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Adrienne Bailon is a powerhouse entertainer. From 3LW to The Cheetah Girls to The Real, the actress and singer has been around for two decades. During her lengthy career, she even added some unscripted work to her resume, too. She had a personal show, Empire Girls, which ended in 2012. However, most would remember her from appearing on Keeping Up With the Kardashians. (She was dating Rob Kardashian Jr.; however, they split because of his infidelity.)
With her arsenal of jobs, it’d be easy to think Adrienne Bailon has always been stacked with money. However, she recently revealed that wasn’t always the case. During an interview with Richer Lives by SoFi, the former girl-group member said she’s been in a “financially rough” space. She also spoke about how little she was paid for Disney’s The Cheetah Girls and for her role as a talk-show host on The Real. So, what else did she reveal?
Adrienne Is ‘Grateful’ for the Cheetah Girls Despite Low Pay
Since Adrienne Bailon is always booked and busy, it could be easy to forget she’s been a mainstay in the industry since the early 2000s. Not only was she the lead singer of the girl group 3LW, but she also appeared in three Disney films. The Cheetah Girls became a worldwide hit following its release, which spawned a few albums and tours. Although the actors’ salaries haven’t been revealed, Adrienne confessed that by today’s standards, it wasn’t much. However, for her at the time, it was “still a lot of money.”
The mother of one continued, saying she was “so grateful” for the chance to play Chanel because “it opened so many more opportunities for me.” According to her, that’s something she “could never put a price tag on.”
The Cheetah Girls was first released in 2003 and was watched by nearly seven million people. The second and third movies were released in 2006 and 2008, respectively. Their two albums, Cheetah-licious Christmas and TCG, have been certified gold by the RIAA for selling over 100,000 copies.
Consequently, the new projects gave Adrienne “exposure,” a “following,” and household recognition. “I’m not sure if you could put a number on that.”
Adrienne Reveals Kardashians Salary
It’s no surprise that Adrienne Bailon used to date Kim K’s little brother, Rob Kardashian. The pair were a hot topic in 2007 and 2008. Adrienne even appeared in a few episodes. However, fans never saw her again after their messy break-up. Regarding the show, it’s unsurprising that the key players get a nice paycheck. But according to Adrienne, she was only paid “$2,000” for being a “day player.” (She mentioned her affiliation with SAG/AFTRA, which is the union governing performers.)
Adrienne and Her ‘Bad Deal’ for The Real
After Keeping Up With the Kardashians and The Cheetah Girls, Adrienne transitioned into a different type of entertainment. The former Disney star joined the cast of The Real, which was a daily talk show that aired from 2013 to 2022. Like many of her other jobs, fans likely assumed she was making an absurd amount of money. However, they’d be severely mistaken.
According to Adrienne, in the industry, some shows require you to sign a contract at the audition. After consulting with her management team, she signed against her better judgment. “I got what I got—and it was for eight years,” she said. Bailon continued, saying she’d “renegotiate” her contract if she could today, but then, she had to figure out a game plan.
“So, when I realized I had signed a bad deal … a “wack ass deal” … what do I do now?”
“I started a jewelry company. From there, I started a handbag line [and] clothing, and that’s where my mind started going.”
Today, Adrienne is married to award-winning music producer Israel Houghton, and admittedly, things have “worked out financially” for them. Her current focus is on raising her son, Ever. But that doesn’t mean fans won’t get to see her again. “God willing,” the multi-hyphenate will be back on screens come 2025.
