Bethenny Frankel: I Used Reality TV to Make $120 Million
Credit: Timothy Hiatt/Getty
For a Skinnygirl, Bethenny Frankel has a fat wallet!
The 40-year-old entrepreneur was hesitant to participate in reality TV when Bravo executives approached her in 2007; now, the natural-foods-chef turned mogul tells the Hollywood Reporter it was her screen-time that provided her the platform to launch a $120 million empire.
STORY: Bethenny tells Us she was "obsessed with dieting"
"I was worried [joining the cast of Real Housewives of New York] would ruin what I had going," says Frankel, who at the time was a Pepperidge Farm spokesperson and appeared on NBC's Today show for a cooking segment. "I went on the show single-handedly and exclusively for business… When I went on the show, no one was going on for business, no one had done anything."
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Throughout three seasons of Real Housewives, Frankel maximized her screen time and promoted her now-famous Skinnygirl product line. In 2010, she got her own reality show: Bethenny Ever After.
Under her own personal business umbrella, she's launched a successful publishing franchise, a Body by Bethenny workout DVD and scored one of the most lucrative liquor deals in the industry with her calorie-conscious mixes.
VIDEO: Bethenny jokes about snorting diet pills
Before her success on reality TV, Frankel's pitches to liquor companies for a low-calorie margarita went unheeded. "Now, every company I pitched this idea to has either tried to buy Skinnygirl or has copied it," she relishes. "I created a sub-category that never existed. I wasn't an expert--I was just another person bothered by a 700-calorie margarita."
Tell Us What You Think
20For a momment I though that she was wearing those nosesecret inserts for the nose but yeah, it may well be surgery...she looks different. Money can do wonders
she may have a fat wallet but a terriable botch plastic surgery. she looks like latoya jackson
her plastic surgery made her look like latoya jackson. Not a good move Bethenny you might have a fat wallet but u have a weird face
I love Bethenny and her new family!!! She deserves all of what she has now I will always follow her and watch her shows cant wait to see next season!!!
Go Bethenny!! I find it so funny that the housewives are all writing books,trying to patent anything they can get their greedy little fingers on because they want what you have. That's not happening because none of them have balls!!! I believe it's something you're born with not buy!
I wish more people in the industry would get it like Bethenny has and give us some what we want, more options for Ready To Drink Alcohol. I love Bacardi Breeze and I only had it overseas but cannot find it or have it shipped to my area. Thank you Skinny Girl, Keep up the good work. Alcohol companies pay attention!
testing.......
good for her!!!! needlees to say im jealous!!!
That's how you do it! Ride the money train until there is nothing left! Good for her! If they want to pay her then take it!
So what! What do you want, an applause? I could care less.
Go B! Love her!!
I LOVE Bethenny! And I love how successful she's become!
Reality TV made so much more because of Bethenney
You are awesome....I am a granny to a beautiful baby boy...Bryn is so amazingly beautiful as is Mason James.....I so hope i spelled her name right....If i had balls you would be bustin them right now.....lol...I am so proud of you....I have a sister that can get away with the talk...I love you!
She looks so bad. She needs to gain weight.
You know that witch Jill Zarin and idiot Kelly Bensimon are spinning right now with jealousy! Bethenny is awesome and has left them and all their b.s. in her dust! GO BETHENNY GO!
You know that witch Jill Zarin and idiot Kelly Bensimon are spinning right now with jealousy! Bethenny is awesome and has left them and all their b.s. in her dust! GO BETHENNY GO!
She looks stoned
I like her. Shes a tough cookie. Smart move doing housewives to make all that money!
I find her utterly annoying. Even though she found someone to put up with her whiny and insecure behind she still seems unhappy. She harps too much on the past and if she's not careful she'll be the same kind of mother to her daughter that she claims her mother was to her.