Gina Kirschenheiter got real with Bachelorette alum Jason Tartick about job security on the Real Housewives. It’s a topic not many current Housewives would broach, but Gina’s recently not been one to mince her words. She even hit back at Andy Cohen for certain remarks made about her home.
On October 16, Gina spilled the tea to Jason on his Trading Secrets podcast. “Even though we are paid well,” Gina shared, “we don’t have job security.” The Real Housewives of Orange County star had better bank that money then because a contract for next season is never a sure thing. That’s why co-star Tamra Judge works so hard to bring the drama. Boring people who add nothing to the show are not asked back.
Not long after the Long Island native joined the show in Season 13, Gina separated from her husband Matt. She has been very open about her personal struggles with mental health, sobriety, being a single mom moving on in a new relationship and, like a lot of us, her fluctuating weight and ever-changing hairstyles. Even though some people find her voice and accent to be “annoying,” many more find her relatable as a modern woman.
Real Housewives’ Gina Kirschenheiter reveals pay
Jason attempted to guess the amount of Gina’s starting paycheck for Season 13. “I’m gonna take a stab in the dark,” he began. “I’m gonna say, per episode, $10,000.”
“Oh, you’re cold,” Gina responded. “It’s lower. I’ll just be honest with you. I think my first year, the take-home after the bonuses and everything, it was under $100,000.”
“And how many episodes again?” Jason wanted to know.
“It depends,” Gina answered. “Each franchise and each season is different … But my first season, I think that with the reunion there [were] at least 20.”
“The third year,” Gina continued, “it was sketchy, too, ’cause Covid hit. [Your paycheck] roughly doubles every year, so the third year I was like, ‘Oh, this is great. I’m gonna really make … ‘”
“Now you’re making a few bucks,” Jason agreed.
“Covid,” Gina simply said. “We hit the minimum: 12 episodes, I think. And, like, one reunion. So that was very sad … I’m like, ‘This is my luck right here.'”
Gina compared her job as an RHOC castmate to a professional athlete. It can all be over at any time. “Even though we are paid well,” she said, “we don’t have job security … Look, I’ll cash my checks as long as they want to sign them, but I really focus on a lot of baskets, projects I can do outside of the show.”
“The show is hard mentally,” she added. “so to be able to work on other projects is healthy for me mentally.”
TELL US – DID YOU REALIZE THE HOUSEWIVES START OUT WITH SUCH A LOW PAYCHECK? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE ANALOGY THAT THE HOUSEWIVES ARE SIMILAR TO PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES WHEN IT COMES TO JOB SECURITY?
