When fans watch Chase Morrill and his crew transform rundown Maine cabins into stunning retreats on Maine Cabin Masters, many wonder: what’s the financial reality behind this hit Magnolia Network show? After ten successful seasons as DIY Network’s most popular series, the cast has built something far more valuable than renovated cabins—they’ve created a thriving business empire that extends well beyond television.
The TV Paycheck: What Network Contracts Really Look Like
While exact figures remain private, entertainment industry sources consistently report that the show’s lead contractors earn substantial per-episode fees. Chase Morrill and his sister Ashley Morrill-Eldridge reportedly make approximately $30,000 per episode, placing them squarely in line with other successful home renovation personalities.
To put this in perspective, that’s the same rate Chip and Joanna Gaines earned during their original Fixer Upper run. Meanwhile, supporting cast member Jared “Jedi” Baker earns around $7,000 per episode—still a significant income supplement for the long-haired, bearded carpenter who hasn’t trimmed his locks in five years and moonlights as a hockey goalie.
Reality TV producer Marc Marriott explains the economics: “When a series starts out, before it becomes popular or successful, everyone is taking a bit of a risk. Once they are established, they can then ask for more compensation.” As Maine Cabin Masters became DIY Network’s most-watched show and transitioned to Magnolia Network, Chase and Ashley likely negotiated their way into that comfortable mid-five-figure range.
Understanding the Budget Structure
Here’s where things get interesting. The renovation budgets shown on the show represent actual costs paid by cabin owners, but those figures don’t include labor. The network pays the cast separately, which explains how they accomplish seemingly impossible renovations on tight budgets. This dual income stream—network salary plus business revenue—forms the foundation of the cast’s financial success.
The Family Behind the Fame
Chase and Ashley inherited their passion for renovation from their father, Eric Morrill, who died of cancer in 2014. Their mother, Peggy Morrill, remains an important part of their lives as they carry forward the family legacy through Kennebec Cabin Company.
Chase, who holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of the Atlantic, started rebuilding and restoring abandoned structures after graduation—work that remains his primary focus today. He juggles these demanding projects while raising two children with his wife Sarah Morrill, a nurse who works for Maine Primary Care Association.
Ashley serves as the creative force behind Maine Cabin Masters, handling most of the design work for their renovations. Her artistic vision transforms rundown cabins into personalized retreats that reflect each owner’s dreams. This creative leadership justifies her substantial compensation and has now blossomed into her own product line.
Beyond the Cameras: Building a Maine Empire
Television salaries tell only part of the story. The real financial transformation happened when the crew leveraged their fame into multiple revenue streams that now rival their TV earnings.
The Kennebec Cabin Company Phenomenon
In February 2020, just as the pandemic began, the cast opened Kennebec Cabin Company headquarters in Manchester, Maine. What started as a retail store quickly became a pilgrimage site for fans. The response exceeded all expectations—tens of thousands of visitors in the first year alone, generating substantial merchandise revenue from logo gear, Maine-made crafts, and local artisan goods.
Fans travel from Hawaii, Alaska, and even overseas hoping to browse the store and perhaps catch a glimpse of the cast. This isn’t just casual tourism—it’s become an economic engine that supports not just the Cabin Masters crew but the entire surrounding community.
The Woodshed: Where Fans Become Family
Adjacent to the retail store, The Woodshed serves as a rustic bar, eatery, and event venue. During summer 2023, the cast hosted lobster bake events that sold out immediately—350 tickets per event, four events total, with lines stretching down the block. These experiences generate ticket revenue, food and beverage sales, and merchandise purchases all at once, creating a powerful multiplier effect on their earnings.
The Contracting Business Boom
The show’s exposure transformed the core contracting business. Chase’s company now receives over 100 homeowner applications monthly from people seeking cabin makeovers. During the pandemic, this demand exploded as urbanites fled to rural retreats. Chase told Forbes: “We’re seeing a massive wave of people who are acting on their long-time desires to have an escape.”
The financial impact was immediate. Several years ago, the team earned $30,000 on a single project—and that was before the pandemic-driven surge. With expanded services including off-grid power systems and increased clientele, the contracting side likely now matches or exceeds their television income.
