Sig Hansen Has Made Quite a Bit of Money Since He Started Working on 'Deadliest Catch'
Sep. 13 2022, Updated 3:26 p.m. ET
Throughout his tenure on the hit fishing show Deadliest Catch, Captain Sig Hansen has solidified himself as one of the most famous faces in his field. As one of the longest-running members of the show's cast, Sig has seen the series through virtually all of its iterations and thus has become an authority on all things Deadliest Catch — and, well, deadly fishing overall.
Now you can see even more of his fishing expertise in the new spinoff show, Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns. The spinoff follows Sig, his daughter Mandy, and his son-in-law Clark, as they work together to add a new generation to the Hansen king crab fishing empire.
Sig has surely made quite a bit of money through his work on the show, which consistently ranks as one of the top-performing shows on the Discovery Channel, as well as outside of the show as an expert fishing captain. So, what exactly is Sig's net worth, and what other related details do we know about his life at sea? Keep reading to find out.
Sig and daughter Mandy
What is Sig Hansen's net worth? He has made quite a bit of money over the years.
Although he is a humble fishing boat captain, Sig's career as one of the stars of Deadliest Catch has netted him more than just fish. Indeed, he has accrued an impressive net worth that reflects his long, hard work over the years on television. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Sig is worth around $4 million.
Sig's boat, F/V Northwestern, has consistently shown itself to be the most productive vessel out of any of the ships showcased on Deadliest Catch. Furthermore, Sig has "never lost a man at sea," per the show's Facebook page.
How much does Sig Hansen make per episode of 'Deadliest Catch'?
Working as a fishing boat captain is definitely a high-risk, high-reward situation. It is reported that captains can earn more than $200,000 a year and crew members can earn as much as $50,000 over the course of the three-month crab season (the two most active months being October and January). That doesn't include their salary from being on the show, either, which means they're bringing home quite a pretty penny.
Sig's position is also unique because he's not only a cast member on the show but also a technical advisor. This means that he offers valuable insight to producers and editors to ensure that the show does a good job of explaining exactly what is happening and why. Between his fishing proceeds, his double-barreled roles on Deadliest Catch, and his new spinoff show, it's safe to say that Sig is bringing home the bacon (in addition to all of those fish).
Sig has been working in the fishing industry for virtually his entire life.
The descendant of a long line of Norwegian fishermen, Sig has worked in the industry since he was a young boy. Born on April 28, 1966, in Seattle, Sig began working on his father's fishing boat at the tender age of 14. After he completed his high school education, the budding seafarer took to fishing wholly, using that time to become very familiar with the migration patterns of fish in the Bering Sea and Alaskan waters, which set him up for continued success as time went on.
Through hard work and dedication, Sig eventually was promoted to the role of relief skipper on the F/V Northwestern. By the time he turned 24, however, those skills shined through so much that he was made captain of the vessel. Under his direction, safety and production numbers on board shot to record levels, becoming the most successful ship in the history of Deadliest Catch, a title that it retains to this day.
Sig's daughter Mandy is also an avid fisher and is often at the helm of his ship.
Now, Sig is passing his love of fishing onto the next generation. His daughter Mandy (Hansen) Pederson has taken on a prominent role on Deadliest Catch and seems poised to carry her father's legacy on for years to come. A student of the Maritime Institute in San Diego, Mandy is doubling down on her love for the sea via both real-world and classroom experiences on the subject.
On the original show, Mandy can often be seen piloting the F/V Northwestern and bouncing ideas off her husband, deckhand Clark Pederson. Whether it be quick decision-making, navigating through storms, or learning the technical side of things with the ship, Mandy is clearly making her father proud with her hard work and continuation of the family business.
Catch new episodes of Deadliest Catch and Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns Tuesdays on the Discovery Channel.