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Joe Thousandaire

Is ''Joe Millionaire'' lying to viewers about money? Though Marriott and Fox claim the construction worker makes a mere $19 thou, the numbers just don't add up

By Caroline Kepnes | Jan 08, 2003

Caroline Kepnes

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Image credit: Evan Marriott: Aaron Rapaport/Fox

NUMBERS CRUNCHING Marriott -- and Fox -- claim the average Joe brings home a less than average wage

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The buildup was worth it, but the builder may not be. Nearly 19 million tuned in to the Jan. 6 debut of Fox's ''Joe Millionaire,'' in which 20 single gals vie for a ''tall, dark, handsome'' guy they think has inherited $50 million. As the net reminds us, though, himbo (and ex-underwear model) Evan Marriott, 28, earns a mere $19,000 a year as an L.A. construction worker.

That's odd, since the U.S. Department of Labor says the average California construction worker earns $42,000 annually. Real hard hats scoff at Marriott's meager take: ''It's just not possible,'' says Massachusetts laborer John Sackett, 29. ''I guess he could be really bad with his hands, but you'd have to be REALLY bad.'' (Fox swears by the 19 G's.)

Originally posted Dec 20, 2002

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