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Except for The Amazing Race, which wins Emmys for a reason (because it’s a great show), reality TV is a lot of mindless entertainment that we watch for very few discernible reasons.

Aside from living in exotic locales and the likelihood of making out with hot guys and girls, what other reason do people have for starring on reality TV shows? 

Well, most of these shameless individuals see their time on reality TV as a starting ground for bigger and better things! Fame! Fortune! A #1 hit or a box office smash! 

Except that doesn’t usually happen, though. See below:

The 15 reality stars in this gallery, none of whom can act or sing but all of whom have tried, prove this point and then some. Often with hilarious results.

They hoped their reality TV shows would launch them into superstardom. They were wrong … mostly. In the case of Farrah Abraham and Kim Kardashian?

Millions of dollars have been made, and celebrity status has been achieved. Not how they might have drawn it up when they started out, but still.

Others, such as Paris Hilton, faded into obscurity after the rise of Kim, who is basically Paris what Paris always wanted to be. Hilton’s still rich, of course.

Then there’s Heidi Montag, who has faded completely into D-list obscurity after many failed attempts to build her “brand” AND lost all her money.

But she still has Spencer Pratt, so there’s that?