By Amber Goodhand - Breaking Celebrity News News Editor

NeNe Leakes rakes in a whopping $750,000 per season on her hit Atlanta Housewives show, but the little tots who star in Toddlers & Tiaras go penniless, Breaking Celebrity News has exclusively learned.

An insider explains it's a common misconception that since the stars of other reality-TV shows like Jersey Shore, Teen Mom and the Housewives franchises make huge salaries, the girls on TLC's hit show Toddlers & Tiaras are earning the big bucks too -- but not so!

"Toddlers & Tiaras does not pay their kids. They survive off of finding unique stories that draw in viewers," an insider exclusively revealed.

"They don't even pay for the families' entry fees into the pageants. But the moms do it because it's good exposure for their little girls and that's exactly what they want."

According to the insider, many of the show's hottest little sensations -- like Eden Wood -- left the show so they could pursue other independent ventures that would make them money.