Joe Giudice Talks Teresa’s Early Salary on RHONJ
Joe Giudice recently revealed that his ex-wife Teresa earned just $25,000 for her first season on “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.” He humorously noted that he ended up losing money because of how low that figure was.
“I think it was my first year, and we had that huge party in my great room,” Joe reminisced. It reminded him of his daughter’s podcast where she shares some of her experiences. “The show cost, like, $150,000 in its first year,” he added, reflecting on how expensive it was for them.
On the podcast, he said, “We didn’t get paid anything during that first season. Even that $25,000 seems ridiculous—it was just… not enough.”
Gia, Joe’s daughter, weighed in on the situation, explaining that it’s typical for housewives at Bravo to start off making less money in their debut season, only to see their salaries grow as they settle into their roles. “Especially in the first season, when you’re throwing parties and spending, you often put in more than you get out,” she noted.
The father-daughter duo recalled how the reality series portrayed their family’s life, with all its ups and downs. “Our life was fully on display. Good and bad. Mom literally left our house from prison, and they filmed everything. The show paused until she was back home,” Gia explained, reflecting on their family’s challenges, including Teresa’s 11 months in prison for financial crimes.
Joe himself served time from March 2016 to March 2019 for bankruptcy fraud and tax issues, leading to his deportation from the U.S. in October 2019. He also shared on the podcast that he “regrets” how his legal problems played out on television, believing that his presence on the show made them a target for legal scrutiny.
After Joe was deported and their divorce was finalized, he stopped appearing on the show. Meanwhile, Teresa continued on with her life, eventually marrying Louis Ruelas in August 2022.
Recently, Gia faced some criticism for asking President Trump to forgive her father and allow him to return to the U.S. “I wasn’t planning on posting that,” she later clarified. “I really respect my country and didn’t mean to imply anything about privileges.” She emphasized her love and support for her father, wanting him to feel valued and accepted.
