With big drama comes — if you’re lucky —- some big paychecks in the Real Housewives franchise.
Ever since The Real Housewives of Orange County premiered in March 2006, fans have been curious about how much their favorite cast members from various cities make year after year.
“We never really talk about contracts and money,” Andy Cohen previously told Entertainment Tonight. “That’s usually just a line we don’t really love to talk about. People are curious though.”
While the ladies can dish it out during dinner parties from hell or cast trips around the world, many have stayed tight-lipped when it comes to how much they make as they showcase their lives for Bravo cameras.
Not all Real Housewives give up their diamonds — or peaches/apples — for good. Bethenny Frankel, NeNe Leakes and Dina Manzo are among the ladies who left their respective franchises only to return years later. While Bethenny, NeNe and Dina all returned in a full-time role, other women, including Camille Grammer and Danielle Staub, made […]
Over the years, however, some cast members have provided a glimpse into Real Housewives salaries. Keep reading to see what some Bravo stars have shared:
Teddi Mellencamp
Teddi Mellencamp Tommy Garcia/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank
“The longer that you’re on The Housewives, the more money you’re going to make,” the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star shared on an August 2025 episode of “The Jamie Kern Lima Show” podcast. “You know that there’s a standard. You hit five years, you hit six years, you hit whatever it may be. I think there’s that aspect to it too.”
When host Jamie Kern Lima wondered if “everyone [gets] paid the same based on years,” Mellencamp was hesitant to share more.
“I’m not allowed to say,” she continued. “I can say that all first season Housewives are paid the same. The people that say, ‘Oh, I got offered $10 million to be on season 1 of the Real Housewives.’ I’m like, ‘No, you didn’t. You didn’t. No one did.’ Season 1 Housewives, we were all paid the same.”
Bethenny Frankel
Bethenny Frankel Greg Endries/Bravo
In a May 2023 Instagram video, Bethenny explained that she doesn’t like to talk about her Real Housewives salary because “Bravo was a partner, and I never ever rat out anything that I do with my partners. … No one knows.”
“Season 1, you’re all paid a certain amount and for additional episodes, you get more money. Then we came back season 2 and it already … they have you locked in,” she claimed. “There’s a percentage increase but you always can negotiate because you have the leverage of not wanting to come back. … This is where everybody gets different.”
In an Us Weekly August 2025 cover story,” Bethenny said she had a few specific asks when she returned to the Real Housewives of New York City for season 7 after taking a brief break.
“When I was going back to Housewives, I asked for anything I wanted. They asked me what I wanted. I asked for it. I got it,” she claimed. “My contract was anything I wanted to the days I wanted to shoot, the hours I wanted to shoot, the way I wanted to shoot, the money I wanted to get. I had a very cushy contract.”
Joe Giudice
Joe Giudice Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
While appearing on his daughter Gia Giudice’s “Casual Chaos” podcast, Joe spilled the tea on what he claims his ex-wife Teresa Giudice made during her first season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
“We got paid nothing the first season. I’ll even say, it was like $25,000,” he alleged in an August 2025 episode of the iHeartRadio podcast. “I mean, it was ridiculous, but whatever.”
Joe continued, “I think the first year, we had that big party in my great room. I think that show cost me $150,000 the first year.”
Brandi Glanville
Brandi Glanville Bryan Bedder/Peacock
During an interview with Howard Stern on SiriusXM in July 2025, the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star shared a glimpse into how much money she was making while filming.
“My first year I was a friend of, so I think I made $16,000,” she said, before confirming that she made $136,000 for the second season. “I was making more money. And it would have bumped up to a lot more money if I came back.”
Whether competing on TV for a cash prize or simply being filmed while living your day-to-day life, reality television stars almost always get a paycheck — and it may be bigger than you think. In 2021, Jason Tartick launched a “Trading Secrets” podcast, during which he is focused on “break[ing] the stigma that we shouldn’t […]
Stephanie Hollman
Stephanie Hollman Tommy Garcia/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank
In response to rumors Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah was making $34,500 an episode before her legal drama, Stephanie explained why she had her doubts.
“I only have five years of experience but I will tell you that is over double what you’d normally make in season 3 in my experience,” the Real Housewives of Dallas alum shared in a TiKTok captured via Entertainment Tonight. “I will leave you at that.
Stephanie continued, “I will say, season 1 for me, it felt like I was paying to be on the show. I likely spent more than I made. Season 5, I was making great money. Season 3, I would say, is when you kind of start making really good money.”
