Couple of points.
I read where Frank is going through a divorce. So it may make sense to reduce his projected income.
He married late, so one wonders whether his wife just married him for his money. His wife looked better than you would have expected for someone like him.
Reminds me somewhat of the guy fixing stuff for Pawn Stars getting his own show and quickly marrying someone about 40 to 45 who looked and dressed like an old cocktail waitress and putting her on the show in outfits she was too old to be wearing. Being on TV attracts a lot of flies. Many men, and women, can’t handle it.
Very early in the show, they were buying things really cheap and making a killing. I recall them buying an old saddle for $20 from an 80-90 year old guy then saying it was worth $1,500. People were really upset with them taking advantage of the old guy. After that they started paying 50 to 60% of the market rate (at least the items shown on the show). I wonder what they pay on items not shown. I gather they have a couple of stores.
I haven’t watched in a few years so I don’t know where they are on the show.
Frank is single and never married. Mike, who is kicking Frank off, is going through the divorce. Keeping with your argument maybe Mike is trying to kick off the second higher earner to reduce the show’s budget.