It all started in 2006 with the world premiere of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Orange County. After that, the ‘Real Housewives’ franchise just exploded. The show follows the lives of wealthy American women, showcasing (showing off) their families, careers, and inevitable drama.
The franchise expanded to 10 other US-based series and even 10 international ones. Since it’s been 13 years since the debut, you can imagine all the changes in hairstyles, fashion, and possible surgeries.
Let’s have a look, shall we?
Vicki Gunvalson – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of Orange County
Vicky is the OG of OGs. She basically set the standard for what the next Real Housewives should bring to the table.
It went from tequila-induced panic attacks to getting many random cosmetic surgeries. Vicki’s personality and behavior paved the way for future Housewives that would eventually follow in her footsteps.
Vicki Gunvalson – Now
Net worth: $7 million
Real Housewives salary: $500,000 per season
Vicki is an Independent Insurance Agent and an author.
Vicki starred in every single season of RHOC since its premiere, and her achieved fame of being a “Bravolebrity” was good for her business. This mother and grandmother also has a job selling health insurance. After an unfortunate cancer scam drama with ex-boyfriend Brooks Ayers, Vicki finally found real love with her now-fiancé Steve Lodge.
Nene Leakes – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of Atlanta
We were introduced to NeNe Leakes when RHOA hit the air in 2008. Leakes was born in Queens, New York, but raised in Athens, Georgia. She quickly became one of the franchise’s most iconic housewives.
NeNe left the show in 2015, but her career really took off after her first season on RHOA. Starring in the show led her to taste a bit of the Hollywood scene. She started to take on acting gigs.
NeNe Leakes – Now
Net worth: $14 million
Real Housewives salary: $1 million per season
Not only is NeNe a television personality, she is now an actress and entrepreneur. That makes her the highest-paid Housewife in Bravo’s franchise.
NeNe starred in the comedy The New Normal (which didn’t last long) but had a significant role in the hit musical series Glee (which lasted longer). In addition to acting, she’s started dabbling in standup comedy. And to add another accomplishment to her resume, NeNe also opened up a clothing store in Atlanta called Swagg Boutique.
Lisa Vanderpump – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Lisa Vanderpump is definitely the most glamorous Housewife of the franchise. When we first met the posh British wife, mom, animal lover, and entrepreneur, she was ever so charming (to be said with a British accent).
The latest season of RHOBH was a difficult one for Vanderpump, which led to her decision to leave the show. She’s still dealing with the passing of her younger brother. Lisa also found herself in even more drama as the scandal with her friend Dorit Kemsley and a rescue puppy threatened her role as the Queen of Beverly Hills.
Lisa Vanderpump – Now
Net worth: $75 million
Real Housewives salary: $500,000 per season
Vanderpump is reportedly the wealthiest of all the Real Housewives.
Last year, Vanderpump expanded her hospitality brand to Vanderpump Rosé and is now focusing on her dog advocacy. She opened a shelter for adoption.
Bethenny Frankel – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of New York
Bethenny’s first venture into reality TV was when she appeared on the Martha Stewart–led season of The Apprentice.
After doing so well on The Apprentice, she was hand-selected to be one of the Real Housewives of New York, and when it premiered in 2008, RHONY was the highest rated of any Bravo series ever. And it was all thanks to Bethenny’s sharp tongue and sense of humor.
Bethenny Frankel – Now
Net worth: Unknown
Real Housewives salary: From $7,250 for the 1st season to $1.5 million for the latest
While Frankel’s net worth is unknown, it is reported that she sold her company Skinnygirl Cocktails for $100 million.
The reality TV star is also a successful businesswoman. She leveraged her RHONY stardom to establish successful businesses like her Skinnygirl brand (cookbooks, cocktails, denim, and even deli meat) as well as a booming real estate career.
Dolores Catania – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of New Jersey
The Jersey mother joined the show in the 7th season, and she was tough, loyal, and never afraid to speak her mind.
Her personal life, including her relationship with her ex-husband Frank, was a little, um, different. But they were only trying to make it work! but hey—they were making it work!
Dolores Catania – Now
Net worth: $3.5 million
Real Housewives salary: Started out with $30,000 per episode (but supposedly was raised to an unknown amount).
She has a new look, but she’s the same, Dolores. The RHONJ star has shifted her attention to her community. She’s active in local volunteering efforts in New Jersey and spends a lot of her time working in animal shelters and with women who escaped domestic violence.
Yolanda Hadid – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
It was early on that Yolanda Hadid made waves on RHOBH for being simply alluring. The Housewife and model lived what looked like a picture-perfect life with her then-husband David Foster (the man behind classics like Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing”).
By the end of her time on the show, Yolanda fell mysteriously ill. She spent a lot of her time in the last season trying to get an accurate diagnosis, only to discover that it was Lyme disease.
Yolanda Hadid – Now
Net worth: $45 million
Real Housewives salary: $100,000 per season
Hadid found herself in the middle of a controversy, where her co-stars accused her of faking her suffering from Lyme disease.
Hadid left the show after getting demoted to a mere friend of the Housewives. These days, Yolanda seems to be in a better space. She’s now single and doing her own thing.
