Brand trading is her playground.
Bethenny Frankel has revealed that she makes more than $20 million a year thanks to lucrative influencer contracts.
“That’s tens of millions of dollars,” the “Real Housewives of New York City” alum, 55, revealed on Tuesday’s episode of Emma Grede’s podcast “Aspire.” “(This doesn’t include) my other businesses, real estate, licenses. We’re talking over $20 million.”
That’s a number Frankel had never discussed publicly before the podcast.
“I’m not really happy about it because people get mad at me. … I don’t believe people should work for free,” she mused. “Dear interns, I’m paying. I don’t believe in people working for free. If you’re driving a product and influencing results, I honestly believe you should be compensated. So I don’t feel guilty about it.”
Frankel added that the only products she promotes are those she truly believes in and uses.
“I’m so trusted that partners come to me for marketing budgets. Likewise, multi-billion dollar companies come to me to figure out how to spend,” the mother of one claimed.
Frankel explained that she can “speak” about anything she wants, and that’s what the brand is looking for.
“I’m not going to jeopardize what we’re talking about together and the products that I really love and support their products because I really love them and that’s how we got here.”
Frankel admits to speaking from the heart rather than pre-written dialogue, and has gained a cult following on TikTok for her honest reviews.
“If there’s an ingredient that needs to be mentioned because it needs to be mentioned, of course you’re going to do it,” the Skinny Girl founder told Grede. “You shouldn’t come to me to read boring scripts. That’s not what I’m here for.”
Frankel’s videos appeal to a wide range of age groups, and Frankel elaborates that she “doesn’t fit into any particular mold.”
“People don’t understand what it is, because it’s weird for me to walk in Sports Illustrated with 25-year-old kids,” she said. “There’s no one my age there, but they’re not giving me the role of ‘token grandma.’ It’s landing because the mothers are saying, ‘Thank you for not disqualifying us as a group.'” I may be alienating the mothers, but I’m not. ”
And the podcaster doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.
Frankel is also interested in putting his “seal of approval” on certain products he recommends.
“Bethenny Seals is something we’re talking about. The retailer is going to have a section for my products,” she said. “And, like I said, what I’m interested in is stock trading…stock trading, which is something I’m passionate about.”
Over the years, the entrepreneur has partnered with major beauty brands such as Laura Geller Beauty, while also promoting drugstore companies such as L’Oréal and Elf Cosmetics.
Frankel frequently endorses fan favorites Electric Pick Jewelry, Mashed Overnight Oats, and Mingle Mocktails on social media.
Despite being an outspoken critic, Frankel came under fire earlier this month for calling Bravo alumnus Dina Manzo’s daughter Alexia Iannou a “freak” for not crediting her shoe brand, Know, in a social media video.
Frankel called the designer a “crybaby” and responded with applause.
Frankel appeared on RHONY for the first three seasons from 2008 to 2010, before leaving the show. She then returned to the franchise in season 7 and left after season 11 in 2019.
In 2009, while appearing on the Bravo show, Frankel launched Skinnygirl, which began life as a low-calorie skinny margarita.
According to her website, the businesswoman is “the founder and CEO of Skinnygirl, a lifestyle brand that provides practical solutions for women.”
