Is real estate making Kelly Bensimon richer than reality TV?
You might know Kelly Bensimon from The Real Housewives of New York City, but it looks like Bensimon is more than just a Big Apple housewife. In fact, the reality star has set her eyes on real estate and it’s definitely paid off.
Life in New York City
Kelly Bensimon wasn’t always one of The Real Housewives of New York City, she actually started as a businesswoman & model. Bensimon began her career when she modelled for magazines like Elle & Cosmopolitan, and even hosted for a while.
The Housewives celeb is indeed a triple-thread, as Bensimon also became the founding editor of Elle Accessories Magazine and moved onto editing at Hamptons & Gotham Magazines.
On the other hand, Kelly Bensimon was a real “Carrie Bradshaw” as she had her own column in Keith Kelly’s New York Post media section. Now Bensimon has taken her writing to the next level with some interesting and some might say “progressive” books like: In the Spirit of the Hamptons, The Bikini Book, American Style, and I Can Make You Hot.
In 2016, when the star’s writing career was blowing up, Kelly Bensimon explained to Haute Living that she’s earned every bit of wealth: “People don’t understand, I worked very hard to get where I am. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon.”
Bensimon added: “My parents were educated and afforded me the luxury of education, but it wasn’t that I could just do what I wanted to do. I am very proud of who I am and what I have achieved and what the future holds.”
Her hustle never ends
However, during Kelly Bensimon’s writing & modelling career, she made her official debut on The Real Housewives of New York City season 2 and has taken the show by storm! According to Celebrity Net Worth, Bensimon was a fan favorite after she ended her feud with Bethanny Frankel in season 3, which expectedly brought high ratings.
Kelly Bensimon wasn’t “technically” a housewife since she divorced from her ten year marriage with Gilles Bensimon in 2007, but she remained the true star of The Real Housewives of New York City between 2009 to 2011, alongside co-stars like Alex McCord & Luanne de Lesseps.
Today, Kelly Bensimon may be enjoying her life with an impressive jewelry line that donates money to charities like Feeding America, but it seems with a net worth of $20 million, she’s decided to continue growing her wealth in New York City and this time through. . . real estate!
Real estate
Moving from a reality show to real estate can be a tough business venture, especially if you don’t have the Selling Sunset squad on your side. However, Kelly Bensimon has shown New York City that she can do anything she sets her mind to, including Manhattan deals worth $50 million!
According to the New York Post, Kelly Bensimon teamed up with Douglas Elliman’s Holly Parker Team in 2019. Since then, the star has “been killing it” in the real estate business.
A close source explained to the New York Post: “That’s a lot of very expensive square footage for anyone, especially a newcomer to the business, and the quarter isn’t even over.”
But Kelly Bensimon’s $50 million deals have been anything but luck, as the insider noted that Bensimon’s work has been thanks to her close contacts in areas like “New York City, the Hamptons, and Palm Beach”. Today, you can find “Kelly Killoren Bensimon” on the Douglas Elliman real estate website thanks to her previous work with Warburg Realty & Dolly Lenz Real Estate.
Currently, Bensimon is on the hunt to sell a stunning Midtown triplex penthouse for a whopping $66 million, noted by The New York Post.
—
Do you think Kelly Bensimon should return to The Real Housewives of New York City? Or do you think real estate is the right business venture? Let us know in the comments below.
