Bethenny Frankel Successfully Negotiated Higher RHONY Salary Inside Jill Zarin's Closet

The Reality Reckoning may be paused, but Bethenny Frankel continues to unveil the hidden truths behind the scenes of The Real Housewives of New York. The reality star, who has fully embraced TikTok fame, recently shared her well-known tale of how she revolutionized salary negotiations for the Housewives franchise. But did you know the pivotal moment occurred in none other than Jill Zarins closet?

Bethenny Frankels Role in Changing RHONYs Pay Structure

For those familiar with Bethennys journey, its no secret that she proudly claims responsibility for transforming how Housewives are compensated. In a recent chat on Alex Coopers Call Her Daddy podcast, Bethenny went deeper into the details of her first-ever contract negotiations. She explained that when filming began, none of the RHONY originals had a formal agreement in place. The initial contract followed a favored nations model, which meant every Housewife was paid the same amount.

However, Bethenny didnt agree with this approach. She believed that each Housewife should be compensated based on their individual contributions to the show. Along with Jill, she distanced herself from the rest of the cast to negotiate a more personalized deal.

"I remember being in her Hamptons closet, negotiating, and she just left it to me. She said, Bethenny, whatever you do, do it for me too. Im with you," Bethenny recalled. She continued, "It got intense because people bluff, they say, Everyone else is doing this, and youre not going to be on the show. I was like, Stop. This train isnt leaving without us, Jill. And she was rightthe train didnt leave without them. They secured the contracts they wanted, and Bethenny proudly takes credit for altering the pay structure for the entire Real Housewives franchise.

"I was the one who broke the favored nations system on the Housewives," Bethenny stated. "Ive never told anyone this before, but we negotiated a different amount. Then, everyone went their own way, and thats how the pay structure evolved."

The Real Housewives of New York is now available for streaming on Peacock in the US, and on Hayu in Canada, the UK, and Ireland.

What do you think of Bethennys revelations regarding her RHONY contract negotiations?

Author: Natalie Monroe