Kriti Mehrotra
As we all know by now, ‘Selling Sunset‘ is an incredibly fascinating reality production that blends both drama and luxury to give us the best of West Hollywood, California, in one place. Following the fierce and competitive real estate agents of The Oppenheim Group, as they deal in multi-million dollar properties while navigating their personal lives, it has a concept unlike any other. So now that we’ve seen the cast members’ workplaces, homes, and extravagant interests, there are some looming questions about their paychecks and how they are able to afford their lifestyles.
Selling Sunset Cast Members Do Not Get Separately Paid
The honest truth of whether the cast of this Netflix original gets paid or not is a little complicated. After all, while they don’t receive a salary in any form from The Oppenheim Group for representing them as realtor associates, they do earn money through commissions when they close a deal on their listed properties. In simpler words, no matter how many listings the agents have under their belt, they have to hustle and sell houses to get a paycheck. The brokerage seems to help them by simply providing the necessary resources and ensuring everyone has something to work with.
The real estate agents have to know not just the market situation but also every possible detail of the property they’re representing to guarantee the best possible contract, which would benefit all parties. From their client’s happiness (in the hopes of future retainment) to their commissions to the third party’s willingness to deal, almost everything relies upon how they operate in the field. It seems like an easy profession from the outside, but it is not. That’s also because the area’s social and economic situations affect the demand and supply, which, in turn, affects their work.
Selling Sunset Agents Earn Significantly Through Commissions Alone
The typical commission fee for a realtor is 3-6% on average when it comes to house sales. Yet, it does vary depending upon the market, specific agreements, or set policies of the brokerage they work for. Thus, from what we can tell, it appears as if the real estate agents of The Oppenheim Group consistently earn a 3% commission. However, this amount is then equally divided between the buying and selling agents, after which they have to split it with their respective brokerages on an 80-20 or 90-10 ratio; it’s 85-15 for the OGroup. So, when Mary Fitzgerald sold musician French Montana’s estate for $5 million in 2021, she received roughly $11,250 for all her hard work in this single deal.
With that said, it’s evident that with the kind of luxury these ‘Selling Sunset’ stars deal in, their commissions stack up to almost always reach six figures yearly. Even their lavish lifestyle proves they are good and consistent in what they do, with their newfound status as public figures only giving them more opportunities to earn via social media. Speaking about their way of making a living, Mary told Express UK, “I think the hardest thing in real estate is working for commission only. Spending months sometimes with a client and then they change their minds. The best part can also be when a client finds something they love immediately, and I make a huge commission with very little effort.”
