With big drama comes - if you're lucky -- some big paychecks in the Real Housewives franchise. Ever since The Real Housewives of Orange County premiered in March 2006, fans have been curious about how much their favorite cast members from various cities make year after year. "We never really talk about contracts and money," Andy Cohen previously told Entertainment Tonight. "That's usually just a line we don't really love to talk about. People are curious though.