The Real Housewives Salaries: How Much Money Do They Make, Who Earns The Most?

The Real Housewives franchise has widely been viewed as a reality version of ABC’s fictionalized soap opera Desperate Housewives which aired for eight seasons between October 2004 and May 2012. Set in a fictional city and state and using fictional characters, Desperate Housewives revealed the unattractive secrets and struggles behind the perfect-looking lives of suburbian families. Taking this theme further, The Real Housewives series – true to its name and genre – is based on real cities, people, and struggles.

After debuting as The Real Housewives of Orange County (RHOC) in late March 2006, the huge success of the first show has since led to versions focused on other US cities such as New York, Washington DC, Beverly Hills and more. In each city, the show follows the daily struggles of a group of wealthy women as they take on life and its many perplexities. These ladies who were equally well paid for their parts on the show have very huge net worths to play with.

Follow us as we unveil all you need to know about the salaries of these reality stars and how much net worth they have accrued individually from the different shows. Beyond all of that, find out who among them takes home the largest chunk of the dollars the show rakes in.

The ‘Real Housewives’ Of Orange County (RHOOC) 

Vicki Gunvalson the Real Housewives of Orange County star
Victoria “Vicki” Gunvalson Image source.

Kimberly Bryant – Her salary for each season is not known but her net worth has been pegged at $10 million as of 2019.

Vicki Gunvalson – She came onto the scene in 2016 but her salary was not known until it was revealed that she earned $750,000 per season of the show in 2017. She has an estimated net worth of $8 million. However, she had a row with Kelly Dodd that led to her demotion to a ‘friend’ of the housewives. That also meant a reduction in her pay.

Tamra Judge – Earned $600,000 per season and owns a fitness business from which she makes close to $200,000 yearly. Her net worth is $800,000.

Kelly Dodd – Noted as Tamra’a antagonist on the show, Kelly is reported to be one of the least paid on the show. But while her salary is not known, her worth is estimated at $100,000……….

Lauri Peterson – She has since left the show to become a full-time housewife. Lauri has an estimated net worth of $20 million, thanks to her rich and generous new husband.

Jo De La Rosa – Her salary is not known but her net worth is estimated at $100,000.

Alexis Bellino – She is one of the ‘real housewives’ who have taken great advantage of the fame that came with the show as she has launched her clothing line which pulls in an additional $200,000 to her income. Her net worth currently is estimated at $1.7 million.

Heather Dubrow – The salary range of the actress while she lasted on the show is not known, but her net worth is pegged at $30 million.

Shannon Beador – Shannon is worth $20 million approximately. But her salary on the show is not known.

The Real Housewives of New York City (RHONY)

Betheny Frankel RHONY
Bethenny Frankel: Image source.

Luann de Lesseps receives $1 million per season but despite that, her net worth is estimated at $25 million mostly from her marriage to her wealthy husband Count Alexandre.

Bethenny Frankel – Although she earned only $7,250 in her first season, she later renegotiated her contract which now ensures that she is worth as much as $1.5 million which includes proceeds from her business turnouts on the show.

Alexis McCord – Outside the Real Housewives show, Alexis is a career actress. She also co-wrote a bestseller with her husband. Although we do not know her exact earning, she is reported to be worth $2.5 million.

Ramona Singer receives $500,000 per season of the show. Apart from the show, she owns product lines that pull in more dollars for her. She is worth $19 million approximately.

Dorinda Medley – Her salary is not known but she is worth over $20 million.

Jill Zarin – With her line of rugs and a fabric company inherited from her late husband and with her pay from the show, Jill is worth $36 million.

Sonja Morgan went bankrupt in 2010 but she has since bounced back and now enjoys a net worth of $8.5 million.

Heather Thomson – The highly respected fashion designer earns $1 million per season and her net worth borders on $12 million.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA) 

NeNe Leakes the real housewives
NeNe Leakes: Image source.

Eva Marcille – As one of the newest cast members of the show, she is also one of the least paid with her $250,000 per season take-home pack. She has a net worth of approximately $4 million.

Kim Zolciak-Biermann – As a musician and an entrepreneur, Kim has a lot of things going for her career-wise beyond and beside the Real Housewives show. She is worth an estimated $1.7 million, but her exact earning per time is not known.

NeNe Leakes – NeNe’s earning during season 6 of RHOA was $1 million per season. However, right now, she is said to be receiving $2.75 million per season. This in addition to her other endeavors as an entrepreneur and a TV personality puts her worth at $14 million.

Kandi Burruss – She is one of the highest-paid cast members of RHOA. She formerly took home $2 million per season but got a pay raise that now sees her receives $2.2 million.

Shamari DeVoe receives $250,000 per season.

Cynthia Bailey receives $1.75 million per season of the ‘real housewives’ show.

Kenya Moore has appeared on other TV shows and she owns businesses that pull in big bucks for her. While we don’t know her salary on RHOA, she is worth $900,000.

Porsha Williams initially received $800,000 per season but now, she is paid $1.25 million.

