By Erynn R
Leah Messer has earned bank throughout her time with MTV, but her net worth isn't as high as it could be.
When MTV's 16 and Pregnant first premiered, no one knew that the show would turn into a massive franchise, not to mention a lucrative opportunity for all the teen parents involved.
Teen Mom ensured that a select few teen moms from the earlier series had their own spotlight, and that enabled most of them to make decent money. From MTV contracts to sponsored opportunities and other gigs, many of the moms earned millions.
Unfortunately, not all the moms (or dads) are sitting on a few million dollars, more than a decade after their appearances on 16 and Pregnant. Leah Messer, for example, may even have a negative net worth after some unfortunate financial decisions.
Leah Messer Stuck With MTV For Over A Decade
A handful of Teen Mom cast members have quit over the years, whether by their own choice or because the network more or less pushed them out. Jenelle Evans, for example, had a lot to say about her time with MTV but ultimately left when negotiations over finances failed.
Chelsea DeBoer (née Houska) left the series to give her now-teen daughter a sense of privacy, but also because she and her husband Cole found other opportunities with HGTV.
Related: The Cast Of MTV’s Teen Mom Family Reunion May Get Paid Way More Than Fans Think
Unfortunately, their home renovation show didn't perform too well, but that doesn't mean Chelsea isn't still making bank from various deals in the same niche. She also works a bit in fashion, with various brands and brand deals under her name.
As for Leah Messer, she appeared on 16 and Pregnant when her twins her born in 2009, and has continued working with MTV ever since. Given that the cast members make a lot of money per season, fans might assume that Leah has a comfortable net worth in the millions.
Sadly, that's not the case.
She might have pulled in hundreds of thousands per season of Teen Mom 2, but Leah's finances aren't clear-cut.
Leah Messer's Net Worth Is Less Than $1 Million
Of all the teen moms, Jenelle Evans was, for a time, the former cast member with the lowest net worth.
Though each cast member made at least a few million throughout their time on MTV, Jenelle's net worth dwindled after she left the series.
At the most recent update, Jenelle was worth tens of thousands rather than single-digit millions like her former co-stars. Now, however, Leah Messer's financial problems are making headlines.
Related: Does Leah Messer Make Any Money From Any Of Her 'Day Jobs'?
Leah Messer's net worth is hard to pin down, with various sources stating she's worth anywhere from $50,000 to $1.2 million. According to TheRichest, Messer is worth around $750,000.
Celebrity Net Worth, with very little explanation, states that Leah's net worth is $50,000. The discrepancy between figures could be blamed on Leah's recent legal troubles.
It's unclear if she can pay the debts she owes, or if she already has, but either way, Leah Messer is on the hook for some major payments.
Leah Messer May Have A Negative Net Worth
After earning somewhere around $300K per season throughout her time on Teen Mom, fans might assume that Leah Messer has plenty of money. But it turns out she may not have been paying taxes on time, and now owes a ton of cash.
Recent reports indicate that Leah Messer owes a tax bill of over $779,000 due to various liens that stem back to 2014.
To date, five liens have been placed against Leah Messer, with the most recent upping her balance to the nearly-$800K mark.
Related: The Teen Mom Cast Might Be Earning More On OnlyFans And Social Media Versus TV
InTouchWeekly speculated that Leah's financial issues were the reason her former fiancé purchased a home for the ex-couple on his own dime; Jaylan Mobley used a veteran loan to buy the home (with zero down payment) and it was in his name only.
It's not clear whether the quoted figures on Leah's net worth are pre- or post- debt payment, but her net worth may be close to nothing if she pays the debts she owes.
Because net worth refers to total worth, and not the amount of liquid cash in the bank, it can only be assumed that some of Leah's net worth is tied up in homes, cars, or other property. Yet given that Jaylan Mobley purchased the pair's home, which Leah continued to live in after their split, housing may not factor into her worth at all.
Does Leah Messer Still Live In Jaylan's House?
Leah sold her prior home, after which Jaylan bought their home as a surprise, but sources also say Leah paid for a down payment. Because the type of loan Jaylan got didn't require a down payment, it seems that either he did apply one (lowering the mortgage balance) or that he kept the cash Leah gave him.
It's said that Leah and Jaylan came to an agreement that she could keep the house, but it's unclear whether the mortgage carries a balance (or how much it is). What is clear is that Jaylan moved out a few days after the pair publicly announced their split, so at least Leah has somewhere to live while she works out her financial troubles.
