Who pays for the ring on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette?

Katie Thurston’s season of The Bachelorette has finally come to an end and we’re so happy that she was able to receive her fairytale ending after all. Naturally, the road towards finding the love of her life wasn’t without struggle and tribulations, but there’s nothing a huge rock on one’s finger can’t fix.

And in speaking of the engagement ring, fans were also delighted to see that Katie received a ring that was definitely fitting for the iconic queen that she is, but at the same time, many couldn’t help but wonder who exactly foots the bill for such a beautiful and meaningful piece of jewelry. Is

Katie Thurston’s husband-to-be

just that rich or do the producers pay for all the engagement rings on this franchise? Find out right below.

Who pays for the engagement ring on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette?

According to Refinery29, it’s been reported that no one pays for the engagement ring at all–The Bachelorette and The Bachelor couples receive the rings as a donation from Neil Lane! Yes, you read that right! Every newly engaged couple gets the big rock for free, in exchange for the jeweler getting publicity. If you’ve watched a season of the show, you’ll know he does get major publicity once it’s time to pick out the bling.

However, it’s been reported that if a couple gets engaged on the show and then breaks up less than two years later, they have to return the engagement ring to ABC.

Refinery29 also notes that the stars of the franchise have the option of buying their own rings if they would like.

Neil Lane’s rings have a starting price in the tens of thousands range and their most expensive piece could cost someone around $142,000! So it’s safe to say that if you’re going the more economic route, scoring a free ring might be in one’s best interest. But then again, if you’re a Bachelor alum like Jason Tartick, you have no problem splurging on a ring with a big meaning.

Kaitlyn Bristowe’s engagement ring reportedly cost a whopping $150,000, and now we certainly want to know how much these other fellas of the franchise have put up for the rings.

Neil Lane spoke about the ring Blake Moynes picked out for Katie during an interview for People, sharing: “You could tell it was very important to him. He wanted to get it right and was very thoughtful about each one.”

The bling on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette is certainly impressive, and it’s good to know the leads have the option of scoring a ring for free.