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Good Help: Isn't it Jon & Kate Plus About 50 Maids?

Fri., Jun. 19, 2009 6:45 AM PDT by Leslie Gornstein

Jon Gosselin, Kate Gosselin, Jon and Kate Plus 8

Karen Alquist/TLC

Please dish on the Gosselin household—number and titles of employees? Live-in or not? Just a few burning questions from this wildly jealous mom of six.
—Maeve

I know, right? SO many reasons to be jealous of Kate Gosselin. The Flock of Seagulls haircut. The abs that are literally the size and shape of a washboard. That winner of a husband and his supposed adorable girlfriend to boot.

In the interest of fairness, I did reach out to the TLC people to ask for an official "helper" head count. (Kate calls all of her people "helpers.") No word back, possibly because the network is scrambling to dash off its no-comments on the Gosselins' upcoming mystery announcement. Nonetheless, I was able to find out some facts, thanks to a source familiar with family dynamics...

...Our source says the Gosselins have so much help that it's doubtful they really do much for themselves anymore. When asked if the family has chefs, nannies or maids, my family insider gave me this reply:

"Yes, they have all of the above. Of course, Kate refuses to call their help what it really is. She calls their chef 'craft services'—not true."

My source continues: "They do have people who clean and run errands, they have a nanny and then others who also help watch the children on a more part-time basis."

As for how many, Kate herself once indicated that she has used up to 50 "helpers" per week. She made the comment during an interview with Dr. Phil. It's unclear how many "helpers" live in versus out.

Also unclear is who pays for the "helpers" and whether the arrangement depends on whether the show is filming at the time; the Gosselins' first nanny, baby nurse Angela Krall, has said her fees were paid by Medicaid.

One Gosselin in-law, Julie, has a blog detailing much of what goes on in the household. Earlier last month she wrote that, when it comes to money, "EVERYTHING that you see them do or buy is completely paid for out of the budget for the show or traded for free advertising."

(Speaking of free advertising, I have a book out. Buy it and then Twitter me for details on how to get it personally autographed by moi. And no, for the record, I do not have "helpers" for that.)

From a picture-perfect TV debut to tabloid-dominating headlines,
it's all here in our Reality of Jon & Kate Plus 8 gallery.