Joe and Teresa Giudice have been through just about everything reality TV could throw at them. Marriage, four “dorters,” prison time, a deportation, a divorce, and one unforgettable table flip. Their chaos became the heartbeat of The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
Viewers watched Teresa head to prison for nearly a year. Joe followed with a longer sentence, then was deported in 2019. By then, the marriage was done. Teresa moved forward, since marrying Luis Ruelas. Joe stayed abroad, now living in the Bahamas.
Now, Joe is pulling back the curtain on their very first season by revealing just how much Teresa actually earned for Season 1. And, the number was so small, it barely covered the parties they threw on camera.
What was Teresa Giudice’s RHONJ Season 1 salary?
Juicy Joe revealed the number on daughter Gia Giudice’s podcast, Casual Chaos, on Monday. Teresa made $25,000 for her first season. That is the same season with the infamous table flip, a moment that basically made her a Housewives legend overnight.
“I think the first year, we had that big party in my great room,” Joe said. “I think that show cost me $150,000 the first year.”
He didn’t sugarcoat it. “We got paid nothing the first season. I’ll even say, it was like $25,000. I mean, it was ridiculous, but whatever.” It’s worth noting that Joe might not be the most reliable source when it comes to disclosing income.
Gia added that low pay is normal for newbies on Bravo. They often spend their own money on parties, outfits, and events while building a name for themselves. The bigger paychecks usually come later, once the fame starts stacking up.
Teresa appeared on RHONJ for 14 seasons and became one of Bravo’s most recognizable faces. Joe described how intense those first seasons felt. Cameras captured everything, from big parties and family arguments to Teresa counting stacks of cash to furnish their new McMansion. He called those early years a financial and emotional gamble. For Teresa, the show launched a career that eventually paid off big.
The Season 15 cast is still up in the air. It is not confirmed if Teresa will return – though it seems she’s confident she will. But, it’s undeniable that since Season 1, she’s added the “ingredientses” that set the stage for one of Bravo’s most dysfunctional franchises.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey streams on Peacock. Viewers in the U.K. and Ireland can watch on Hayu.
TELL US – ARE YOU SURPRISED AT JOE’S CLAIM THAT TERESA ONLY MADE $25,000 FOR SEASON 1 OF RHONJ?
