Ryan Serhant is a real estate agent and TV personality. He’s the founder and CEO of SERHANT, the most-followed real estate brand online. Serhant is best known for appearing in over 70 episodes of Million Dollar Listing New York, a platform that propelled his career. Serhant’s net worth stands at an impressive $40 million.
Summary:
- Serhant claims to have closed more than $8 billion in sales.
- Ryan made up to $10,000 per episode of Million Dollar Listings.
- He paid $7.6 million for a Brooklyn townhouse in 2018.
Serhant’s success has earned him a spot in the top 15 most successful real estate brokers in New York and led to regular contributions to networks such as CNN and Bloomberg TV. He has also written a national bestseller, “Sell It Like Serhant.”
Life Before Real Estate
Serhant was born on July 2nd, 1984, in Houston, Texas, but spent most of his childhood in Topsfield, Massachusetts. Serhant attributes his work ethic to his father, John Serhant. As a kid, John paid Ryan and his brother $1.50 an hour to collect firewood and sell it to their neighbors. This taught them the value of hard work at a young age.
Serhant attended Hamilton College, New York, where he studied English Literature and Theatre, and was a member of the Delta Kappa Fraternity.
From Acting to Million Dollar Listings
Interestingly, Serhant’s early career aspiration was to become an actor. He moved to New York City to pursue this dream and in 2007, he secured his first acting role in “As The World Turns Out,” playing Evan Walsh IV. Although he left acting, his on-camera charisma proved beneficial for reality television.
Serhant began his real estate career in 2008 against the backdrop of the subprime lending crisis. Despite a tough start, earning only $9,000 in commissions in his first year, Serhant’s fortunes quickly changed. In two years, he sold over $100 million worth of real estate, becoming a top-performing broker at Nest Seekers International.
Founding the SERHANT Brokerage
After years climbing the corporate ladder, Serhant ventured out on his own, founding the innovative brokerage, SERHANT. The brokerage takes a unique approach to real estate, utilizing digital marketing to stand out in a crowded space.
Since 2020, the firm has expanded beyond New York and boasts over 500 people across 19 states. These achievements gave Ryan the credibility to start selling courses to teach other agents how to improve their sales skills.
Million Dollar Listings
By merging his passions, Ryan Serhant saw the potential of using reality TV to boost his career. In 2010, he auditioned for Million Dollar Listings. The show became a huge hit but sadly won’t be filming a new season anytime soon. According to Business Insider, main cast members made up to $10,000 per episode.
In addition to a steady salary, we can assume he earned a fortune from the publicity from being on the show. On average, real estate agents make around 3% commissions, for every $1 million worth of property he makes $30,000.
Owning Manhattan
Ryan Serhant’s latest Netflix series is called Owning Manhattan. The show premiered on June 28, 2024, and offers an inside look into the high-stakes world of New York City luxury real estate. It follows Serhant and his team at SERHANT. as they navigate the competitive market, aiming to become the top brokerage in the city.
A Look into his Personal Life
Serhant is happily married to Emilia Bechrakis Serhant, an accomplished attorney, children’s book author, and real estate professional. The couple shares a young daughter, Zena. Despite his hectic work schedule, Serhant prioritizes spending quality time with his family. In 2018, the couple paid $7.6 million for a townhouse and spent $2.6 million to renovate the Boerum Hill, Brooklyn property.