Oh, and I should probably also mention that she has three, let’s say popular kids: Gigi, Bella, and Anwar.
See what they’re up to next!
The Hadid Kids: Day One
These ladies are probably the most famous of all the Housewives young ones, and it’s all thanks to their mama, Yolanda. Back in 2012, Gigi already had her eye set on starting a modeling career, while Bella was more interested in college.
Mohamed Anwar Hadid is a fashion model and TV personality. He got signed to IMG Models in 2016, but his modeling debut came in the October 2015 issue of Nylon Magazine.
The Hadid Kids: Now
As it turns out, Bella and Anwar were also diagnosed with Lyme disease, just like their mother. But aside from that, the Hadid kids are all successful supermodels.
Bella and Gigi have walked on pretty much every runway and have been on the cover of almost every magazine. The girls were also dating equally famous dudes; Bella is/was (it’s not clear) dating The Weeknd and Gigi was dating Zayn Malik.
Kandi Burruss – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of Atlanta
Burruss was once part of the successful 90s R&B girl group Xscape. Remember the songs “Just Kickin’ It”?
Burrus joined the cast of RHOA in the second season in 2009. She was looking to get back in the music industry and connected with Kim Zolciak. But these Housewives’ creative differences clashed in the studio and ultimately brought the collaboration to an end.
Kandi Burruss – Now
Net worth: $35 million
Real Housewives salary: $450,000 per season
Kandi established herself as one of the franchise’s hardest working Housewives.
Not only has she restarted her music career (Xscape reunited for a US tour in 2018), she also got songwriting credits for Ed Sheeran’s hit “Shape of You.” Kandi created an empire, too, having launched several businesses, including a sex toy company and a 5-star restaurant in three Atlanta locations.
Tamra Judge – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of Orange County
Tamra Judge may be short, but this RHOC wife is known by castmates and fans to be a real spitfire.
Being deeply religious doesn’t prevent her from showing her claws. Tamra joined in season 3 and made her mark early in the series by always saying what’s on her mind. Add alcohol, and you see an even more intense version!
Tamra Judge – Now
Net worth: $2 million
Real Housewives salary: $600,000 per season
Tamra went through a bitter divorce on the show but is now living the good life with a new husband, Eddie.
The couple are co-owners of an Orange County gym. The two have both competed in bodybuilding competitions.
Update: Tamra and Vicki Gunvalson went from enemies to frenemies. The former castmates are now spending a lot of time together.
Shannon Beador – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of Orange County
Whether you call it honesty or oversharing, Shannon is known for divulging personal information. And her transparency made her one of the more polarizing Housewives in Orange County.
With personal struggles relating to food and the painful realization that her husband is unfaithful, Shannon put all her cards on the table as soon as she joined RHOC.
Shannon Beador – Now
Net worth: $20 million
Real Housewives salary: $400,000 per season
Things were rough for Shannon for a long time, but she’s finally hit her stride.
Though things aren’t really over with her ex, Shannon has since moved on and is trying to make things better for herself and her children. She recently partnered with shopping channel QVC, creating a line of low-calorie ready-to-eat meals. She herself lost over 25 pounds. Nice work, woman!
Kim Zolciak-Biermann – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of Atlanta
Kim’s early days on RHOA were a roller coaster ride as she tried to navigate the social scene. Her dramatic friendship with NeNe and her notorious relationship with “Big Poppa” meant the first few seasons were nothing short of popcorn drama.
But Kim is no longer a part of the show. Her last appearance was during the season 10 reunion, which was so controversial that fans requested that she won’t return the following season!
Kim Zolciak-Biermann – Now
Net worth: $5.5 million
Real Housewives salary: $1.8 million per season
The mother of six is nonetheless still an active part of the Bravo universe.
Kim got her own RHOA spinoff called Don’t Be Tardy (a reference to her 2009 hit “Don’t Be Tardy”). The show showcases the Biermann family’s shenanigans. It’s pretty much a must-see among Housewife fans.
Cynthia Bailey – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of Atlanta
Cynthia Bailey made head turns when she was announced as the new addition to RHOA in 2010 because, well, fans know…she’s kind of a big deal.
The model and actress made everyone know that she walked on runways around the world and appeared in major magazines like Vogue, Glamour, and Essence. Viewers got to see Cynthia juggle single motherhood with her career.
Cynthia Bailey – Now
Net worth: $500,000
Real Housewives salary: $1.2 million per season (but her ex-husband gets $20,000 per episode)
Cynthia has been very busy. She’s now dating ESPN sportscaster Mike Hill. She has also gone down the path of entrepreneurship, launching a line of eyewear and is starting a wine cellar in Atlanta.
Update: Cynthia and NeNe are no longer BFFs as the former friends had a falling out at the end of the 11th season.
Phaedra Parks – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of Atlanta
The prim and proper Phaedra Parks made RHOA fans happy with her southern belle style when she joined in the second season.
The entertainment lawyer (whose clients include Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, and even Michael Jackson) and mortician got married, had two boys, and provided some good ‘ole southern entertainment for 7 seasons.
