Housewives Salary Dispute: LuAnn Holding Out, Ramona Top Earner
Filming for "The Real Housewives of New York" is reportedly underway, but veteran Housewife Countess LuAnn de Lesseps is yet to sign on due to an alleged salary dispute.
Ramona Singer, Carole Radziwill, Heather Thomson, Aviva Drescher and Sonja Morgan reportedly signed individual contracts for the upcoming season six, but de Lesseps is reportedly holding out for more money. In early May, the cast banded together and demanded individual salary raises for the upcoming season, yet producers allegedly denied their requests, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
On May 9 Singer, Radziwill, Thomson and Morgan signed their contracts after a prolonged standoff with producers which delayed filming. Drescher, who joined the show in season five, continued to hold out for a raise along with de Lesseps but on May 23, the New York native confirmed she had accepted a deal and began filming.
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De Lesseps, 47, and Singer, 53, are the only original cast members and reports claim their earnings are substantially different. Singer is said to be the highest earner, with sources claiming the married mother-of-one takes home an estimated $500,000, though she reportedly asked for a 50 percent raise. De Lesseps reportedly earns far less, which some critics suspect may be the reason behind her ongoing salary dispute with Bravo TV producers.
The cast members are often seen jet-setting around the globe, fine dining, attending exclusive events and living in luxury in what appears to be some of the many perks of being a Bravo TV "housewife." The average salary is reportedly $65,000 per season, which they ultimately argue is simply not enough.
"There's a lot of expenses that go into being on the show and they're not frivolous. The cast asked for a modest increase— enough so they can cover the costs and make a little money,"a source told The New York Post's Page Six.
"Another source close to the cast said they'd been negotiating individually, but then 'banded together' for leverage— and that's when Bravo had enough," the source explained.
