‘RHONY’: Leah McSweeney Inks $10,000 per Episode Deal
Leah McSweeney’s contract negotiations paid off as the new Real Housewives of New York City cast member will earn a reported $10,000 per episode for season 13.
McSweeney was earning approximately $3,000 per episode when she joined the series, which is what most cast members receive during their first year on the show. However, she removed the cast insigna from her Instagram as rumors flew that she was trying to negotiate a larger salary for her second season.
Page Six recently reports that McSweeney received a $7,000 episode pay increase for next season. Page Six also reports that the newest cast member is a woman of color. Journalist Alicia Quarles’ name was floated as a potential cast member.
Most new ‘Housewives’ receive $3,000 per episode
The Real Housewives of Orange County “OG,” Vicki Gunvalson revealed she didn’t make a penny for her first season of the series. “I got zero!” Gunvalson said on her Whoop It Up with Vicki podcast. “I got zero, zero. So you have to pay your dues.” Tamra Judge from RHOC allegedly only made $7,000 for her first season. Also, Bethenny Frankel from RHONY made $7,000 for her first season and she was an original cast member.
Of course exceptions to the rule exist. For instance, actor Denise Richards from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills negotiated a deal where she would make $1 million per season, according to Radar Online. She was supposed to appear for four seasons, but recently announced she was leaving the show.
Fans worried that McSweeney was also leaving the show. However, she recently revealed she still had more to accomplish on the series. A fan wrote, “Yes. Let’s see if they can negotiate for a real raise!” McSweeney responded, “I’m comin back. “My work here isn’t done yet!”
Is Alicia Quarles the new cast member?
Quarles was recently asked about the series, considering she is already friends with many of the cast.
“I can’t confirm nor deny,” Quarles said on the Behind the Velvet Rope with David Yontef podcast. “I can just say that I’m friends with all the women on there. They’re wonderful. It’s a bomb franchise. So you know, it’s gonna be what it’s gonna be. Listen, I’m the ultimate New Yorker. So I’m just saying if it happens, it’s all good.”
RELATED: ‘RHONY’: Could Alicia Quarles Be the Next Cast Member?
“So yeah, I’ve actually, I’ve known Bethenny [Frankel] the longest,” she said. “Bethenny is one of those people I will probably always be friends with. We just get each other. She’s real.” Adding, “She’s direct to the point. She’s about her business. I like it.”
She is also friends with Luann de Lesseps. “I’ve known Luann the longest after that, probably over 10 years,” Quarles said. “We just connected. We were at a charity event in the Hamptons with my ex-husband’s organization. Luann was there. I was there. We were both bored. And we just, we bonded. We’ve been getting into trouble ever since.”
