Selling Sunset: How much commission they REALLY make 😲
Spoilers alert: It's A LOT
The third season of hit reality show Selling Sunset arrived on Netflix last week, and much like the previous two, we are totally OBSESSED!
Unsurprisingly, we've already binged-watched the entire series at least three times, so you might say we’re the experts now. But one thing we weren’t expecting watching the series was to become bona fide real estate experts...
OK, so not exactly, but we’ve done at least SOME research into brokering and real estate to work out exactly how much commission these multi-million dollar sales are bringing home, and while it’s only a fraction of the cost of the property, it’s still pretty big bucks!
According to agent Maya Vander, who recently welcomed her second child, a daughter called Elle Madison, the real estate agents end up taking home about 1.75% of the commission on sale.
“Typically the commission on a purchase is 5%,” she said. “The 5% is split into half for the person who represents the seller and the person who brings the buyer, so you end up with 2.5%.
“If I bring the buyer, I get 2.5% of the purchase price, but then Jason will take his cut because he’s the broker and he has the liability.”
Speaking to Metro.co.uk, Maya continued, “Typically for a brokerage, it’s about 70/30 split. I would keep 70% out of the 2.5% and he would take 30%. And then we have to pay taxes.”
Check out these surprising facts about Sunset Sunset:
1. The Oppenheim Group actually has 17 agents
Although Mary, Chrishell, Davina, Maya, Heather, Emma, Nicole, Bre, Amanza and Chelsea all feature as real estate agents on the show, there's actually four other agents at the business - these are Peter Cornell, Alice Kwan, Omar Abaza, Alexander Huerta, Romi Jordan Mouillon, Kane Lim, and Minoo Malek.
2. Romain used to be a pastry chef
French model Romain Bonnett, who married Mary Fitzgerald on season 2 of Selling Sunset, actually used to work as a pastry chef!
Back in 2019, he wrote on Instagram: 'Since so many asked me if it was true that I was a pastry chef, here is some of the pasty I used to make. YES IT WAS TRUE !!! 😜😬'. (sic)
3. Selling Sunset is created by the same man who created The Hills
Yes, that's right! The Hills producer Adam DiVello is the creator of Selling Sunset - that guy certainly knows how to make great TV!
4. Jason once had Orlando Bloom's house on his books
The Oppenheim Group's President Jason Oppenheim has worked with some major stars over the years! Not only has he sold houses for the likes of Alex Rodriguez and Lea Black, he was also selling Orlando Bloom's house!
He told us in 2019: "My favourite guy that I worked with is Orlando Bloom. But that's why I'm selling his house right now because he's going to be a dad. So families and marriages are good for real estate."
5. Mary has a son called Austin Babbitt
Selling Sunset fans met Mary Fitzgerald's son during season 2 of the show in 2020, when Austin walked his mum down the aisle for her wedding to Romain.
6. Chrishell was once engaged to Matthew Morrison
Before marrying (and then divorcing) American actor Justin Hartley, Chrishell Stause was once engaged to Glee star Matthew Morrison.
The couple first met way back in 2006, with a proposal coming just months later. However, things didn't work out and the pair called time on their romance in December 2007.
7. Heather is now married with a baby
After announcing her new romance with Tarek El Moussa during season 2 of Selling Sunset, just weeks before season 3 hit Netflix, Heather Young announced Tarek had popped the question to her!
In October 2021, the pair tied the knot at a luxury ceremony surrounded by their friends and family, including Heather's Selling Sunset co-stars, with footage being shown in series 5.
Heather and Tarek then welcomed a baby boy called Tristan in January 2023. Unfortunately for fans, Heather announced she wouldn't be returning to the show after series seven. She's actually now got her own series alongside Tarek, called The Flipping El Moussas.
8. Christine didn't meet her ex-husband by selling him a house
Although season 2 of Selling Sunset seemed to document that Christine Quinn met her now ex-husband Christian Richard whilst selling him a house, it turns out the pair actually met through mutual friends.
During an interview on This Morning with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, she said: "Well actually, that was amped up a little, I'm not going to lie. I actually met him through a girlfriend of mine, but Mary spun this story that he was a client. We were dating for three months and then we bought a house together, but television is fun."
Christine filed for a divorce from Christian in April 2024.
9. Chrishell wasn't part of The Oppenheim Group before Selling Sunset
She's a valued member of the team now, but Chrishell Stause actually only joined the real estate agency when she was signed to appear on the show.
Selling Sunset creator Adam DiVello said at the time: "She really is a realtor and has a real estate license selling homes when we met her. I think we were lucky to get her, I think she adds something that is very unique to Los Angeles, and we're doing a show about realtors in Los Angeles. The fact that we have one who's an actress and happens to be married to an actor who's on a very successful TV series is a plus."
10. Mary actually sold a house on her wedding day
As viewers witnessed in season 2, Mary Fitzgerald doesn't stop work for anything... Even her own wedding!
Whilst getting her hair and make-up applied on her big day, Mary took time out to show round a buyer of the stunning house she was using for her venue.
She later told People magazine: "I end up selling my wedding venue on my wedding day, which was amazing. I paused the wedding and sold it in the middle of getting ready. Everyone thought I was out of my mind, but I told the seller when he allowed me to book it for the wedding venue that I won't let the wedding planning or doing it there get in the way of selling it!"
11. The Oppenheim Group now have a Newport Beach office and it's got a spin-off show
At the start of January 2021, Jason Oppenheim confirmed the group have now opened a office in Newport Beach.
In a post on Instagram, he said: 'I'm very proud and excited to announce our new Oppenheim Group office in Newport Beach!! After many years of contemplation, my love for Newport Beach and its exciting real estate opportunities have convinced me to go for it! And if you're going to go, go big, so I found a 4,000 sq. ft. former bank and we are renovating it now - it's going to be the coolest office anywhere, with a full bar, living room, dining area, arcade, pool table, gym, showers, kitchen, vault with whiskey/wine, coffee bar, walls of contemporary art, books, and vintage boom boxes, and who knows, maybe even some desks! Give me a few weeks and I'll post the interior photos 😀'.
It was then confirmed in November 2021 that Selling Sunset will be getting a spin-off show for the new office, called Selling The O.C. - this then aired in August 2022, with a number of series to date.
Other spin-off shows including Selling Tampa.
12. Emma Hernan once qualified for the Olympics
In series 5, Emma casually dropped the fact she'd once swam a time that would have qualified her for the Olympics! However, she gave up swimming when she was 16 to focus on modelling.
13. The cast pay for their own hair, makeup and wardrobe
You've probably noticed the Selling Sunset girls always look absolutely flawless, dripped head-to-toe in designer gear, but Netflix don't actually pay for any of this!
14. Chrishell Stause and Christine Quinn used to be friends
Despite their now on-going feud, Chrishell Stause and Christine Quinn actually used to be friends - this was until producers pitted them against each other.
Christine once said: "They wanted us to clash obviously and at first, we didn't. We got along great. We were friends. She was at my house. We were drinking, having a good time. I was getting to know her and the storylines came into play. We thought that we were good at separating things."
Find out everything you need to know about Selling Sunset right here.
Selling Sunset series 1-3 are available on Netflix now.