Personal Brand Ventures
Individual cast members are developing their own product lines. Ashley launched “Rustic County” in 2023, a Maine-inspired home décor line featuring her original designs on pillows, tea towels, and art prints. As Ashley explained, “I realized my fans have always expressed wanting my art in their homes.”
Meanwhile, Matt “Dixie” Dix—the rugged, long-haired builder known for cracking jokes while getting serious work done—is opening “Dixie’s Tune Shack,” a ski tuning and repair shop. When he’s not working on cabins, Dixie enjoys life with a special interest in Labrador retrievers, much like his co-stars.
The Bottom Line: Cast Net Worth Revealed
So what’s the actual wealth accumulated from this multifaceted empire? Industry estimates place the cast in comfortable six-figure territory, though these numbers should be viewed as educated approximations rather than confirmed figures.
Chase Morrill’s Net Worth: $600,000
Chase Morrill’s net worth sits around $600,000, reflecting his role as lead contractor and co-owner. As the face of the franchise and driving force behind Kennebec Cabin Company, Chase has leveraged his degree from the College of the Atlantic and years of hands-on experience into a sustainable business that supports his family while honoring his late father’s legacy.
Ashley Morrill’s Net Worth: $460,000
Ashley’s creative contributions are reflected in her net worth of approximately $460,000. As the design mastermind behind every cabin transformation, Ashley’s compensation is well-deserved. When combined with her husband Ryan’s earnings, the couple has built a solid financial foundation that now includes her Rustic County product line—a natural extension of the artistry fans have admired throughout the series.
Ryan Eldridge’s Net Worth: $400,000
Ryan Eldridge serves as Chase’s foreman and brother-in-law, bringing extensive experience and project oversight to every renovation. The hardworking crew member has become a fan favorite over the years, which has translated into an estimated net worth of $400,000.
Ryan’s tireless work on production sets and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously makes him an invaluable part of the team.
Matt “Dixie” Dix’s Net Worth: $300,000
The most intriguing yet mysterious character on the Maine Cabin Masters cast is undoubtedly Dixie. Matthew Dix looks exactly like the kind of cabin builder you’d expect—a rugged man with long hair and a beard who knows when to joke and when to get serious. As a prominent cast member, his estimated net worth of $300,000 reflects his integral role in the crew’s success.
Jared “Jedi” Baker’s Net Worth: $750,000
Perhaps surprisingly, Jared “Jedi” Baker reportedly holds the highest net worth among the cast at approximately $750,000. The nickname’s origin remains unclear, but it fits the distinctive carpenter perfectly.
Beyond his long hair and beard (untrimmed for five years), Jedi is a hockey fan who plays goalie and claims to have a hidden talent for an unusual breakdance move. He also owns an English Setter named Suzy. His higher net worth suggests either savvy investments or pre-existing assets beyond his television earnings.
What Happened to Lance Gatcomb?
Lance Gatcomb, who joined the show in 2016, disappeared when the fourth season premiered in December 2019. The comical builder gained a loyal following for his spontaneous and unpredictable character, including memorable moments like making doughnuts for motorboat crew members while they worked on a cabin.
Lance believed in hard work and lots of play, but his exact net worth and salary per episode remain unknown. His departure left fans wondering about one of the show’s most entertaining personalities.
Combined Wealth and Industry Context
Combined, the core cast likely holds over $2 million in total net worth—impressive, but worlds away from the mega-wealth of HGTV superstars like the Property Brothers or Chip and Joanna Gaines, whose empire is valued over $50 million.
How They Compare to Other TV Renovation Stars
The Maine Cabin Masters earnings fall in the middle tier of home renovation television. While their $30,000 per episode matches what the Gaineses earned during Fixer Upper, other hosts command more. Christina Hall and Tarek El Moussa earned around $50,000 per episode during their HGTV peaks, and top personalities now command up to $100,000 per episode.
