NeNe Leakes Biography: Husband, Age, Kids, Height, Net Worth, Parents, TV Shows, Business

Linnethia Monique Johnson, widely known as NeNe Leakes, is an American television personality, actress, producer, author, and fashion designer.

She gained fame as an original cast member on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta (2008–2020), where her vibrant personality and memorable catchphrases made her a standout in reality TV and pop culture.

Leakes is also recognized for her recurring role as Roz Washington on Glee (2012–2015) and for playing Rocky Rhoades on NBC’s The New Normal (2012–2013).

Profile

• Full Name: Linnethia Monique Johnson
• Stage Name: NeNe Leakes
• Born: 13, December 1967
• Age: 57 years old
• Birthplace: Queens, New York, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Television Personality, Actress, Producer, Author, and Fashion Designer
• Height: 1.78m
• Parents: Unknown
• Siblings: 4
• Spouse: Gregg Leakes (m. 1997–2011), and Gregg Leakes (m. 2013–2021)
• Boyfriends: Nyonisela Sioh
• Children: Bryson Rashard Bryant, Brentt Leakes
• Relationship: Dating
• Net Worth: $14 million $to $17 million

Early Life and Education

NeNe Leakes was born on December 13, 1967, in Queens, New York, one of five children. Due to financial challenges, she and one brother were sent to live with her aunt in Athens, Georgia, while her mother raised her other siblings.

Leakes attended Clarke Central High School in Athens and later enrolled at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, where she studied for two years but did not graduate, choosing to pursue a career in entertainment. Of mixed African-American heritage, she was raised in a Christian household but has not publicly detailed her religious practices.

Her early experiences, including working as an exotic dancer under the name “Silk” in the 1990s, shaped her resilient and bold persona.

Career

Leakes began her career with minor roles, including an uncredited part as a stripper in The Fighting Temptations (2003) and a guest appearance on The Parkers (2004) after meeting casting director Robi Reed-Humes. Her breakthrough came in 2008 as an original cast member of The Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA), where her quick wit and catchphrases like “So Nasty, So Rude” made her a fan favorite.

She starred as a main cast member for seasons 1–7 (2008–2015), returned as a guest in season 8, and rejoined as a full-time cast member for seasons 10–12 (2017–2020), reportedly earning up to $2.85 million per season, the highest of any Housewives franchise star. She left RHOA permanently in 2020, citing creative differences, and filed a lawsuit against Bravo, NBCUniversal, and producer Andy Cohen in 2022 for alleged workplace discrimination, which she dismissed later that year.

Leakes transitioned to scripted television with a recurring role as Roz Washington, a synchronized swim coach, on Glee (2012–2015), appearing in 13 episodes across seasons 3–6. She also played Rocky Rhoades, a series regular, on The New Normal (2012–2013) until its cancellation.

Her reality TV credits include competing on The Celebrity Apprentice (2011), where she exited mid-season after conflicts, and Dancing with the Stars (2014), finishing seventh with partner Tony Dovolani. Leakes made her Broadway debut as Madame in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (2014–2015) and played Matron “Mama” Morton in Chicago (2015). She was a panelist on ABC’s To Tell the Truth (2016) and hosted E!’s Fashion Police (2013).

As an entrepreneur, Leakes founded NeNe Leakes Entertainment, producing her spin-off I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding (2013), which chronicled her remarriage to Gregg Leakes. She launched the NeNe Leakes Collection on the Home Shopping Network in 2014 and opened SWAGG Boutique stores in Duluth, Georgia (2017–2020), Maryland, and Miami Beach.

Her 2016 one-woman comedy tour, “So Nasty, So Rude,” sold out multiple shows. Recent projects include starring in and producing Lifetime’s Outrageous Love with NeNe Leakes (2024) and co-hosting the Baddies East reunion on Zeus Network (2024). Her philanthropy supports cancer research, LGBTQ+ rights, and domestic violence awareness, inspired by her own experiences, including co-founding the Twisted Hearts Foundation.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @neneleakes
• Facebook Handle: NeNe Leakes
• Twitter Handle: @NeNeLeakes

Personal Life

NeNe Leakes married real estate investor Gregg Leakes in 1997, and they had one son, Brentt Leakes. She also has a son, Bryson Rashard Bryant, born from a previous relationship. Leakes and Gregg divorced in 2011 but reconciled and remarried in 2013, with their wedding featured in I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding.

Gregg was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2018, declared cancer-free in 2019, but passed away in September 2021 at age 66 after the cancer returned.

Leakes began dating businessman Nyonisela Sioh in December 2021, though she confirmed a break in their relationship in 2023. She has five stepchildren from Gregg’s previous relationships and is a grandmother to Bryson’s daughter, Bri’asia, born in 2012.

Leakes resides in Duluth, Georgia, in a mansion known as “Casa Leakes,” and enjoys interior design, fitness, and sharing family moments on social media.

Filmography

• The Parkers (2004)
• Glee (2012–2015)
• The New Normal (2012–2013)
• The Celebrity Apprentice (2011)
• Dancing with the Stars (2014)
• To Tell the Truth (2016)
• Uncle Drew (2018)
• How High 2 (2019)
• Hunting Housewives (2024)
• Outrageous Love with NeNe Leakes (2024)

Discography

• Come and Get This Hunni (2020)

Net Worth

NeNe Leakes has an estimated net worth of $14 million to $17 million as of 2025. Her wealth stems from her high earnings on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, along with income from Glee, The New Normal, and other television projects.

Her business ventures, including the NeNe Leakes Collection on HSN, SWAGG Boutique stores, and NeNe Leakes Entertainment, significantly contribute to her fortune.