Bethenny Frankel knows her worth in the world of reality TV.
“When I was going back to Housewives, I asked for anything I wanted,” Frankel, 54, exclusively shared in her Us Weekly cover story. “They asked me what I wanted. I asked for it. I got it.”
After making it to the finals on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart in 2005, Frankel helped launch The Real Housewives of New York City three years later.
She left after season 3 but returned in season 7 for five additional seasons.
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“My contract was anything I wanted to the days I wanted to shoot, the hours I wanted to shoot, the way I wanted to shoot, the money I wanted to get,” Frankel revealed to Us. “I had a very cushy contract.”
While money was an important element of her contract when returning to the Real Housewives franchise, the “Just B” podcast host said she made sure her daughter was a priority. (Frankel shares Bryn, 15, with ex-husband Jason Hoppy.)
“The most important things were, if I had my daughter on those days, if it was my custody days, if it was my custody time for a vacation, I would be able to leave,” Frankel said. “It created some resentment, but I was able to come to a cast trip two days late, leave two days early. I would maximize the most of the content when I was there.”
Since saying goodbye to The Real Housewives of New York City, Frankel said she has had many opportunities to return to reality TV.
She was a guest shark on ABC’s Shark Tank and headlined The Big Shot With Bethenny on HBO Max.
At this time in her life, however, the Skinnygirl inventor isn’t interested in saying “yes” to any TV opportunity that comes her way.
“I’ve been asked to go on so many television shows, and I’ve declined because of the time,” she said. “Someone just recently asked me to do a show with them. They’re pretty famous, and we could get a show. But, like, I don’t want that bulk. I don’t want the bulk of the suits. I don’t want the bulk of the camera, the shooting, the hair, the makeup, the editing. It’s just too bulky. It would be a very specific situation, and it would have to be an astronomical sum.”
How expensive is she talking?
“Definitely seven figures for a couple of months,” Frankel revealed.
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When asked whether seven figures have been offered, the former Bravo star said yes.
“But then when I’ve thought about the time suck, I feel like I’m Linda Evangelista,” she said while referencing the world-famous supermodel. “Now you’re going to get me out of this house with makeup on? It’s gonna be a real number. It’s gonna be a real number.”
For more on Frankel, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.
