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In the competitive world of New York real estate, Ryan Serhant's net worth is among the highest. Known for his roles in Bravo's Million Dollar Listing New York and the new Netflix series Owning Manhattan, Serhant has made a name for himself in the world of luxury real estate and reality TV, and his journey has been nothing short of inspiring.
Born in Texas and raised near Boston, Serhant came to New York with dreams of making it big on Broadway. Like many aspiring actors, Serhant quickly found the city tough and turned to hand modeling to help pay the bills. Instead of giving up on city life, he decided to try his hand at real estate. Timing was key, too, as he jumped into the real estate market in 2008 at the lowest point of the economy.
Despite the hardships, Serhant not only survived, he thrived. A few years later, Serhant found his name on Million Dollar Listing New York. Suddenly, he wasn't just selling luxury properties, he was a celebrity in his own right. Serhant clearly used his newfound fame to expand his brand with books, speaking engagements, and eventually, his own brokerage. Read on for more details on Serhant's net worth, his reality TV earnings, and how he went from struggling actor to real estate mogul.
What is Ryan Serhant's net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ryan Serhant's net worth is a whopping $40 million — quite a jump from those early days when he was wondering how he was going to pay rent.
But where is the money coming from? It's not just from selling luxury penthouses (though that helps too). Serhant does a lot of different things, from real estate commissions to television appearances to books and speaking engagements. He's diversified, and it's clearly paying off.
Image: Winnie Au/Netflix.
What was Ryan Serhant's listed salary of $1 million?
Networks tend not to share details about TV pay, but we can make some guesses based on industry reports: According to a 2016 article from Business Insider, popular reality TV stars can make between $10,000 and $30,000 per episode.
Given Serhant's fame and longevity on “Million Dollar Listing New York” (he was a main cast member from the show's debut in 2012 until 2022), his salary is likely near the higher end of this range. But while his TV income is large, it's important to remember that it's only one piece of the puzzle of his overall income.
How did Ryan Serhant achieve success?
Now, time for the million-dollar question (or should we say, the $40 million question?): How did Serhant go from struggling actor to real estate mogul? It all began in 2008, when his acting career stalled and he decided to get into real estate. As he told CNBC in a 2018 interview, he was nearly bankrupt and considering moving back home when he decided to give real estate a try.
Starting his career in real estate in 2008 during the great financial crisis was no easy feat. In his first year as a real estate agent, he earned just $9,000. But with determination, Serhant threw himself into his new job. Finally, his big break came when he landed his first big deal, earning $120,000 in commission. This success gave him the confidence and financial security to continue pursuing luxury real estate deals.
In 2010, Serhant's career took another major turn when he appeared on “Million Dollar Listing New York.” When the show aired in 2012, it wasn't just apartments that Serhant was selling, he was selling himself, and people were buying them. He used his newfound fame to launch The Serhant Team, which quickly became one of the best-performing real estate teams in New York and the nation. According to The Real Deal, The Serhant Team closed $1.4 billion in transactions in 2019 alone. But he didn't stop there. In 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, he founded his own real estate brokerage, SERHANT. The company aims to rethink the traditional brokerage model by incorporating media production and innovative marketing strategies.
Image: Courtesy of Netflix.
Serhant has expanded his brand beyond selling real estate. He has written two bestselling books, “Sell It Like Serhant” and “Big Money Energy,” and is a popular real estate and motivational speaker. His YouTube channel, where he shares real estate advice and behind-the-scenes looks at his life, has garnered more than 1.4 million subscribers.
What sets Serhant apart is his approach to real estate sales and marketing. He's known for creative tactics like planning themed parties for property showings and leveraging social media to reach potential buyers. In an interview with The Real Deal in 2021, Serhant emphasized the importance of adapting to new technology and market conditions, telling the site, “The future of real estate will be won by the companies and agents who best engage with their customers.”
Throughout his career, Serhant has maintained a rigorous work ethic, including starting work at 4am to maximize his productivity. In his book, Big Money Energy, he emphasizes the importance of mindset and self-confidence in achieving success. Clearly, this approach has worked for him.
So that's the Ryan Serhant success story. The journey earned him a whopping $40 million and put him at the top of New York real estate. Love him or hate him, you have to admit it: Serhant was a self-made man.
To learn more about Ryan Serhant's journey, check out his book, Big Money Energy: How to Succeed at Work, Get an Edge in Life, and Make Millions of Dollars. In this book, Serhant shares how he went from struggling actor to real estate superstar. He teaches readers how to tap into their own “big money energy” with advice on building self-confidence, creating opportunities, and succeeding in both work and life. Packed with practical tips on everything from personal branding to negotiating, Serhant's book is a pep talk and masterclass all in one. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up, Serhant has you covered with down-to-earth wisdom from the front lines of New York real estate.