Nene Leakes is an American actress, author, fashion designer, and reality TV star. Nene was born in Queens, New York City before moving to Athens, Georgia.
Nene Leakes story to prominence is characterized by determination and resilience to make it in life. She grew up with our siblings who faced poverty while growing up. Some of her siblings had to leave home to join their relatives because their mother couldn’t take care of every single one of them.
Nene Leakes made her debut appearance in Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” in 2018 and became a popular face on the show.
Before leaving the reality TV series in 2015, it was reported that Nene earned a huge salary of $1 million for every season she appeared on the show. Remarkably, this is the highest per-episode salary received by any cast member of the show.
Nene Leakes has an enormous net worth of $14 million. At the end of this article, you will discover more facts and information you never knew about Nene Leakes.
| Full Name | Linnethia Monique Johnson |
| Popular Name | Nene Leakes |
| Date of Birth | Dec 13, 1967 |
| Age | 56 Years (2023) |
| Place of Birth | Queens, New York City |
| Gender | Female |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Occupation | Television Personality, Actor, Film Producer |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 172 lbs (78 kg) |
| Marital Status | Divorced (Gregg Leakes) |
| Kids | Brentt and Brice Leakes |
| Net Worth | $14 Million |
Early Life and Biography
Linnethia Monique Johnson was born in Queens, New York on the 13th of December, 1967. She is the first of five children born by her mother.
Growing up was tough for them and taking care of all five children was a huge burden for the mother. So, Nene and one of her brothers left home to stay with an aunt in Athens, Georgia. The remaining three children stayed in Queens under the custody of their mother.
Nene began modeling at the age of 16. She stuck to modeling after completing high school and college. She was admitted and later graduated from Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia. After that, She went to Morris Brown College in Atlanta, where she stayed for two years.
Career
Nene Leakes’ career cannot be written without highlighting her involvement in The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Nene entered the popular reality TV show in 2009 and participated in it for seven seasons.
Her sassy, audacious aura coupled with her charisma plunged her into fame. She took advantage of the fame the show brought her by delving into other areas beyond the reality television series. She launched her clothing line on HSN, which was an instant classic.
After the first season, Nene took to the pages to pen her autobiography titled “Never Make The Same Mistake Twice” with Denene Millner. The book talks about her life and struggles from childhood to her current phase.
Although her appearance on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” brought her immense popularity, Nene revealed she will not be returning for the eighth season of the show.
However, she did appear but ended up playing a supporting role. Nene Leakes returned to the Bravo show in 2017 for the tenth season. Aside from RHOA, Nene Leakes has appeared in other reality TV shows such as “The Celebrity Apprentice.”
To the dismay of many, Leakes walked off the 10th episode of her season of the show. Apparently, she had enough of the squabbles in the show. One of the notable moments was when there was a heated argument between her and a co-contestant Star Jones.
Nene Leakes has graced other television shows such as The Bonnie Hunt Show, VH1 Divas Liva 2009, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Ellen. In addition, she appeared in the 3rd season of “Glee” and the NBC sitcom titled “The New Normal.”
In 2014, Leakes launched her clothing line, which she called the “Nene Leakes Collection” for the Home Shopping Network (HSN). The African-American TV star has guest-hosted several TV shows such as The Talk and Anderson Live.
In 2014, Nene Leakes participated in the 18th season of the Dancing with the Stars contest, where she was paired with dancer Tony Dovolani. However, they were eliminated in the seventh week of the contest.
Nene Leakes toured the United States in her one-woman comedy tour tagged “So Nasty, So Rude,” which happens to be one of her popular catchphrases.
In November 2017, Nene launched her first SWAGG Boutique location in the city of Duluth, Georgia. Sadly, it was shut down in August 2020. Later in May 2021, she opened the Linnethia Lounge in Duluth, Georgia. Singers like Tamar Braxton and KeKe Wyatt were present to perform their songs.
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Personal Life
Behind the camera’s lens, Nene Leakes’ life has been a source of inspiration. Her life has its fair share of good moments, disappointments, heartbreaks, and reconciliations.
Nene got married to Gregg Lakes, a seasoned real estate investor and businessman, in 1997. Their union produced two songs, Brentt and Brice.
Before that, Gregg had five kids from his previous relationship, which included Katrina, Dexter, Denta, and twins (Damien and Daryl).
In the third season of RHOA, Nene announced her decision to file for divorce. The divorce was made complete in 2011. Despite the divorce, the couple were spotted together in following seasons and their love affair was reignited. Eventually, Nene and Gregg reunited and announce their re-engagement in January 2013. They eventually got married for the second time on June 22, 2013.
Their wedding took place at the InterContinental Buckhead Hotel located in Atlanta, Georgia. The wedding planning and ceremony was filmed by Bravo and it was dubbed “I Dream of Nene: The Wedding.”
Sadly, Gregg Lakes died in September 2021 at the age of 66. The cause of his death was colon cancer. Nene also dated Nyonisela Sioh but they separated after a year of dating.
Nene Leakes has used her platform and influence to advocate for women’s health and wellness. She has a heart of love, which is seen in her support and aid to several charities and causes such as the American Cancer Society.
Still, on the philanthropic aspect of her life, Nene has supported other charity organizations focusing on human trafficking and domestic abuse. She used her fame and influential platform to create awareness about the pressing needs and problems affecting humanity.
Real Estate
In 2015, she acquired a 10,000-square-foot mansion outside of Atlanta, Georgia for $2.075 million. The property, which is located on a golf course features a swimming pool, tennis courts, country club, 6-bedroom, 6.5-bathroom, restaurant, and other fancy facilities.
Nene listed this property for sale in October 2021 for $4 million but in January 2023, she accepted an offer of $2.6 million for it.
Similarly, she purchased a second mansion in Duluth, Georgia for $260,000 in January 2020. This property is only a 15-minute drive from her previous above. The 2,076 square foot Duluth home consists of a 4-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom.
In late 2021, Nene Leakes bought a 4,000 sq. ft. condo in Atlanta’s Waldorf Astoria Buckhead building for $1.75 million. The property was listed for sale in July 2022 for the price of $2.5 million.
Nene Leakes Net Worth
Nene was the highest-paid cast member on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” show. She earned a salary of $1 million. Impressively, Nene Leakes has a net worth of $14 million. Her financial success should be a beacon of hope to young women in the entertainment and fashion business.
Unlike Kenya Moore who couldn’t leverage her fame, Nene Leakes converted her fame into a stepping stone for her exploits. She owns lucrative business ventures spanning across several industries, ranging from entertainment, fashion, e-commerce, real estate, and more.
Her clothing line, Nene Leakes Collection, is an exhibition of her flair for fashion and her business acumen. The business was a hit at the time it was launched.
Nene Leakes is a source of inspiration to many ladies raised in poor backgrounds and people who are keen on turning their personal brands into successful business entities.
If you are a female with a knack for business and you want to start a profitable venture, it will be wise to learn from Nene Leakes. Her story will not only inspire you but her tenacity and resilience will motivate you, and give you the determination and strength that you need to pursue your aspirations.