A reality television star, Kathy Wakile came to the public’s attention after starring in Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Originally introduced as a guest in season two, she was eventually promoted to being the main housewife in season three, alongside Melissa Gorga. For the next few years, her personal life was among one of the main focuses on the show- that is, mainly her relationship with her children and her desire to one day open a restaurant.
After remaining as a main cast member for three seasons, Wakile returned as a ‘friend’ in season six, a role that she continued until the end of season seven. Following that, it was announced that she would not be returning to RHONJ. By the time she left the series in 2016 however, Wakile had already built herself a solid fanbase. Today, the reality star has nearly one million followers on social media- something that she can credit to the Bravo series.
Aside from her time on the reality series, what else has she been involved with? A multi-faceted women, Wakile also has a few product lines including her own jewelry collection called Goddess Eye, which donates a portion of their sales to the National Brain Tumor Society (their daughter had undergone two operations for a benign tumor in the past).
With how involved she is, both on and off the screen, surely she’s able to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle with her family? Putting it frankly, how wealthy is the former RHONJ star? According to various sources, Kathy Wakile currently has an estimated net worth of $5 million. Where did most of her wealth come from? How much was she paid for starring in the Bravo series? Let’s try to take a look at some of these answers below.
Kathy Wakile’s Net Worth 2018 – $5 Million
How did Kathy Wakile Make Her Money & Wealth?
Born on October 4, 1965, in New Jersey, Kathy Wakile was raised alongside her four siblings in the city of Paterson. Growing up, her parents worked tirelessly to provide for the family; her father, in particular, was incredibly inspiring, as he worked selflessly despite his debilitating disability. In the end, he passed away from lung cancer, after previously having battled against leukemia.
In 1993, she married her current husband, Richard Wakile, the owner of a few New Jersey gas stations. Together, they had two children, a daughter named Victoria (b. 1994), and a son named Joseph (b. 1996). Due to the former’s previous surgeries to remove a benign brain tumor, the couple is strong advocates for raising awareness of brain cancer.
Several years later, the mother-of-two found herself guest starring in Bravo’s popular reality series, The Real Housewives of New Jersey. From there, she was eventually promoted to being one of the main housewives in season three, alongside Melissa Gorge, who happens to be her cousin-in-law. Making her big debut in the summer of 2011, her co-stars included Teresa Giudice, Caroline Manzo, and Jacqueline Laurita.
Featured for the next three seasons, the series mainly revolved around her dealing with her children growing up (both her son and daughter made regular appearances on the show). In addition to that of course, her relationship with the other housewives was also followed; for example, her feud with Teresa. At one point, her sister Rosie who is gay also received some on-screen time.
In total, Wakile starred on the show for three seasons from 2011 to 2013. With that said, she did return as a ‘friend’ for the next two seasons, though her screen time was obviously not as long as before. To date, it remains to be her most prominent role on television (as it was the one responsible for propelling her into fame).
As one of the main housewives for three seasons, how much was she paid by the network? According to sources, all of the RHONJ cast members were paid the same amount- $600,000 for each season. Multiplying that by three, she would have yielded at least $1.8 million altogether.
Since her rise to fame, Wakile has also appeared in several other programmings including The Nate Berkus Show, The Wendy Williams Show, Big Morning Buzz Live, Watch What Happens Live, and Home & Family, all of which helped to boost her overall presence. At one point, she also participated in the culinary game show, Chopped in 2015.
From everything above, it’s clear that she has earned a significant portion of her wealth from television. In addition to her work on the small screen, however, Wakile is also a successful entrepreneur. For instance, she has introduced three product lines since her RHONJ debut, including a cannoli kit, a jewelry collection, and a ready-to-pour cocktail.
This summer, the former RHONJ star also announced that she would be opening her own restaurant, Pizza Love, in Bergen County, New Jersey (for those who have watched the show, it’s obvious that opening a restaurant has been one of her dreams for many years). An eatery specializing in Mediterranean and Italian cuisine, it later opened its doors in September 2017.
Speaking of food, she also authored a cookbook titled, Indulge: Delicious Little Desserts That Keep Life Real Sweet in 2014.
Kathy Wakile’s Personal Life and FAQ
Is Kathy Wakile Married?
Kathy Wakile has been married to her husband, Richard Wakile aka “Rich”, a successful gas station owner, for over two decades- they had tied the knot in 1993.
Does Kathy Wakile Have Any Children?
Yes, she has two children with her husband- a daughter named Victoria and a son named Joseph. Growing up, the former had gone through two operations to remove a benign brain tumor, something that has led her to become an advocate for brain cancer awareness.
Did Kathy Wakile Go to College?
As far as we know, Kathy Wakile did not go to college.
What is Kathy Wakile Famous For?
Kathy Wakile is best known for her appearance on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New Jersey, in which she and her family’s lives are featured. Introduced as a guest in the second season, she eventually starred on the show for two years, before returning as a recurring character in 2014.
Where Does Kathy Wakile Live now? Photos of Kathy Wakile’s House
Kathy currently resides in a lavish family home in Franklin Lakes, with her husband and two children, Victoria and Joseph.
What Kind of Car Does Kathy Wakile Drive?
We do not have any information on Kathy Wakile’s car at this time.
How Much Money Did Kathy Wakile Earn Last Year?
It’s unknown how much the reality star made in 2016. With that said, she did make $600K per season while starring on RHONJ.
Recent Events
As mentioned earlier, Wakile hasn’t appeared on The Real Housewives of New Jersey since 2016. In fact, she hasn’t appeared on television much at all over the past little while. What has she been up to?
In May 2017, it was announced that she and her husband would be opening up a restaurant called Pizza Love in Bergen County, New Jersey. A few months later, they held their grand opening in September 2017. With a new business venture to take care of, it only makes that she hasn’t had the time to appear on TV as of late.
If you’d like to stay in touch with the former RHONJ star, you can find Kathy Wakile on social media. For instance, she’s active on Twitter (@KathyWakile) and Instagram (@KathyWakile).
