For the first time ever, The Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion was held virtually due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which means reunion-prep looked very different this year. The latest episode of the hit Bravo series The Real Housewives of Atlanta shocked viewers with the revelation that Kandi Burruss pays $5,547 every month for the fancy two-bedroom apartment of her 16-year-old daughter, Riley Burruss.

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By/Aug. 31, 2020 1:34 pm EDT/Updated: Dec. 18, 2020 1:08 pm EDT

How do the Real Housewives really spend their money? If there's one reality show franchise that's truly stood the test of time, it's definitely this one. No matter what city the show takes on, there's sure to be drama, tears, glam squads, and lots and lots of opulence. Seriously, pretty much every woman who's starred on Real Housewives lives a much more luxurious lifestyle than most people, and they aren't afraid to flaunt it.

With net worths up to $100 million, it makes you wonder why the cast members of the Real Housewives franchise even do the show in the first place, as they're typically already well-off. Well, it turns out that just being a housewife can be pretty expensive, and appearing on a reality show might just help them bring in extra cash to fund their lavish lifestyles.

So what do the Real Housewives – who've undergone a stunning transformation — spend all that money on? Read on to find out — it just might shock you.

The Real Housewives stars spend ample money on their homes

Part of the appeal of the Real Housewives franchise is seeing how the rich (and sometimes formerly famous) live. The show's stars always look so glamorous and seem to live such fabulous lives, and it all starts in their homes. Obviously, you aren't going to find a star of the Real Housewives of any city living in a dump, but some of their homes are ridiculously expensive.

For example, on an episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Cohen revealed the estimated costs of some of the nicest houses in Real Housewives history — and the prices will blow your mind. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'Kyle Richards — who's undergone a stunning transformation — lives in a home appraised at over $8 million, while her co-star Dorit Kemsley's house is valued at over $6.5 million. But it doesn't stop there! Ramona Singer of The Real Housewives of New York City owns a $6.65 million home in The Hamptons, and Monique Samuals' Potomac home is apparently worth $4.75 million. Clearly, the Real Housewives spend a lot of their money on their homes, but who could blame them?

Some Real Housewives spend a bunch of money to look beautiful

Obviously, if you're going to appear on a reality show, you want to look your best. Even the most average person might splurge and pay for professional hair and makeup if they know they're going to be on camera, or will be attending an event where their picture will be taken. But for one of the Real Housewives, looking good costs her more in a month than what most Americans make in a year. Yes, you read that right.

Erika Jayne, singer and star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, revealed that she doesn't skimp when it comes to looking her best, and the cost is just part of the deal. 'It's a lot,' Jayne told In Touch Weekly. 'Maybe $40,000 a month on clothes, shoes, and accessories.'

Of course, Jayne doesn't feel too guilty about the money she spends on her beauty. 'It's all for work,' she continued. 'I'm on television, this is what I do for a living. It's part of the job.' Okay, so it might be a workplace expense, but that doesn't make it any less shocking.

The stars of Real Housewives spend lots of money on cars

Just like having a fancy home comes with the territory of being a Real Housewife, driving a nice car does as well. After all, how can you look like you have it all if you're driving around in a used Honda? Well, that's not something most of the housewives have to worry about, as the majority of them own pretty high-end vehicles, which they spent a lot of money on.

As Bravo reported, Real Housewives of Orange County star Vicki Gunvalson had a brand new Maserati, which cost upwards of $75,000. Additionally, Gunvalson's costar, Meghan King Edmonds, drove a Range Rover, which can cost about $93,000. Cast mate Kelly Dodd drove a BMW, which can be quite luxurious, ringing in between $30,000 and $150,000.

None of those cars come with cheap price tags. But odds are, if you're one of the Real Housewives, you can afford it.

Sometimes Real Housewives stars make bad investments with their money

While most of the Real Housewives are very clearly rolling in cash, not all of them are as lucky, as more than a few of them have made some not-so smart investments in the past. And no, we're not talking about the stock market, as several Real Housewives have tried their hand at launching careers or endeavors that ended up failing.

Most notably, Sonja Morgan from The Real Housewives of New York City famously announced a line of toaster ovens she'd be selling, and then..never sold them. Additionally, some of the Real Housewives got it in their heads that they should launch singing careers, despite not having the talent for it. For one, Melissa Gorga of The Real Housewives of New Jersey released her song, 'On Display,' to not-so-critical acclaim. And who could forget Kim Zolciak's 'Tardy for the Party,' which was mired in drama?

The musical careers and entrepreneurial pursuits of the Real Housewives might not have been successes, but they were entertaining, and there's no doubt they likely poured a lot of cash into them.

The Real Housewives sometimes spend money on their vacations

One of the biggest questions people have about the Real Housewives franchise is: who really pays for the Real Housewives cast vacations? While the housewives themselves get to enjoy five-star hotel suits in exotic locations, they are filming and therefore are working. So, it's not too shocking to learn that most of the time, Bravo covers the cost of the trip, according to Bravo godfather Andy Cohen. 'Frankly, we do yeah but you know it depends on the vacation actually,' he revealed in an interview with OK! magazine.

So how can you tell which trips are paid for by producers, and which ones the Real Housewives spend money on? Alex McCord, a former cast member of The Real Housewives of New York City, explained how. 'Look at the credits,' she revealed in a video for RumorFix. 'If you see 'promotional consideration provided by' an airline, a hotel, a cruise ship, a this, a that; that means it was provided by the producers.'

So if the producers aren't financing the trip, chances are the Real Housewives are paying their own way.

Real Housewives spend wads of money on their luxurious handbags

When you're a cast member of a Real Housewives franchise, it's understandable that you'd feel an enormous amount of pressure to constantly look great and sport the hottest accessories. But that's no problem for Real Housewives star Kyle Richards — who's undergone a stunning transformation – who has no issues keeping up with the Joneses.

Even though Real Housewives star Kyle Richards was the victim of a home burglary in 2017, she still has plenty of luxury designer bags to tote around. 'The material things, yes they can be replaced, but they also hurt,' she told People, after she returned home from vacation and realized her bags and jewelry had been stolen. 'I feel embarrassed to say that, but those are things that were either given to me by someone that I care about or that I worked really hard for. So it hurts no matter what.'

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Real Housewives Of Atlanta How Did They Make Their Money