Bethenny Frankel Says Influencer Income Surpasses $100 Million Skinnygirl Sale

Bethenny Frankel, a former star of "The Real Housewives of New York City," has revealed that her current income as an influencer significantly exceeds the earnings from her Skinnygirl business, which she sold for over $100 million. Frankel stated in an interview with the Daily Mail that her "biggest year of Skinnygirl is not as big as this." She described her current success as "out of control" and "amazing," adding that she is "the most successful I’ve ever been by far."

Frankel launched Skinnygirl in 2009, offering low-calorie alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, salad dressings, and other products. She sold the brand to Beam Global two years later for more than $100 million.

Frankel, who has amassed 3.4 million followers on TikTok and 4 million on Instagram, is known for her direct product reviews and commentary on pop culture. In May, she mentioned on Emma Grede's "Aspire" podcast that her annual earnings from influencer activities exceed $20 million.

She is now venturing into a new brand called Supermodel Cafe, which will feature low-calorie bagels, spreads, and coffees. Frankel expressed confidence that this new company will eventually surpass Skinnygirl in size. She recently hosted a Supermodel Cafe pop-up event in the Hamptons.

Frankel views her audience as a critical component of product development, referring to them as her "research and development team." She highlighted how feedback from influencers like Halley Kate Williams, Jazz Smith, and Greta Louise Tomé regarding specific products, such as a miso tahini, directly influences her menu decisions. She even introduced a menu item named "Rage Bait Bagel" in response to online commentary.

Plans are also underway to expand the Supermodel Cafe concept, with a collaboration with a "big-name brand" set to open a cafe in St. Barts. Frankel envisions the brand as a dynamic entity that evolves with customer engagement, likening its potential to the weekly rotating offerings of businesses like Crumbl Cookies, with different store locations potentially appearing monthly.