Phaedra Parks – Now
Net worth: $3 million
Real Housewives salary: $1.3 million per season
Phaedra’s long run as a Housewife came to a sudden stop at the end of the 9th season when it was revealed that she was the source of all the malicious rumors regarding Kandi Burrus and Porsha Williams and an alleged sex dungeon.
Even if Parks never comes back to the show, she has more than enough on her plate. The mom of two appeared on Braxton Family Values and was signed to a major modeling company, Wilhelmina Models.
Kyle Richards – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Richards is no stranger to fame. The RHOBH star was thrown into the spotlight when she starred in the Little House on the Prairie.
She was a little eccentric but whole-hearted. And fans immediately fell for her quirky personality and love of a good party.
Kyle Richards – Now
Net worth: $50 million
Real Housewives salary: $270,000 per season
Kylie is still a helicopter mom to her four daughters and a devoted wife.
Kyle has taken on some new projects, including being a television producer, working on Paramount Network’s American Woman, starring Alicia Silverstone. Kyle based the show on her life as a kid growing up in Hollywood.
Camille Grammer – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Fans of RHOBH will fondly remember Camille as the discreet mean girl of the group.
Camille was rarely seen without a smile, yet she was simultaneously the queen of a backhanded compliment. As her marriage to Kelsey Grammer fell apart in front of our eyes, Camille kept her cool.
Camille Grammer – Now
Net worth: $50 million
Real Housewives salary: $100,000 per season
Today, Camille is a lot nicer and happier than during her days on the show, but she still has her fair share of troubles.
Her divorce from Kelsey Grammer was long and ugly, but once it was finalized in 2011, she had to undergo a hysterectomy to fight endometrial cancer. Camille since recovered and is living with her new husband, David Meyer.
Teresa Giudice – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of New Jersey
The hard-talking Italian became the center of RHONJ, and the drama from just her first season gave viewers some of the best reality TV ever witnessed on Bravo.
From her family’s Romeo and Juliet style fights to her own personal beef with members of the RHONJ cast, Teresa never failed to bring the heat.
Teresa Giudice – Now
Net worth: $11 million
Real Housewives salary: $1 million
In 2014, Teresa made headlines when she was sentenced to 15 months in prison after an investigation that shed light on her and her husband Joe’s criminal activity. The reality star served the time.
Teresa is now more Zen, as she sends her energy into her family and working on herself. She became a yoga enthusiast and even competed in a female body-building contest.
Melissa Gorga – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of New Jersey
What could have been a smooth introduction into the Real Housewives world ended up being a real nightmare for Melissa.
Her husband’s unrelenting fights with his sister put Melissa in a bad situation, and beef between the Gorgas and the Giudices boiled up to the point that there were full-on brawls between the families.
Melissa Gorga – Now
Net worth: $1.5 million
Real Housewives salary: $750,000 per season
Starting out as a stay-at-home mom, Melissa saw business opportunities that came with fame and opened her own clothing store called Envy by Melissa Gorga.
Last year, Gorga was caught selling fake Chanel bags, making unflattering headlines in the media.
Ramona Singer – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of New York
RHONY original star Ramona Singer was always wild-eyed and full of quotable one-liners.
When she joined the original cast in the first season, most of Ramona’s life revolved around her hubby Mario and her daughter Avery. She was the quintessential New York City housewife.
Ramona Singer – Now
Net worth: $18 million
Real Housewives salary: $500,000 per season
Since her 2015 divorce, Singer is single and ready to mingle.
She shifted gears, turning her vanity into a new business venture, called Ageless by Ramona Singer. And since the RHONY star looks better than ever at the age of 62, her skincare line is likely going to be a hit.
Luann de Lesseps – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of New York
Luann de Lesseps is the show’s only real royal, and Bravo will never let you forget it.
Luann worked as a nurse and a model in the past, but her most notable role was the Countess, as she was married to French count Alexandre de Lesseps for 16 years. Regardless of breaking up in 2015, Luann gets to keep the title.
Luann de Lesseps – Now
Net worth: $25 million
Real Housewives salary: She demanded $20,000 per scene!
In 2017, a run-in with the law in Palm Beach forced her into rehab, and so Luann turned over a new leaf and became sober.
Luann headlined her first cabaret show in 2018 and has been performing around the country, releasing new music to follow her record from 2010, “Money Can’t Buy You Class.”
Sonja Morgan – Day One
Which show: The Real Housewives of New York
She’s a bit offbeat and quirky, but Sonja Morgan belongs in the New York high society scene.
Before marrying into the Morgan family (of J.P. Morgan), Sonja comes from old money and old manners. The New Yorker is down to earth, and as seen in her first few seasons on The Real Housewives of New York, she’s up for a good time.
Sonja Morgan – Now
Net worth: $8 million
Real Housewives salary: $20,000 per scene
Sonja is dealing with a case of empty nest syndrome, now that her daughter is all grown up and living her own life.
To cope with it all, the RHONY mom is spending a lot of time with her fellow NYC Wives. She also loves talking to the press…a lot.