The difference? Scale and market reach. The Cabin Masters operate in a smaller, regional market and maintain a deliberately down-to-earth approach. They didn’t set out to become wealthy TV personalities—they accidentally became celebrities while pursuing their craft.
The Growth Trajectory: Signs of Expanding Success
Several indicators point to continued financial growth for the cast. The team has scaled up operations significantly, hiring additional staff to handle the store, construction crews, and The Woodshed. They’ve invested in a new headquarters and workshop facility, converting a former lumber yard into a substantial production space.
Their geographical reach has expanded too. In 2024, they debuted Maine Cabin Masters: Building Italy, a spin-off special where Chase renovated a property he purchased in Italy. This international venture demonstrates both financial capability and brand strength—the network believed the concept valuable enough to fund a special abroad.
The integration of products into the show creates a powerful synergy. Items featured in episodes often sell out at the store, creating a virtuous cycle where show content directly drives merchandise sales. This connection between entertainment and e-commerce has only strengthened over time.
The Podcast Expansion
To engage fans and add revenue, Chase and Ryan launched the “From the Woodshed” podcast in 2020. Available on YouTube and Spotify, the show features conversations about camp life, construction Q&A, and guest interviews with local artisans and Magnolia Network figures—including network boss Chip Gaines himself.
Sponsored by the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (NELMA), the podcast provides another revenue stream while extending their brand reach.
The Community Impact: Wealth Measured Differently
What sets the Maine Cabin Masters apart from many reality TV success stories is how they’ve reinvested in their community. Rather than flaunting luxury, they’ve poured resources back into local businesses, hired more Maine workers, and completed pro bono work for local camps and charities.
Local vendors have quintupled their staff thanks to exposure from the show. The cast helped build a YMCA playground for free. Young people are now choosing to stay in the region, drawn by the economic revitalization their success has sparked.
Chase noted this shift with pride: the show’s positive impact is part of why more young people are staying in the area. This represents wealth in a broader sense—sustainable economic development that benefits an entire community, not just individual bank accounts.
What’s Confirmed, What’s Likely, and What Remains Speculation
To separate fact from rumor, here’s what we actually know: The renovation budgets are real homeowner costs, confirmed by the show’s official FAQ. The pandemic created a verified surge in business, with Chase himself confirming increased revenue to Forbes. The retail expansion has served tens of thousands of customers, documented in company press releases. Magnolia Network confirmed the show was DIY Network’s most-watched for five seasons.
What’s likely but unconfirmed: The $30,000 per-episode figures for Chase and Ashley are widely reported across multiple entertainment sources and align with industry standards for successful niche shows. The net worth estimates in the mid-six-figures range make mathematical sense given known income streams over eight-plus years.
What remains speculative: The exact per-episode payment structure, including any bonuses or escalators. Jared “Jedi” Baker’s surprisingly high net worth estimate. The precise revenue and profit margins of their various business ventures. Whether any cast members have additional investments or income sources not publicly known.
The Takeaway: Building Something That Lasts
The Maine Cabin Masters story isn’t really about television salaries or net worth numbers. It’s about a family honoring their father’s legacy while building sustainable businesses that employ local workers, support regional artisans, and revitalize a small town in rural Maine.
Chase and Ashley watched their father build Kennebec Cabin Company with passion and dedication. After Eric Morrill’s death in 2014, they continued his work—not just restoring cabins, but restoring community pride and economic vitality. While they earn good money—with Chase and Ashley likely grossing $400,000-$500,000 per season from TV alone, supplemented by substantial business income—they remain remarkably grounded.
They live in modest homes, invest in their community, and measure success by projects completed and neighbors helped rather than luxury acquired. Ryan works tirelessly overseeing crews. Dixie balances his rugged persona with genuine craftsmanship. Jedi brings hockey-playing energy to every build. Even departed cast member Lance Gatcomb left his mark through memorable moments that fans still talk about.
In an era when reality TV often represents the worst of fame-seeking behavior, the Maine Cabin Masters demonstrate a different path: turn your craft into content, turn content into community, and build something that will outlast any television contract. That might be the most valuable lesson of all—and one you can’t put a dollar figure on.
