Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Bethenny Frankel

Discover the career path of Bethenny Frankel, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Bethenny Frankel, also known as Bethenny Parisella, is an American television personality, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and author. She gained initial recognition as the runner-up on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. She is best known as an original cast member of The Real Housewives of New York City, appearing in 8 seasons. Frankel has also starred in spin-off series like Bethenny Ever After and Bethenny & Fredrik. She hosted the daytime talk show Bethenny and the reality competition series The Big Shot with Bethenny.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1992: Moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting

In 1992, Bethenny Frankel moved to Los Angeles with hopes of being an actress and started working as an assistant to Kathy Hilton. She later leveraged her connections to start her first company, 'In Any Event', a party-planning business.

2003: Started BethennyBakes

In 2003, Bethenny Frankel started BethennyBakes, a baking business that made egg-free, wheat-free and dairy-free cookies and meal delivery in New York City.

2005: Runner-up on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart

In 2005, Bethenny Frankel was the runner-up on the NBC reality competition series, The Apprentice: Martha Stewart.

2006: BethennyBakes Closed

In 2006, BethennyBakes closed.

2008: Began starring in The Real Housewives of New York City

In 2008, Bethenny Frankel began starring in the reality television series The Real Housewives of New York City, which premiered in March on Bravo.

March 2009: Naturally Thin Published

In March 2009, Bethenny Frankel's book, Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting, was published.

Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting (A Woman's Guide to Diet-Free Eating)

Check it on Amazon

September 2009: Posed nude for PETA billboard

In September 2009, Bethenny Frankel posed nude for a PETA billboard for its "I'd rather go naked than wear fur" campaign.

2009: Created Skinnygirl Margarita line

In 2009, Bethenny Frankel created a pre-packaged margarita line named Skinnygirl Margarita, which was the foundation product for Skinnygirl Cocktails.

June 2010: Appeared in Bethenny Getting Married?

In June 2010, Bethenny Frankel appeared in the Bravo reality series Bethenny Getting Married? (later retitled Bethenny Ever After), which documented her engagement and marriage to Jason Hoppy as well as the birth of their daughter.

September 2010: Exit from The Real Housewives of New York City announced

In September 2010, Bethenny Frankel announced her exit from The Real Housewives of New York City following its third season.

2010: Released exercise DVD and audiobook

In 2010, Bethenny Frankel released an exercise DVD, Body by Bethenny, and an audiobook, The Skinnygirl Rules, which summarized her two prior books.

The Skinnygirl Rules: For Getting and Staying Naturally Thin

Check it on Amazon

2010: Appeared in Bethenny Getting Married?

June 2011: Taped pilot of Bethenny talk show

In June 2011, Bethenny Frankel taped the pilot of a talk show, Bethenny. The syndicated daytime talk show was created and co-produced by Ellen DeGeneres.

2011: A Place of Yes published

In 2011, Bethenny Frankel published A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life.

A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life

Check it on Amazon

2011: Skinnygirl Cocktails sold to Beam Global

In 2011, Bethenny Frankel's cocktail line, Skinnygirl Cocktails, was sold to Beam Global for a reported $120 million, but Frankel kept the Skinnygirl brand name.

December 2012: Skinnydipping published

In December 2012, Bethenny Frankel published a novel, Skinnydipping.

Skinnydipping: A Novel

Check it on Amazon

2012: Bethenny Ever After ended

In 2012, Bethenny Frankel's spin-off series Bethenny Ever After ended after airing for three seasons.

2012: Bethenny talk show test run

In 2012, Bethenny's talk show had a test run in limited markets.

September 2013: Bethenny talk show officially premiered

In September 2013, Bethenny Frankel's syndicated daytime talk show, Bethenny, officially premiered.

2013: Headline the Fox daytime talk show Bethenny

In 2013, Bethenny Frankel headlined the Fox daytime talk show Bethenny.

February 2014: Bethenny talk show canceled

In February 2014, Bethenny Frankel's talk show, Bethenny, was canceled after one season, although episodes continued to run since 170 were taped.

2014: Bethenny talk show canceled

In 2014, the Fox daytime talk show Bethenny, which Bethenny Frankel headlined, was canceled.

April 2015: Rejoined The Real Housewives of New York City

In April 2015, Bethenny Frankel rejoined The Real Housewives of New York City for its seventh season.

2017: BStrong's Hurricane Relief Efforts

In 2017, Bethenny Frankel's organization, BStrong, raised $300,000 for Hurricane Harvey victims, visited Houston to distribute supplies, raised $150,000 for the Puebla earthquake in Mexico, and chartered four planes to Puerto Rico for Hurricane Maria relief.

2018: Starred in Bethenny & Fredrik

In 2018, Bethenny Frankel starred in Bethenny & Fredrik, which aired for one season.

March 2019: Signed deal with MGM Television

In March 2019, Deadline Hollywood reported Bethenny Frankel had signed a deal with MGM Television and its chairman, Mark Burnett, to produce and star in future unscripted television projects.

June 2021: No longer had deal with MGM Television

In June 2021, Bethenny Frankel announced she no longer had a deal with MGM Television after The Big Shot with Bethenny underperformed.

2021: Skinnygirl cookware line premiered

In 2021, Bethenny Frankel developed a Skinnygirl cookware line sold at TJMaxx and Marshalls stores, which premiered in 2021.

2021: Headlined HBO Max reality competition series The Big Shot with Bethenny

In 2021, Bethenny Frankel headlined the HBO Max reality competition series The Big Shot with Bethenny.

2022: BStrong Supported Ukraine

In 2022, Bethenny Frankel supported Ukraine with humanitarian aid through her organization, BStrong, during the Russian invasion.

2023: Called for reality TV personalities to unionize

In 2023, in the wake of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, Bethenny Frankel called for reality television personalities to go on strike and to unionize, citing exploitation and the need for worker's rights.