Joe Giudice revealed that his ex-wife Teresa’s Season 1 salary from the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” was a measly $25,000 — and claimed he actually lost money because of how low it was.
“I think the first year, we had that big party in my great room,” Joe recalled on his daughter Gia’s “Casual Chaos” podcast on Monday. “I think that show cost me $150,000 the first year.”
“We got paid nothing the first season,” he added. “I’ll even say, it was like $25,000. I mean, it was ridiculous, but whatever.”
Gia, 24, explained that it is normal for all of Bravo’s “Real Housewives” to earn a low amount of money during their debut season and then grow their image and salary as they continue on the show.
“When you’re throwing parties and stuff like that, especially for the first season, you’re putting in more money than you’re actually getting out of it. Then obviously, you grow and make your way and make your name.”
The father-daughter duo reminisced on how the reality show captured their family’s hectic life, including all of their highs and lows.
“Our lives were on full display. The good and the bad. So, mom was literally filmed leaving our home from jail. The show was on pause until she came home,” the “Next Gen NYC” star explained, referring to Teresa’s 11-month-long incarceration in 2015 for bankruptcy fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
Joe, 53, was in prison from March 2016 to March 2019 for bankruptcy fraud and failure to pay taxes and was deported from the US in October 2019. He has lived in the Bahamas since his and Teresa’s 2020 divorce which also played out on the show.
Joe also admitted on the podcast that he “regrets” letting his and Teresa’s legal struggles play out on TV and believes that being on the show is what led to their 2013 indictment.
“At the time, my attorney called me up and said that I was a target . . . He called me and he said ‘Listen, Joe, I just want you to know that you’re under investigation and you’re a target.’”
After their divorce was finalized and he was deported, Joe no longer appeared on the Bravo hit despite his four daughters and ex-wife appearing on the show up until its pause after Season 14.
Viewers watched Teresa, 53, move on with Luis Ruelas who she married in August 2022. Joe, on his part, is in a relationship with a “sweet” woman named Margie, who Gia said she likes as well on the podcast.
The influencer made headlines last month for asking president Trump to pardon her father and allow him back into the country, but apologized after she was met with backlash.
“I did not intend to post it on the 4th of July. That was just not my intention at all,” she said on her podcast at the time. “I have so much respect for my country, and I was not trying to show any privilege or entitlement.”
“So, I posted it. There was no motive behind anything. … I really just wanted my dad to feel loved by me and know that I always am supporting him and pushing for him and hoping for his return back home,” she concluded.