Lisa Rinna Co-Stars Shocked She Paid for Hair, Makeup, and Wardrobe on ‘Real Housewives’

Lisa Rinna brought her signature boldness and flair to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills when she joined the cast in 2014. Best known for her roles on daytime soaps like Days of Our Lives and Melrose Place, Rinna quickly became a polarizing, yet iconic, figure in the reality TV world. Her unfiltered honesty, sharp one-liners, and dramatic confrontations made her a standout presence, earning both praise and criticism from fans. While Rinna left the show in 2023, she recently revealed that she paid for her hair, makeup, and wardrobe while on Real Housewives. Here’s what she said.

‘Real Housewives’ star Lisa Rinna revealed how she paid for her own hair, makeup, and wardrobe on the show

Lisa Rinna became one of the franchise’s most talked-about figures during her eight-season run on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Joining the show in season 5, she brought a mix of Hollywood polish, soap opera intensity, and unapologetic candor that quickly set her apart. Whether stirring the pot with infamous confrontations — like her explosive feuds with Kim Richards and Denise Richards — Rinna consistently kept viewers on their toes.

In 2025, Rinna spoke candidly about footing the bill for many of her lifestyle expenses while on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She revealed the truth to Melrose Place co-stars Daphne Zuniga, Laura Leighton, and Courtney Thorne-Smith on their Still the Place podcast.

“You said that each cast member has to pay for her own parties?” Thorn-Smith verified.

“And your own hair and makeup and wardrobe!” Rinna answered. “Imagine that. That’s the part that’s the hardest, because we’re used to being dressed.”

According to Rinna, the Real Housewives producers wanted the cast’s “real life” on display. “Their take on it is, you should look how you look, because this is your life,” she continued. “So, they want that. But I didn’t love that part of it, because I spent all my money on hair and makeup and wardrobe. You know what I mean? You just spend it all.”

Rinna noted she found the network “cheap” for not paying, as she wouldn’t typically do her hair and makeup every day if not for the show. “I think that wardrobe — they’re just cheap, and hair and makeup should be covered. I really do,” she continued. “That was the hardest thing for me.”

Bethenny Frankel said many of the reality show’s stars ‘can’t afford’ their lives

Bethenny Frankel’s time on The Real Housewives of New York City was nothing short of transformative for both the franchise and her career. As an original cast member, she entered the series in 2008 as a sharp-tongued underdog hustling to build her brand and quickly became a fan favorite for her unfiltered wit. In 2018, she opened up about how many of the show’s stars aren’t nearly as rich as they appear on screen.

“They can’t afford the lives they’re living,” Frankel, 47, said in 2018, according to People. “And if the music stops, they’re going to get in some trouble.”

Bravo only paid Frankel $7,250 for the first season of RHONY. However, she would not agree to give Bravo profits from the products that she used the reality series to market. Ultimately, she made $100 million after selling Skinnygirl in 2011 while still retaining the rights to the brand name.

“Everybody else just had to try to play catch-up after they saw what I did,” she added.

‘Real Housewives’ star Kyle Richards can corroborate Lisa Rinna’s claims

Kyle Richards joined The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2010 and, as of 2025, remains the last original full-time cast member on the show. In 2022, she opened up about how she and the other cast members pay for many aspects of filming, including the planes and parties.

“People always do ask about the planes and the parties and stuff, and they do think everything is paid by production — even other cast members from other shows ask about that,” Richards shared during the BravoCon “Iconic Vacations” panel, according to Bravo. “We are actually paying for those things ourselves.”

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