Bethenny Frankel Gets Candid About Her ‘RHONY’ Contract

Although Bethenny Frankel first appeared on reality TV in a season of “The Apprentice,” it was her time as the sharp-tongued heart of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New York” that catapulted her to superstardom.

The show premiered in 2008, and Bethenny Frankel left after its third season. However, the outspoken TV personality made her triumphant return to the popular franchise for season 7, unleashing a fresh wave of her signature drama and chaos.

In a new interview, Frankel made it clear that her highly anticipated return to “The Real Housewives of New York” came with a contract that was completely on her terms.

According to her, when she signed on to come back to the series, she got everything she wanted. “They asked me what I wanted. I asked for it. I got it,” she told Us Weekly.

“My contract was anything I wanted [down] 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,” she added.

Frankel departed the series again after the 11th season in 2019. However, she described her contract during her time back in front of the cameras as “cushy.”

For Frankel, one of the most important factors in her decision to return to Bravo for another season was having control over her schedule. “… if I had my daughter on those days, if it was my custody days, if it was my custody time for a vacation, I would be able to leave,” she said, further explaining that her privileges likely rubbed her co-stars the wrong way.

And this is not the first time Frankel has spoken publicly about how Housewives are paid for their appearances on the show.

In an Instagram video from 2023, the reality star explained that when she first began the show, it was “favored nations.”

However, as the show continued to gain popularity, the cast members were able to negotiate different figures for themselves.

Frankel also said that every Housewife has a different deal and that most people like to discuss their contracts with each other to ensure things are fair among the cast.

“All Housewives, except for me, talk about their salaries. Because the thing is, you want to talk to someone, because you want to have an understanding if you’re getting clipped, or if you’re on the right path,” she said in the video.

Now, would Frankel ever return to reality TV after achieving massive success? The mother of one told Us Weekly that at this point in life, she’s not interested.

Despite being asked by other big names and approached by different networks, Frankel said she doesn’t want to deal with the “bulk” of what comes from shooting.

However, if she were ever to return to the unscripted landscape, Frankel said the price tag would have to be an “astronomical sum.”

“Definitely seven figures for a couple of months,” she said.

Frankel’s willingness to discuss the specifics of her “Real Housewives” contract is noteworthy, considering “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum Teddi Mellencamp recently revealed she is contractually prohibited from discussing such numbers.

According to a previous report from The Blast, Mellencamp stated that while she is “not allowed” to disclose her earnings from filming the show, there is a pattern.

“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,” she said.