NeNe Leakes of 'RHOA' is Now the Highest Paid Bravo Reality Star
Among the many of Bravo's "Real Housewives" franchise, it's the "Real Housewives of Atlanta" who is soaring in ratings. This, as reported by Radar Online, can all be attributed to its reality star NeNe Leakes, who has been participating on the show since its inception.
Not only did Leakes draw millions of viewers for the cable TV in this particular show, she also has other television and stage engagements which further gave rise to her popularity and raise for her pay.
A source for the Radar Online revealed that the 46-year-old TV personality is now reportedly the highest paid reality star, earning a staggering $1.5 million per season. This happened after she successfully negotiated for the rate, stating the fact that "she is the most popular housewife of any of the Bravo franchises."
"NeNe made it known she would need a significant raise to do the upcoming season, and Bravo had no choice but to agree to it," the insider told the media outlet.
"Without Nene, RHOA wouldn't be the ratings blockbuster that it continues to be. While some of the other shows including ['Real Housewives of New Jersey'] and ['Real Housewives of New York'] have endured ratings slumps, Atlanta has never had to endure that," the source went on to say.
Prior to the huge pay raise negotiation, Leakes have been already vocal about her "OK" rate.
"You know what, the pay is okay, but I don't know if it's worth what you saw on the clip," she said on "The Arsenio Hall Show." "I began this so many years ago with other girls. And I'm the only original that's left. It has changed a lot over the years."
Last year, it was reported by OK! Magazine that among the Bravo girls, Leakes was leading at $1 million. She was followed by Teresa Giudice of "Real House Wives of New Jersey" at $650,000. Both Ramona Singer and LuAnn De Lesseps of "Real Housewives of New York" is at the $500,000 bracket.
NeNe Leakes returns to appear in another season of "RHOA," which is slated to air this coming Nov. 9 on Bravo.
