Not all reality TV personalities make it to become mainstream stars. They must have that X Factor to make a lasting impression. Our list showcases some of these stars who have kept up their fame and popularity through their businesses, merchandise, appearances in other shows and crossover to mainstream TV and film.
Kylie Jenner
Net Worth: $650 million
At the age of only 10 years old, Kylie Jenner started to appear in Keeping Up with the Kardashians with her parents and other siblings.
From there, Kylie was signed on to numerous other reality shows, and sparked a career in TV shows, films, music, social media, modeling and bespoke merchandise such as Kylie Cosmetics. She is arguably one of the most well-known personality who has started off the back of a TV reality show. Having a superstar brother-in-law and famous parents have further cemented the fame of this young talented celebrity.
A businesswoman with multiple streams of income, as of 2023, Kylie is thought to have built an estimated net worth of an incredible $650 million.
I don’t really follow trends.
Kylie Jenner
Simon Cowell
Net Worth: $450 million
Next on the rich reality star list is Simon Cowell who is known and recognized worldwide as the judge of talent shows such as American Idol, Britain’s Got Talent, America’s Got Talent, The X-Factors, (the UK and US editions).
The brilliance of Cowell is that he has the entire supply chain from introducing new artists, signing them up to promoting and managing them all tied up. Simon started as an executive in record companies and when he joined BMG and started a record label within the organisation, he successfully persuaded ITV to air a talent show Pop Idol in the UK.
Although he is famous for his criticism, his talent and experience in spotting and grooming new artists shine through his acerbic words. The X-Factor is widely acknowledged as the most successful reality show of all time.
As of 2023, Simon Cowell is estimated to have a net worth of $450 million.
My own saying is: ‘Create the hype, but don’t ever believe it.’
Simon Cowell
Jamie Oliver
Net Worth: $150 million
From the days of his first TV shows, The Naked Chef to the various iterations of Jamie’s Kitchen, this talented chef and crusader of better and healthier food for school children is another TV personality who is instantly recognized throughout the world. Jamie has championed a lost of charitable causes, including his famous project where disadvantaged youths were given a chance to work in his kitchen which led to permanent jobs and job placements.
Other than cooking in front of the camera, Jamie has written numerous books, and has a chain of restaurants across the globe.
As of 2023, Jamie Oliver is thought to be worth some $150 million.
The kitchen oven is reliable, but it’s made us lazy.
Jamie Oliver
Paris Hilton
Net Worth: $200 million
The original reality star, Paris Hilton comes from the famous and privileged Hilton family. However, instead of being the socialite, she made a name for herself with her television show, The Simple Life which chronicled the lives of herself and her best friend, Nicole Ritchie. The show premiered in 2003 and ran for five seasons.
Since then, Paris has starred in movies, commercials, made music and launched her own lines of clothing, fragrances, and accessories.
As of 2023, this heiress is estimated to be worth $200 million which she built up herself.
I don’t really think, I just walk.
Paris Hilton
Gordon Ramsay
Net Worth: $115 million
Gordon Ramsay rose to fame starring in a British television miniseries Boiling Point in 1998, and since then has become one of the most well-known and influential chefs in the UK.
He has appeared in other television cooking shows such as the British series Hell’s Kitchen, The F Word, and Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, the latter winning the BAFTA for Best Feature at the 2005 British Academy Television Awards, and the American versions of Hell’s Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, MasterChef, MasterChef Junior, as well as Hotel Hell and 24 Hours to Hell and Back.
Ramsay owns restaurants around the world from Los Angeles to Singapore and Sydney and is the chef who most people would mention next to food and recipes.
Known for his colorful language on screen, as of 2023, Gordon Ramsay is estimated to be worth about $115 million.
You don’t come into cooking to get rich.
Gordon Ramsay
Emma Stone
Net Worth: $30 million
Emma Stone’s first appearance was on VH1’s In Search of the Partridge Family, a reality show competition searching for new stars for the new version of The Partridge Family in 2004. Emma got cast as Laurie Partridge, and is today the proud winner of an Academy Award, a British Film Award, a Golden Globe Award and was the highest paid actress in 2017.
You would remember her in the romantic musical La La Land in 2016, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress.
As of 2023, Emma Stone is estimated to be worth $30 million.
I just like to keep working and being able to pay my bills.
Emma Stone
Harry Styles
Net Worth: $80 million
Back in 2010, Harry Styles competed in the British edition of The X Factor together with his band. Well One Direction won and was swept to worldwide fame and became the best selling boy band of all time.
Even though One Direction seems have gone into hibernation, Styles continued as a solo artist and has done incredibly well, winning a Brit Award, an American Music Award, two ARIA Music Awards, and a Billboard Music Award.
This fashionista, known for his flamboyant dress style, is as of 2023 estimated to be worth $80 million.
I meditate and pray before going onstage.
Harry Styles
Caitlyn Jenner
Net Worth: $80 million
Even before she became a reality star in Keeping Up with The Kardashians, Caitlyn was already famous as Bruce Jenner, the Olympic track and field champion.
Caitlyn became even more famous when Bruce came out as transgendered and became Caitlyn. Her reality shows were followed by millions worldwide once she had come out.
Today, Caitlyn lends her voice to many causes, including of course LGBTQ causes.
As of 2023, Caitlyn has built an estimated net worth of an estimated $80 million. She graces the cover of glossy magazine, stars in reality TV and has endorsements with MAC Cosmetics and many other brands.
I try to be a positive role model.
