama June" financial trap, focus on these three things:
- Separate the Talent from the Treasury: Never let the person generating the money be the only one with the keys to the vault, especially if there’s a history of impulsivity.
- Verify the "Coogan" Status: If you have kids in the creator economy or entertainment, ensure those accounts are locked. June's biggest legal hurdle is the lack of transparency with Alana's funds.
- Assets Over Appearance: June spent thousands on jewelry and "looking" successful while her daughter couldn't pay tuition. Build the floor before you buy the chandelier.
June is currently filming more content, so that net worth might tick up slightly by the end of the year. But without a fundamental change in how she handles her "Family Crisis" checks, she’ll be chasing that same $100,000 mark for years to come.
Next Steps for Tracking Celebrity Wealth:
To get a more accurate picture of reality star finances, you should look up the SEC filings for production companies or public court documents from recent family law cases in Georgia. These documents often reveal the "per episode" pay that stars try to keep secret.