Modest Beginnings to Million-Dollar Salaries – The Real Housewives of New Jersey Stars Reveal All

Hey there, reality TV lovers! Have you ever wondered how much your favorite Real Housewives stars make for their TV appearances? Well, Teresa Giudice and Dolores Catania recently spilled the tea on their podcast about their early days on the show and how much they earned. Spoiler alert: the numbers might surprise you!

RHONJ: The Humble Beginnings

On Teresa Giudice’s podcast, “Namaste B$tches,” she and Dolores opened up about the not-so-glamorous start of the Real Housewives of New Jersey (RHONJ). According to Dolores, the cast members were offered very little money in the beginning, and she couldn’t even remember the exact amount. It turns out the stars earned a mere $25,000 for season 1 – a far cry from what they make today!

The Big Party Splurge

You’d think that Teresa Giudice would have been wise with her first season paycheck, right? Nope! Teresa revealed that she spent her entire earnings on a single housewarming party. Talk about making a splash! What’s more, the cast members had to pay for almost everything during the early seasons, and nothing was handed to them for free. They had to rely on discounts or pro bono services in exchange for advertising, but that was it.

Dolores’ Decision to Wait

So, why did Dolores Catania, Teresa’s costar and friend, not join the show during the first season? It’s simple – the low pay was a significant factor. She decided to wait until the show gained more popularity and started paying the cast members a more reasonable amount. Smart move, Dolores!

The Big Bucks Nowadays

Fast forward to today, and the average Housewife earns a whopping $500,000 for each season. That’s a massive jump from the early days, isn’t it? But wait, there’s more! The more established castmates can even rake in over a million dollars! Their pay level depends on the number of seasons they’ve filmed, their popularity, and their city of residence.

Teresa Giudice has come a long way since her first season. According to ScreenRant, she now earns an astonishing $1.1 million every season! That’s a far cry from her initial $25,000 paycheck. Meanwhile, her sister-in-law and costar Melissa Gorga takes home a cool $750,000.