Key Takeaways
- Real Housewives “Friends” have a chance at becoming main stars, but are paid $1,000 per episode initially.
- Prominent “Friends” add drama by actively participating in the show.
- Demotion to a “Friend” role can occur if a Real Housewives star’s storyline lacks appeal or authenticity.
The friends of the Real Housewives add to storylines, bring drama, and help back up the reality tv stars during their fights. A good “Friend” casting on Real Housewives can steal the spotlight and become a housewife in the future.
This secondary role on Real Housewives is different from being a guest in the Housewives franchise. An official “Friend” plays an active role in the show and is often considered an audition to become a full-time Real Housewives star.
Official “Friends” the housewives allegedly get paid per episode, with most sources reporting that the starting rate is $1,000. On average, a full-time housewife makes $5,000 per episode, although some of the bigger names and long-serving stars get paid a lot more for contributing to the drama.
The Most Memorable ‘Friends’ In Real Housewives History
Several of the Real Housewives “Friends” were able to find success in their appearances on the franchise, while others became known as flops who disappeared from Bravo. Here are some of the most memorable Real Housewives Friends who have used their limited time on screen to go down in Bravo reality TV history.
Faye Resnik Of Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills
Faye Resnik has been a long-time supporting star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Kyle Richards’ friend became famous due to her relationship with Nicole Brown Simpson and involvement in the O.J. Simpson murder trial. She was involved in the dinner party from hell and famously told Brandi Glanville, “No matter how many Chanels you borrow, you will never, ever be a lady.”
Kim D Of Real Housewives Of New Jersey
Kim DePaola was a friend who always had something to say during her recurring stints on RHONJ. The boutique owner’s fashion shows were always a catalyst for arguments, feuding, and sometimes violence. Kim D spread rumors about Teresa Giudice being unfaithful to Joe while he was in jail. Kim D’s show was also where the Melissa Gorga was a stripper rumor initiated.
Eden Sassoon Of Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills
Eden Sassoon only appeared in one season of RHOBH, but made her short-lived appearance memorable. Having lost her sister to a drug overdose, Eden was quick to get involved in Kyle and Kim Richards’ relationship and become their therapist. She also told Lisa Vanderpump about how, according to Lisa Rinna, Kim was close to death, and Kyle was Kim’s enabler.
Dana Wilkey Of Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills
Dana Wilkey and her sunglasses gave RHOBH an early, memorable moment. The party planner was behind Taylor Armstrong’s $60k tea party for her four-year-old daughter in season one. No matter Dana’s career highs, reality TV fans will remember her as the woman who owned $25,000 Luxuriator sunglasses.
Yovanna Momplaisir Of Real Housewives Of Atlanta
Yovonna Momplaisir was just a Friend on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, but she caused plenty of drama. She was adamant she knew Eva Marcille when they met at a dinner party, yet she claims, “I have never met her prior to when Nene brought her in my life.”
Sarah Winchester Of Real Housewives Of Orange County
In Season 7 of RHOC, Alexis Bellino and Gretchen Rossi bring their long-time friend Sarah Winchester into the franchise. The drunken partygoer is mainly remembered for upsetting Heather Dubrow and making her shout, “You broke the bow off my cake and ate it”
Amanda Sanders Of Real Housewives Of New York City
Amanda Sanders stirred up drama as Aviva Drescher’s outspoken image consultant on The Real Housewives of New York City. She joined the girls on a trip to the Hamptons, where, while watching Sonja Morgan’s show, and declared, “That’s what menopause looks like.” Later, Amanda gets involved in “BookGate” and then physically threatens Heather Thomson. Despite declaring herself on social media as the “Newest member of the New York Housewives,” Amanda was never promoted to a full-time appearance on RHONY.
Why A Real Housewives Star Could Be Demoted To A ‘Friend’ Role
Several stars of the Real Housewives franchise have been forced to take a backseat after being main cast members. Usually, this is the choice of the producer, who feels they do not bring enough to the narrative to be paid a full cast wage.
“If they become a turn-off to viewers, for whatever reason — they appear too fake, they’re not interesting, they’re not entertaining — [then they’re no longer a fit],” Andy Cohen explained to Paper magazine in June 2019.
“When people cross the line, and it becomes unreal, that’s when they are out.”
Vicki Gunvalson was shockingly demoted to a Friend role after appearing on The Real Housewives of Orange County for 13 seasons. Vicki believes she must have angered someone at Bravo, but ultimately understands the demotion was just business. In an interview with Us Weekly, Vicki expressed, “I have no idea who, and no one can say what went wrong. I think they were just looking for some new blood. I love Bravo. I just want them to be proud of me, of the stories that I do.”
Jackie Goldschneider joined The Real Housewives of New Jerseyin season 9 but returned to season 13 with a demoted role as just a Friend. She admits the demotion was painful for her ego, but she didn’t think she “could have handled” a full-time role due to her eating disorder recovery.
“It’s hard to go into a room that you were once the center of attention and now there’s what, seven Housewives? So to be the eighth person in line, that was, like, a little bit of an ego punch. My ego hurt at first, of course, but there really was no difference.”
Of course, not all demoted Real Housewvies want to stay on the show. Yolanda Hadid allegedly quit RHOBH after being downgraded, although the producers said she was given a “Friend Of” role so she could spend time recovering from her health issues. When Heather Dubrow left RHOC in 2017, Kelly Dodd claims it was because producers wanted to downgrade her to a friend role.
Brandi Glanville is the only
Real Housewives
star to go from “friend” to “full-time” without being part of the original cast.
Are Real Housewives ‘Friends’ And Husbands Paid For Being On Bravo?
Those who appear as “Friends Of” The Real Housewives are thought to be paid around $1,000 per episode. Many women sign up for this supporting role hoping to be promoted to the main housewife on the show, although some appear in the Bravo franchise to promote their business or simply get their revenge on cast members.
Although not technically a “Friend Of” role, the husbands, boyfriends, and ex-partners of the housewives are also paid for their roles on the show. RHONJ star Joe Gorga is the only one who shared how much that amount was, noting that he made $45,000 per year from appearing on the reality TV show.
Peter Thomas recently revealed that he and his ex-wife Cynthia Bailey agreed that he would get 10% of her RHOA paychecks from the year they wed up until their divorce. Cynthia Bailey is reported to have made $1.8 million from appearing on The Real Housewives of Atlantabetween Seasons 3 and 13, meaning Peter made roughly $180,000 per season.