Claudia Jordan – Outside the reality show, Claudia works as a model earning up to $60,000. Her earning on RHOA is not known, but her net worth is $500,000.

Phaedra Parks is an attorney who earns $150,000 approximately. While we do not know her earning as a real housewife, Phaedra is worth about $3.4 million.

Shere̩ Whitfield РShe is worth $100,000 but her salary is not known.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey (RHONJ) 

Teresa Giudice RHONJ
Believed to be one of the most extravagant of the ‘real housewives’, Teresa Giudice earned $1 million per season and later went bankrupt: Image source.

Teresa Giudice is the least wealthy of the real housewives as she filed for bankruptcy and has a debt of $11 million. Yet, she earned $1 million per season.

Jacqueline Laurita – She earns $200,000 as a cosmetologist and her salary as a real housewife is $750,000 per season.

Melissa Gorga earned $750,000 per season but eventually filed for bankruptcy with a debt of $1.5 million.

Caroline Manzo – Beyond the show, Caroline is a real estate businesswoman and an author. She currently enjoys a net worth of $12.6 million.

Dina Manzo is said to be worth $4.7 million even though her salary on RHONJ is not known.

Danielle Staub – Daniel’s account reads red with a reported official debt of $1 million.

The Real Housewives of D.C.

The salaries of the cast of RHODC is not known as none has been generous enough to disclose their earnings. But that notwithstanding, they seem to be living luxurious lives and have very good net worths thanks to their other endeavors.

Michaele Salahi is worth $500,000.

Lynda Erkiletian – Her net worth is estimated between $1 million and $10 million.

Stacie Scott Turner – Also a real estate businesswoman, Stacie’s net worth is currently estimated at $18 million.

Mary Amons – Her net worth is estimated at $250,000.

The Housewives of Beverly Hills (RHOBH)

Denise Richards – She earned $1 million per season during her four seasons with the show.

Taylor Armstrong – Apart from the real housewives show, Taylor owns a management consulting business that earns her an approximate amount of $120,000 per annum. Her net worth is estimated at $1 million.

Erika Girardi – She receives $500,000 per season of the show.

Lisa Rinna – She earned $450,000 during her first season. Her subsequent earnings are not available.

Kim Richards earned $100,000 per season.

Kyle Richards – She took home $270,000 per season.

Lisa Vanderpump earned $1 million per season of the show. Besides this, she owns a chain of restaurants that earn her an undisclosed amount.

Brandi Glanville – Apart from the Bravo show, Brandi has also appeared in several TV shows which has bolstered her net worth of $2.2 million.

The Real Housewives of Miami

Joanna Krupa – The Polish model and actress has a lot going for her outside the ‘real housewives show. She is worth $8.7 million approximately.

Karent Sierra – Karent has struggled in her finances of late and is reported to be worth $450,000.

Ana Quincoces – A respected cook, author, and an attorney, Ana is worth $9.6 million but her salary on the show is not known.

Adriana de Moura – The Brazilian receives $1 million per season. She is worth an estimated $11 million.

Lisa Hochstein – She is worth $30 million.

Marysol Patton – The PR pro enjoys a net worth of $14.5 million.

Alexia Echevarria – Outside the real housewives show, Alexia is a magazine editor. She was formerly worth $30 million but so many tax and legal issues reduced her to $3.3 million.

The Real Housewives of Potomac

Karen Huger – After a major crisis in her family’s financial life in 2004, Karen’ nest depleted. However, she seems to have bounced back with a net worth of $10.8 million.

Gizelle Bryant – Gizzelle is worth $4.2 million but her salary is not known.

Katie Rost – She is worth $3.2 million and earns over $300,000 from modeling. Her salary on RHOP is not known.

The financial worth, as well as the salary of other housewives on the show like Candiace Dillard, Monique Samuels, Ashley Darby, Robyn Dixon, and Charrisse Jackson-Jordan, are not known.

See Also: Highest Paid Reality TV Stars and How Much They Made

Who Earns The Most Among The Bravo Stars?

The 'Real Housewives' top earners
NeNe Leakes, Kandi Burruss, and Cynthia Bailey: Image source.

From the information available to us, Linnethia Monique Leakes (more popular as NeNe Leakes) of RHOA has taken home the largest chunk of the pay dollar in the ‘real housewives’ franchise with $2.75 million per season. A very resourceful American lady, NeNe is an actress and TV personality who has her credits spread across film, TV, Theater, music videos, and video games. She has up to 35 such appearances and is also a fashion designer and author.

Other top earners in the Bravo reality show are Kandi Burruss who earns $2.2 million per season and Cynthia Bailey who receives $1.75 million (both of RHOA just like Leakes). The Atlanta housewives are the topmost earners. Other top earners are Lisa Vanderpump (Beverly Hills) who takes home $1 million, Denise Richards (Beverly Hills) also takes home $1 million, and Teresa Giudice (New Jersey) earns $1 million per season.

Chinedu Nweke
Chinedu Nweke
A graduate of Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome, Italy, Chinedu Desmond Nweke is a computer teacher, writer and a humanist.

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