History of Bethenny Frankel in Timeline

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Bethenny Frankel

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.

November 4, 1970: Bethenny Frankel Born

On November 4, 1970, Bethenny Frankel (also known as Bethenny Parisella) was born. She is an American television personality, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and author.

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1988: Graduated from Pine Crest School

In 1988, Bethenny Frankel graduated from Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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.

1996: Married Peter Sussman

In 1996, Bethenny Frankel married entertainment executive Peter Sussman.

1997: Divorced Peter Sussman

In 1997, Bethenny Frankel divorced Peter Sussman.

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.

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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.

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

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.

March 2010: Married Jason Hoppy

In March 2010, Bethenny Frankel married pharmaceutical sales executive Jason Hoppy.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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: Separated from Jason Hoppy

In December 2012, Bethenny Frankel and Jason Hoppy separated.

December 2012: Skinnydipping published

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

Skinnydipping: A Novel
Skinnydipping: A Novel

2012: Bethenny Ever After ended

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

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2012: Bethenny talk show test run

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

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January 2013: Filed for divorce from Jason Hoppy

In January 2013, Bethenny Frankel filed for divorce from Jason Hoppy.

September 2013: Bethenny talk show officially premiered

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

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2013: Headline the Fox daytime talk show Bethenny

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

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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.

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June 2014: Reached temporary custody agreement

In June 2014, Bethenny Frankel and Jason Hoppy reached a temporary custody agreement.

2014: Bethenny talk show canceled

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

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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.

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July 2016: Financial settlement reached with Jason Hoppy

In July 2016, Bethenny Frankel and Jason Hoppy reached a financial settlement.

2016: Began dating Dennis Shields

In 2016, Bethenny Frankel began dating banker Dennis Shields.

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.

April 2018: Dennis Shields proposed

In April 2018, Dennis Shields proposed to Bethenny Frankel, and she wore his engagement ring.

August 2018: Dennis Shields died

In August 2018, Dennis Shields, who was dating Bethenny Frankel, was found dead of an apparent accidental overdose of pain medication after back surgery.

December 2018: Hospitalized for Fish Allergy

In December 2018, Bethenny Frankel was hospitalized after consuming soup that contained fish due to a severe fish allergy.

2018: Starred in Bethenny & Fredrik

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

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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.

January 2021: Divorce from Jason Hoppy finalized

In January 2021, Bethenny Frankel and Jason Hoppy's divorce was finalized.

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: Ended Relationship with Paul Bernon

In 2021, Bethenny Frankel ended her relationship with Paul Bernon after nearly six years because she was not happy.

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.

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November 2022: Discussed religious identity on podcast

In a November 2022 episode of her podcast, Just B With Bethenny Frankel, Frankel described her religious identity and criticized Kanye West for antisemitic comments.

2022: BStrong Supported Ukraine

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

2022: Named one of "The Top 10 Jewish Reality TV Stars of All Time"

In 2022, the Jewish Journal named Bethenny Frankel one of "The Top 10 Jewish Reality TV Stars of All Time".

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.