The Real Housewives is an American reality television franchise that began on March 21, 2006, with The Real Housewives of Orange County. Each installment of the franchise documents the personal and professional lives of a group of affluent women residing in a certain city or geopolitical region. Eleven different series have been produced in the United States, with one additional series set in the United Arab Emirates. In addition, there are 32 international adaptations. The American series is broadcast on Bravo. Previously, the Miami installment aired for a time on Peacock.

The first international adaptation, The Real Housewives of Athens, premiered on March 4, 2011. The longest-running international edition is The Real Housewives of Cheshire, which had just finished airing its nineteenth season.

The American franchise has led to 28 spin-off series in all, the most successful being Vanderpump Rules, which has itself had a number of spin-offs.

History The show was inspired by scripted soap operas, including Desperate Housewives and Peyton Place, and would document the lives of five to eight upper-class women who "lead glamorous lives in a picturesque Southern California gated community where the average home has a $1.6 million price tag and residents include CEOs and retired professional athletes." On May 1, 2005, The Real Housewives was first announced as one of six reality television shows ordered by the American television network Bravo.

In January 2006, the show was announced as The Real Housewives of Orange County. However, filming began in 2005 under the title Behind the Gates. The first season aired on Bravo from March 21 to May 9, 2006. The original cast consisted of Kimberly Bryant, Jo De La Rosa, Vicki Gunvalson, Jeana Keough, and Lauri Waring. The show has had four spin-offs: Date My Ex: Jo & Slade, Tamra’s OC Wedding, Glitter Town, and Simply Gina.

In September 2007, the network started production for the show Manhattan Moms. In January 2008, the show was retitled as The Real Housewives of New York City became the second installment in the franchise. The first season aired on Bravo from March 4 to May 27, 2008. The original cast consisted of Bethenny Frankel, Luann de Lesseps, Alex McCord, Ramona Singer, and Jill Zarin. In 2022, the show was completely rebooted with a brand-new cast for the fourteenth season. The show has had three spin-offs: Bethenny Ever After, Bethenny & Fredrik and Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake.

In June 2008, the third installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, was announced. The first season aired on Bravo from October 7 to November 25, 2008. The original cast consisted of NeNe Leakes, DeShawn Snow, Shereé Whitfield, Lisa Wu, and Kim Zolciak. The show has had ten spin-offs: Don't Be Tardy, The Kandi Factory, I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding, Kandi's Wedding, Kandi's Ski Trip, Xscape: Still Kickin' It, Kandi Koated Nights, Porsha's Having a Baby, Porsha's Family Matters and Kandi & The Gang.

In May 2008, the fourth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of New Jersey, was announced before the announcement of the Atlanta installment. The first season aired on Bravo from May 12 to July 8, 2009. The original cast consisted of Dina Manzo, Teresa Giudice, Jacqueline Laurita, Caroline Manzo, and Danielle Staub. The show has had three spin-offs: Boys to Manzo, Manzo'd with Children and Teresa Checks In.

In October 2009, the fifth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of D.C., was announced. The season aired on Bravo from August 5 to October 21, 2010. The cast consisted of Mary Amons, Lynda Erkiletian, Cat Ommanney, Michaele Salahi, and Stacie Scott Turner. The show ended after one season, becoming the first franchise to be canceled; its cancellation came after one of the cast members, Salahi, and her husband, Tareq, caused controversy by successfully entering the White House uninvited for a state dinner while being filmed for the show.

In March 2010, the sixth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, was announced. The first season aired on Bravo from October 14, 2010, to February 15, 2011. The original cast consisted of Taylor Armstrong, Camille Grammer, Adrienne Maloof, Kim Richards, Kyle Richards, and Lisa Vanderpump. The show has had three spin-offs: Vanderpump Rules, Vanderpump Dogs, and Vanderpump Villa. Vanderpump Rules has had three additional spin-offs: Vanderpump Rules After Show, Vanderpump Rules: Jax & Brittany Take Kentucky, and The Valley, a show that premiered on March 19, 2024.

In March 2010, the network ordered a show titled Miami Social Club, which would serve as a reconstruction of Miami Social. The show was later retitled as The Real Housewives of Miami and became the seventh installment in the franchise. The first season aired on Bravo from February 22 to April 5, 2011. The original cast consisted of Lea Black, Adriana de Moura, Alexia Echevarria, Marysol Patton, Larsa Pippen, and Cristy Rice. The cast added Lisa Hochstein, Joanna Krupa, Ana Quincoces, and Karent Sierra as housewives in season 2. After an eight-year hiatus following season 3, the fourth season aired on Peacock from December 16, 2021, to March 10, 2022. The rebooted cast consisted of Guerdy Abraira, Lisa Hochstein, Julia Lemigova, Nicole Martin, Alexia Nepola née Echevarria, and Larsa Pippen. The show has had one spin-off: Havana Elsa.

In November 2015, the eighth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Potomac, was announced. The series had the working title Potomac Ensemble prior to the announcement. The first season aired on Bravo from January 17 to April 17, 2016. The original cast consisted of Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby, Robyn Dixon, Karen Huger, Charrisse Jackson-Jordan, and Katie Rost. The show has had one spin-off: Karen's Grande Dame Reunion.