Caitlyn Jenner
Lisa Vanderpump
Net Worth: $65 million
Better known as one of the main cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Lisa Vanderpump is also an astute business woman, owning and operating about 36 restaurants, bars and clubs in London and Los Angeles. Among the most famous of her clubs, bars and restaurants are The Shadow Lounge, Bar Soho, Villa Blanca and Lisa Vanderpump’s Stonebaked Pizzeria in LA.
Lisa has also starred in films and television series and has been featured in Lady Gaga’s music video G.U.Y. in 2014.
This businesswoman and reality star is as of 2023 thought to have an estimated net worth of about $65 million.
I don’t really lie about anything.
Lisa Vanderpump
Kim Kardashian
Net Worth: $1.8 billion
Kim Kardashian first started out as the stylist of Paris Hilton but became even more famous after a sex-tape of her and her then boyfriend Ray J was released in 2007.
Apart from appearing with her family in Keeping Up with the Kardashian, Kim is married to hip-hop superstar Kanye West.
Kim has an online and social media presence with hundreds of millions of followers on Twitter and Instagram. She has released a variety of products tied to her name, including the 2014 mobile game Kim Kardashian: Hollywood, a variety of clothing and products, the 2015 photo book Selfish and her eponymous personal app. She has also appeared in three movies.
In the recent years, Kim has focussed her efforts on her KKW Beauty and KKW fragrance lines. In 2019, she launched Skims, another beauty line.
As of 2023, Kim Kardashian is estimated to have a net worth of about $1.8 billion. She was a billionaire, but her net worth has dropped below the billion dollar mark, but she’s still incredibly wealthy.
You never know what the future holds or where my life will take me.
Kim Kardashian
Andrew Firestone
Net Worth: $30 million
As the Bachelor in the third season of The Bachelor, Andrew Firestone has also appeared in Celebrity Poker Showdown, Celebrity Paranormal Project and Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School.
Firestone’s wealth has not been generated from his celebrity status as a reality star. If you think about his family name Firestone, you may think of Firestone Tire. Yes he is the heir to the Firestone Tire and Rubber fortune.
He is also founder of StonePark Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in hospitality businesses.
As of 2023, this young heir is estimated to have a personal wealth of $30 million, which does not include his family’s wealth of course.
Laverne Cox
Net Worth: $3 million
You may have seen Laverne Cox in Orange Is The New Black series but she really got her start as a contestant in the first season of VH1 reality show I Want to Work for Diddy in 2008.
Although she came in at eighth place, she went on to co-host and co-produce TRANSform Me, a makeover show for VH1. If you don’t know Laverne, her TRANSform Me may give you a clue. Yes, she’s the first openly transgender actress to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the acting category. In 2015, She won a Daytime Emmy Award in Outstanding Special Class as executive producer for Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word.
As of 2023, Cox is estimated to have a net worth of some $3 million.
I was an actress long before I was a reality TV person.
Laverne Cox
Jonathan Van Ness
Net Worth: $2.5 million
Jonathan Van Ness is a hairdresser by trade, pod caster, activist, author and television personality, internationally known as the hairdressing expert on Netflix’s Queer Eye. He also hosts Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness podcast.
Van Ness got his start being asked to perform a recap of a Game of Thrones episode for Funny or Die comedy syndicate. It was so well received that it was later called Gay of Thrones web series. He has also appeared in episodes of the TV series Jeffery Live, E! Live from the Red Carpet, WGN Morning News, Megyn Kelly Today, Fangirling, Rachael Ray, and Today. He works at MoJoHair and Site Salon in Los Angeles as well as Arte Salon in New York City.
As a member of the cast of Queer Eye, Van Ness sees it as a chance to make a positive change in someone by helping them with grooming tips and transforming their looks. As of 2023, Jonathan Van Ness is estimated to have a net worth of $2.5 million.
I’m good at following my own grooming advice.
Jonathan Van Ness
Sharon Osbourne
Net Worth: $140 million
Sharon Osbourne came to prominence when she appeared in The Osbournes which ran from 2002 to 2005. It was a reality show on MTV which followed the lives of the Osbournes.
Sharon later became a judge on talent show The X Factor and America’s Got Talent. From 2003 to 2006, she hosted her own television talk show The Sharon Osbourne Show, which was syndicated to various US channels and also shown in the UK on Sky One.
In 2010, Osbourne was a contestant on NBC’s The Celebrity Apprentice, in which she finished in third place, and became a co-host on the CBS talk show The Talk. In 2014 and 2017, she appeared as an occasional panelist on the ITV talk show Loose Women.
Married to heavy metal singer songwriter Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon is as of 2023 estimated to have an estimated net worth of some $140 million (a combined sum with her husband Ozzy). Her wealth came from her role as manager of Ozzy’s career and other bands (such as The Smashing Pumpkins, Queen and Motorhead) through her management company Sharon Osbourne Management, and from her work as judge on the various talent shows.
Britain leads the way in fund raising.
Sharon Osbourne
Bear Grylls
Net Worth: $15 million
Edward Michael Grylls popularly known as Bear Grylls is an adventurer and reality action star.
He became very popular after starring in his television series Man vs Wild (2006 to 2011). Since then he’s hosted a number of survival television series in the UK and US like Running Wild with Bear Grylls and The Island with Bear Grylls. In his reality shows, Bear was seen trying to survive climbing cliffs, parachuting from helicopters, running through a forest fire and even drinking his own urine.
Bear served in the British Army reserves with 21 SAS as a trooper trained in unarmed combat, desert and winter warfare, survival. Climbing, parachuting and explosives.
As of 2023, this adventurer and reality star is estimated to be worth $15 million.
I was always brought up to have a cup of tea at halfway up a rock face.
Bear Grylls
