The 23 Most Successful Reality TV Show Contestants

Though many contestants have a hard time getting another break after appearing on a reality TV show – or breaking the stigma their reality show appearance may have earned them – some haven’t had that problem.

All of these successful former reality TV contestants figured out how to harness the momentum from their break and, eventually, use it to fuel their future success. The craziest part: Some of them didn’t win big or stand out on their show. Yet they were able to learn from the opportunity and go on to become some of the wealthiest and most notable modern entertainers.

For this list, we subjectively judge reality TV contestants by a mix of financial and artistic success.

Nene Leakes

NeNe Leakes models an outfit from the Red Dress Collection in New York in 2014.Brad Barket / AP Photo/Invision

Show: “The Real Housewives of Atlanta”

Years: 2008-present

Estimated net worth: $14 million

The outspoken Real Housewife was a breakout on the show. But that reality show was only the beginning for Nene Leakes.

Though she’s still involved in it after some time off, she’s done a ton of other projects. She guest starred on the hit series “Glee,” wrote a bestselling book and launched a clothing line on HSN along with her own clothing store.

Bethenny Frankel

Bethenny Frankel participates in the Hamptons Paddle Race in Sag Harbor, New York, in 2015.Scott Roth / AP Photo/Invision

Show: “The Real Housewives of New York City”

Years: 2008-10, 2015-present

Estimated net worth: $25 million

Another Real Housewife who became much more than a reality TV personality, Frankel harnessed her newfound popularity to begin her own lifestyle brand Skinnygirl. It includes cocktails, clothing, and candy, to name a few things.

Christian Siriano

Christian Siriano poses for a portrait in Los Angeles in 2009.Matt Sayles / AP Photo

Show: “Project Runway”

Year: 2008

Estimated net worth: $1.5 million

After winning the popular fashion reality show “Project Runway” during its fourth season, Siriano took the opportunities the show provided and ran with them.

A fan favorite, he smartly took advantage of his popularity and the momentum from the show to establish himself as one of the most playful and most flattering modern designers. He remains extremely popular, especially as a designer who enthusiastically loves to work with all body types.

Nicole “Snooki” Polizi

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi arrives at the MTV Movie Awards in 2014.Jordan Strauss / AP Photo/Invision

Show: “Jersey Shore”

Years: 2009-12

Estimated net worth: $4 million

Many unforgettable personalities came out of the wild MTV show “Jersey Shore.” And while many of them continued to have mild success, Snooki made the most of her time on the show. She became part of the cultural lexicon.

Snooki used her popularity to launch her first book, “A Shore Thing,” at the height of her popularity in 2011. She would go on to write five more books about her life, including ones where she ditches her younger style and opens up about motherhood.

Nicole Scherzinger

Nicole Scherzinger poses at "Movies Rock: A Celebration of Music in Film" in Los Angeles in 2007.Chris Pizzello / AP Photo

Show: “Popstars”

Year: 2001

Estimated net worth: $12 million

Though “Popstars” never gained huge popularity, it did introduce the world to world-class talent, including Nicole Scherzinger.

Scherzinger was a contestant on the show in 2001. She’d go on to sing with the group Eden’s Crush and then become the lead singer of The Pussycat Dolls, which would really establish her as a powerhouse.

Beyond singing, she co-hosted the popular show “The X Factor” (UK). During her time on the show, she paid it forward, helping to put together a boy band group that would have its own major breakout star.

Harry Styles

Harry Styles performs on the "Today" show in New York in 2017.Charles Sykes / AP Photo/Invision

Show: “The X Factor” (UK)

Years: 2010-11

Estimated net worth: $75 million

After auditioning separately on “The X Factor” (UK), the judges (including former reality TV breakout star Nicole Scherzinger) put together a group of talented young men and called them One Direction.

The rest, as they say, is fangirl history.

The boy band became the next hot thing and had a number of international hits. Though they are on a seemingly permanent hiatus, the biggest breakout star of the group, Harry Styles, shows no signs of slowing down. He not only launched his own successful solo career, he’s begun his acting career. He co-starred in “Dunkirk.”

Grace VanderWaal

Grace VanderWaal performs at the Billboard Women in Music event in Los Angeles in 2017.Chris Pizzello / AP Photo/Invision

Show: “America’s Got Talent”

Year: 2016

Estimated net worth: $2 million

Though it might be a bit early to put this young artist on the list, she’s already done incredible things since her “America’s Got Talent” win.

She already became a successful Vegas headlining act and was just named the star of an upcoming Disney Channel original movie. And she’s doing all that amid a busy touring schedule and constant creation of new music – all before hitting the age of 15.

Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert performs at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas in 2018.Chris Pizzello / AP Photo/Invision

Show: “Nashville Star”

Year: 2003

Estimated net worth: $45 million

When some reality TV shows aren’t insanely popular, it’s easy to overlook or forget that major stars used them as launch pads. That’s at least the case with country music star Miranda Lambert, who first got her break on the 2003 season of “Nashville Star.”

She was only 19-years-old at the time, but clearly a superstar in the making.

Since that show, her career as a country music artist blossomed and she continues to be one of country music’s most popular artists. Oh, and of course she has a couple of clothing and accessory collections.

Laverne Cox

Laverne Cox performs during the "Lip Sync Battle Live: A Michael Jackson Celebration" in Los Angeles in 2018.Richard Shotwell / AP Photo/Invision

Show: “I Want to Work for Diddy”

Year: 2008

Estimated net worth: $2 million

At this point, most TV viewers probably know Laverne Cox. Few likely realize she got her first major TV break on a VH1 show featuring Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Though she played herself on the show, the actress eventually landed her breakout role on Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black.”

She continues to be an advocate for transgender rights while landing a ton of juicy acting roles, producing her own work, and, in her free time, getting nominated for Emmy Awards.

Camila Cabello

Camila Cabello introduces a performance at the Grammy Awards in New York in 2018.Matt Sayles / AP Photo/Invision

Show: “The X Factor”

Year: 2012

Estimated net worth: $6 million

Like others on the list, Camila Cabello auditioned on her own for the show and then was placed together in a larger group that would become Fifth Harmony.

The group gained popularity and continues to perform together, but Cabello decided to split from them in 2016. Her first solo album debuted at No. 1 on the charts behind the single, “Havana.”

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