The Highest-Paid Real Housewives Stars Ranked By Their Bravo Salary

   

There is no doubt that all the women who have graced Bravo’s hotshot Real Housewives franchise over the years are reality TV icons in their own right. These stars understand the essence of quality storylines, authentic displays of their personalities, and unfiltered truths, and these largely contribute to their fame. While they garner influence on TV, some leave every season pocketing large salaries.

The Highest-Paid Real Housewives Stars Ranked By Their Bravo Salary

The Real Housewives franchise has produced some of the most talked-about moments in reality TV history thanks to stars like NeNe Leakes, Teresa Giudice, Denise Richards, and Kandi Burruss. In return, some of these women became the highest-earning Real Housewives stars. This article will look into which real housewives make the most money, their successes, and career highlights.

What Was Bethenny Frankel's Salary On The Real Housewives Of New York?

Bethenny Frankel looking unhappy

One of the OG housewives of the Bravo Franchise, Bethenny Frankel, built her reality TV resume right from the premiere of Real Housewives of New York in 2008. According to Reality Blurb, Frankel started with a $7,250 salary from season 1, and as the show progressed, she moved up the salary ladder. By 2018, Frankel was making $1 million dollars per season. Frankel also doubles as the most successful housewife with her achievements as a bestselling author and her lifestyle brand SkinnyGirl, among others.

Leading up to her exit from the show, Bethenny Frankel was entangled in a major drama with Andy Cohen. She has accused him of being toxic while pulling the strings of the show. Although Frankel and Cohen talked about their feud on Watch What Happens Live, the issue escalated with the TV star accusing Bravo of the poor treatment of cast members.

What Was Phaedra Parks' Salary On The Real Housewives Of Atlanta?

Phaedra Parks posing

Before her highly controversial exit from the Real Housewives of Atlanta, Phaedra Parks was one of the highest-earning housewives, pocketing $1.3 million per season. Parks joined the show in its third season but quickly became a fan favorite, thanks to her memorable reads and complicated friendship with fellow stars.

Phaedra Parks also had her fair share of family drama playing out in the show. The star lived quite an ironical life as a lawyer who married Apollo Nida, who would later be convicted on fraud charges. While she navigated this complex aspect of her family life, she raked in views. Ultimately, Parks was fired from RHOA due to a damaging rumor she spread about Kandi Burruss and her husband.

What Is Porsha Williams' Salary On The Real Housewives Of Atlanta?

Porsha Williams on the red carpet

Porsha Williams’ presence on RHOA started in season five and through the years, she became one of the most important recurring stars. Per Radar Online, Williams made $1.3 million by the twelfth season. The reality star left the show in 2021 after starting a new life with her third husband, Simon Guobadia, who later engaged her in a bitter and dramatic separation.

Why did Porsha Williams leave RHOA? Although she stopped being a cast member around the time she married Simon Guobadia, Williams revealed to People that she did some self-reflection and decided to leave. The star explained:

"I had already decided that it was time for me to step away at least six months before I told any of the executives… I was turning 40, I was hitting my 10-year mark on the show, and I really just had to reassess where I was and what I wanted totally out of my life.”

What Was Cynthia Bailey's Salary On The Real Housewives Of Atlanta?

Cynthia Bailey smiling and posing outdoors

Cynthia Bailey joined RHOA in season three as a refreshing change from the numerous personality clashes with other housewives. Bailey did not come off as the diva type, but she held her own during some iconic moments on the show. By her final season in 2016, she earned $1.8 million.

The reality star formed friendships with stars like NeNe Leakes and Kenya Moore, and there was no shortage of strife there. A large percentage of her screen time saw her ironing out several issues with Leakes because their rapport was quite tumultuous. Cynthia Bailey's rocky marriage with Peter Thomas was one of her unfiltered life dramas that played out on the show. Her marriage to Mike Hill was also briefly displayed before she made her exit.

What Is Kandi Burruss' Salary On The Real Housewives Of Atlanta?

Kandi Burruss smiling on the red carpet in a red blazer jacket

This multi-talented entertainer made a name for herself as a Grammy-winning songwriter and Xscape singer when she signed on to RHOA in season two. According to the List, Kandi Burruss, who became one of the OG cast members, earns $2.3 million per season.

Kandi Burruss led fans into her world of entrepreneurship, her marriage to Todd Tucker, and managing a blended family. Burruss often leaned on the calm side of being on TV but proved to be quite the firebrand when the drama came calling.

What Was NeNe Leakes' Salary On The Real Housewives Of Atlanta?

NeNe Leakes posing with a big smile NeNe Leakes is a reality TV icon who became one of the most popular housewives ever by the time she reached her peak on RHOA. Leakes kicked off the show as one of the original cast members and was earning $2.8 million before calling it quits at the end of season 12. Leakes had some of the most memorable highlights on RHOA with her comebacks, reads, friendships, marriage to the late Gregg Leakes and motherhood.