Prior to being announced, the ninth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Dallas was initially titled Ladies of Dallas during its early production, a potential spin-off to Ladies of London. It was announced in November 2015. The first season aired on Bravo from April 11 to June 19, 2016. The original cast consisted of Cary Deuber, Tiffany Hendra, Stephanie Hollman, LeeAnne Locken, and Brandi Redmond. On August 17, 2021, the network announced that they had no plans to immediately renew the show for a sixth season, placing it on an indefinite hiatus.

At the first annual BravoCon is November 2019, the tenth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City was announced. The first season aired on Bravo from November 11, 2020, to February 24, 2021. The original cast consisted of Lisa Barlow, Mary Cosby, Heather Gay, Meredith Marks, Whitney Rose and Jen Shah.

In November 2021, The Real Housewives of Dubai was announced as the network's eleventh and first original international installment of the franchise. The first season aired on Bravo from June 1, 2022, to September 7, 2022. The original cast consisted of Sara Al Madani, Nina Ali, Chanel Ayan, Caroline Brooks, Lesa Milan, and Caroline Stanbury. In November 2024, Bravo placed the series on hiatus.

In May 2025, the twelfth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Rhode Island was announced at BravoCon. The first season premiered on Bravo on April 2, 2026. The original cast consisted of Alicia Carmody, Rosie DiMare, Ashley Iaconetti, Liz McGraw, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, Kelsey Swanson, and Jo-Ellen Tiberi.

In June 2025, The Real Housewives franchise executive Lauren Miller died shortly after childbirth.

List of installments and editions Bravo has aired 12 series in the United States, of which 11 have been filmed in the country and one has been filmed internationally. The network has also licensed the brand to networks outside the United States, giving rise to several international installments, with varying levels of success.

The success of the American franchise has resulted in 28 spin-offs centered on specific housewives, with the longest-running being Vanderpump Rules, which focuses on the staff at the restaurants and bars owned by Lisa Vanderpump from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Indicates a series that is currently airing. Indicates a series that has been confirmed for an upcoming season. Indicates a series with an unknown status. Indicates a series that has been put on hiatus. Indicates a series that has been discontinued.

American installments + Produced by Bravo Series Location Network Premiere Finale Seasons Specials The Real Housewives of Orange County RHOC Bravo 20 2 The Real Housewives of New York City RHONY 16 5 The Real Housewives of Atlanta RHOA 18 10 The Real Housewives of New Jersey RHONJ 15 5 The Real Housewives of D.C. RHODC 1 The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills RHOBH 16 2 The Real Housewives of Miami RHOM BravoPeacock 7 2 The Real Housewives of Potomac RHOP Bravo 11 1 The Real Housewives of Dallas RHOD 5 The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City RHOSLC 7 1 The Real Housewives of Dubai RHODubai 2 The Real Housewives of Rhode Island RHORI 2

Ultimate editions + American-based Series Location Network Premiere Finale Total seasons Total Specials The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip RHUGT Various Peacock 6

+ Based internationally Series Location Network Premiere Finale Total seasons Total Specials The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: South Africa RHUGTSA Jamaica Showmax 1 The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa RHUGTA Brazil 1

International installments Series Location Network Premiere Finale Seasons Specials The Real Housewives of Athens RHOAthens ANT1 1 Wealthy Women RHOTLAVYF Channel 10 3 The Real Housewives of Vancouver RHOV Slice 2 The Real Housewives LVH NT1 1 The Real Housewives of Melbourne RHOMelbourne ArenaFOX ArenaBinge 6 The Real Housewives of Cheshire RHOCheshire ITVBe ITV2 19 3 The Real Housewives of Auckland RHOAKL Bravo 1 1 The Real Housewives of Sydney RHOS ArenaBinge 3 The Real Housewives of Toronto RHOT Slice 1 The Real Housewives of Hungary FLK Viasat 3 4 1 The Real Housewives of Johannesburg RHOJ 1Magic 3 The Real Housewives of Naples RHODN DPlay PlusReal TimeDiscovery+ 2 The Real Housewives of Jersey RHOJersey ITVBe 2 The Real Housewives of Durban RHODurban Showmax 5 The Real Housewives of Slovenia RHOSlovenia Planet TV 1 The Real Housewives of Lagos RHOLagos Showmax 3 The Real Housewives of Cape Town RHOCT Mzansi Magic 1 The Real Housewives of Pretoria RHOPTA KykNET 1 The Real Housewives of Amsterdam RHOAMS Videoland 5 The Real Housewives of Gqeberha RHOGQ 1Magic 1 The Real Housewives of Abuja RHOAbuja Showmax 1 The Real Housewives of Nairobi RHONairobi Showmax 2 The Real Housewives of the Cape Winelands RHOWL KykNET 1 The Real Housewives of Warsaw RHOW Polsat September 6, 2023 November 22, 2023 1 The Real Housewives of Budapest RHOBudapest RTL (Hungary) 1 The Real Housewives of Finland RHOSuomi Nelonen 1 The Real Housewives of Rome RHODR Real TimeDiscovery+ 1 The Real Housewives of Munich RHOMUC RTL+ 1 The Real Housewives of Antwerp RHOANT Play4PlayStreamz 3 The Real Housewives of South Netherlands RHVHZ Videoland 2 The Real Housewives of London RHOLDN Hayu 2

American spin-offs