How Real Housewives Get Paid: The Shocking Truth Revealed
Oftentimes, in the Real Housewives universe, the Housewives themselves become the breadwinners in their marriages and families. As the franchise gains popularity, the amount each Housewife gets paid per episode jumps up, especially for a popular Housewife. Tenure is also a factor when it comes to per-episode pay. The longer a Housewife remains in the main cast, the higher their per-episode pay becomes.
NeNe Leakes: From Rags to Riches
The per-episode salary varies from person to person. NeNe Leakes, for example, was the highest-paid Housewife before leaving The Real Housewives of Atlanta. It was reported that she made $2.85 million dollars in her final season.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 14 Cast Salaries Revealed
So, how much does the Season 14 cast of The Real Housewives of New Jersey make per episode? There are bound to be some top earners in this cast, especially for the OG members.
Jennifer Aydin and Margaret Josephs: The Money Makers
According to Parade, Jennifer Aydin reportedly makes around $100K per season. Margaret Josephs’s per-episode pay reportedly sits roughly between $30,000 to $60,000 per episode, while Dolores Catania, who joined the cast in Season 6, reportedly makes around $60,000 each episode.
Melissa Gorga: The True Queen
Melissa Gorga joined the series as an official Housewife during Season 3, and so it’s likely she makes a hefty sum per episode as well — a reported $750K per season, in fact.
Danielle Cabral and Rachel Fuda: Rising Stars
Danielle Cabral and Rachel Fuda both joined the cast in Season 13, and it’s unknown how much they are currently making, but Bethenny Frankel has said there’s typically a set salary that everyone gets as they begin their first season. It’s likely Danielle and Rachel’s salaries have increased going into their second season.
Teresa Giudice: The Ultimate Queen Bee
The most tenured cast member of RHONJ is Teresa Giudice, and it makes absolute sense that she is the highest-paid Housewife in the cast. Per Life & Style, Teresa reportedly earned $62,000 per episode in 2020, and now that four years have passed since then, it’s highly likely that her pay has increased even more.
RHONJ is the Only Franchise where Husbands Get Paid
Out of the multitude of franchises that have popped up under the Real Housewives banner, RHONJ is the only cast in which the husbands are also paid a per-episode rate, per Vulture. There is a clause in the Housewives’ contracts that includes their husbands, meaning that scenes were able to be filmed with just the husbands, even when the Housewives are on their trips. Their children also receive a stipend for appearing on the show once they reach the age of 18.
Official Friends of the Housewives Get a Lower Rate
Friends of any Bravo series have a set rate earned per episode. Because they are not main cast players, the pay decreases significantly, with a reported starting rate of $1,000 per episode. Melissa insinuated that former main cast member Jackie Goldschneider has befriended Teresa purely for more screen time, as she was demoted to a friend role in the series in Season 13. Jackie said that the decision to step back was a mutual one, as she was dealing with mental and physical health issues.