Bethenny Frankel is a reality TV personality, entrepreneur, and author with a net worth of $80 million. She gained fame as one of the original cast members of the reality TV series “The Real Housewives of New York City” (RHONY), but her entrepreneurial ventures have been the key to her immense wealth.
Career Highlights and Business Ventures
Bethenny’s wealth primarily comes from her successful business ventures, most notably her Skinnygirl brand. Skinnygirl started as a low-calorie cocktail line and expanded into a range of products, including snacks, food items, and even apparel.
The success of Skinnygirl led to a $100 million sale of the brand to Beam Global (now part of Suntory) in 2011, although Frankel retained rights to use the Skinnygirl name for certain products.
Apart from Skinnygirl, Frankel has launched several other businesses, including a home renovation and flipping business, a YouTube channel, and multiple self-help books.
She also made a lucrative investment in the celebrity greeting app Cameo, earning a seven-figure sum from selling her equity in the company.
Cameo Investment
In 2019, Bethenny joined Cameo, a celebrity video messaging service, under the condition that she receive equity in the company.
When the company saw a significant increase in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bethenny cashed out her shares in 2021 during a funding round that valued Cameo at $1 billion. She reportedly earned seven figures from the sale.
Reality TV Career
Bethenny Frankel’s television career began in earnest with her appearance on “The Apprentice: Martha Stewart” in 2005.
She went on to join RHONY in 2008, where she became a fan favorite due to her sharp wit, candor, and entrepreneurial spirit.
She briefly left the show in 2010 for personal reasons, but returned in 2014 and left again in 2019.
She also starred in her own spin-off shows, “Bethenny Getting Married?” and “Bethenny Ever After”, which followed her personal life and relationships.
In addition to her reality show appearances, Bethenny also hosted a short-lived daytime talk show, “The Bethenny Show”, and made several appearances on shows like “Shark Tank” and “Bar Rescue”.
Books and Other Ventures
Bethenny has authored several best-selling books, including:
- “Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting” (2009)
- “The SkinnyGirl Dish: Easy Recipes for Your Naturally Thin Life” (2009)
- “A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life” (2011)
- “I Suck at Relationships So You Don’t Have To: 10 Rules for Not Screwing Up Your Happily Ever After” (2016)
These books, alongside her DVD series and other health and wellness products, have helped to bolster her brand and wealth.
Personal Life
Bethenny has had a few high-profile relationships. She was married twice: her first marriage was to Peter Sussman in 1996, but they divorced the following year. Her second marriage to Jason Hoppy was documented in her reality series.
They wed in 2010, separated in 2012, and finalized their divorce in 2021 after a long legal battle over custody of their daughter, Bryn.
Bethenny became engaged to Paul Bernon, a film producer, in 2021, but the couple split in 2024.
Real Estate
Bethenny has made several lucrative real estate moves over the years. Here are some of her notable properties:
- NYC Tribeca Loft: In 2011, she purchased a loft in Tribeca for $4.995 million, later selling it for $6.95 million in 2016.
- Bridgehampton Property: She bought a home in Bridgehampton, NY in 2013 for $2 million and expanded it with an adjacent property. She listed this combined property for $6 million in 2024.
- Greenwich, Connecticut Homes: She has bought and sold several properties in Greenwich, including a $4.5 million mansion in 2021 and a $2.1 million house she sold in 2020 for a profit.
- Southampton Home: In 2023, she purchased a $5.45 million property in Southampton.
These strategic investments have not only helped her diversify her wealth but also showcase her skills in home renovation and flipping.
Philanthropy
Bethenny is also known for her philanthropy, particularly her work through the Bethenny Frankel Foundation, which supports a variety of causes, including disaster relief, hunger relief, and children’s health initiatives.
