Kendra Wilkinson Net Worth

What is Kendra Wilkinson's Net Worth?

Kendra Wilkinson is an American television personality, businesswoman, model, and author who has a net worth of $1 million. Kendra Wilkinson first rose to prominence in the mid-2000s as one of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends on the E! reality series "The Girls Next Door." The show became a pop-culture phenomenon, offering a behind-the-scenes look at life inside the Playboy Mansion and turning Wilkinson into one of the franchise's breakout stars thanks to her blunt humor, tomboy persona, and unapologetically unfiltered presence.

Following her exit from the Mansion, Wilkinson successfully transitioned into a solo reality TV career. In 2009, she headlined "Kendra," which chronicled her engagement, marriage, and early years of motherhood while leaning into a more grounded, domestic storyline. The series ran for four seasons and demonstrated her ability to anchor a show without the Playboy brand, broadening her audience beyond the original E! fanbase. That momentum continued with "Kendra on Top," which aired for six seasons and documented a more turbulent phase of her life, including marital strain, public scrutiny, and personal struggles. Over time, Wilkinson became known less as a manufactured reality figure and more as a celebrity willing to publicly confront mental health, identity, and life after fame. Her career arc reflects the rare reality star who managed both longevity and reinvention while navigating the costs of growing up in public.

Early Life

Kendra Leigh Wilkinson was born on June 12, 1985. She grew up in Southern California and has spoken openly about a difficult childhood shaped by financial instability and her parents' divorce. As a teenager, Wilkinson developed a strong interest in sports, particularly softball, and initially imagined a future far removed from entertainment or celebrity culture.

After graduating from high school, she worked various jobs while trying to find direction. A chance encounter ultimately altered the course of her life, placing her on a path toward one of the most recognizable reality TV roles of the 2000s.

The Girls Next Door

Wilkinson's public breakthrough came in 2004 when she became one of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends and moved into the Playboy Mansion. Her life there became central to "The Girls Next Door," which premiered in 2005 and quickly became a ratings hit for E!.

On the show, Wilkinson stood out from co-stars Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt due to her outspoken personality, athletic interests, and frequent resistance to the Mansion's traditions. While the series glamorized aspects of the Playboy lifestyle, Wilkinson's irreverence and lack of polish made her especially relatable to younger viewers. The exposure transformed her into a tabloid fixture and established her as a distinct brand within the broader Playboy universe.

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Solo Reality Television Career

In 2009, Wilkinson left the Playboy Mansion and launched her own E! series, "Kendra." The show followed her engagement to NFL player Hank Baskett, their wedding, and the birth of their first child. The tone was intentionally lighter and more domestic, positioning Wilkinson as a young mother navigating adulthood under public scrutiny.

"Kendra" ran for four seasons and marked a critical transition point, proving she could sustain a successful reality franchise without Playboy as the central hook. In 2012, she returned to television with WE tv's "Kendra on Top," which took a more raw and confessional approach.

"Kendra on Top" chronicled the unraveling of her marriage, struggles with anxiety and depression, and the pressure of maintaining relevance in a rapidly changing reality TV landscape. The series ran for six seasons and represented the most emotionally exposed period of her on-screen career.

Marriage, Divorce, and Public Scrutiny

Wilkinson married Hank Baskett in 2009, and the couple had two children together. Their relationship became a focal point of her public narrative, particularly after allegations of infidelity surfaced in 2014. Rather than retreat from the spotlight, Wilkinson allowed the fallout to play out on camera, a decision that divided public opinion but reinforced her reputation for transparency.

The marriage ultimately ended in divorce in 2018. Wilkinson later described the period as emotionally destabilizing, noting that the constant exposure intensified personal struggles that might otherwise have remained private.

In 2010, a sex tape featuring Kendra Wilkinson with her high school boyfriend surfaced. In response, Wilkinson struck a deal that would give her a $680,000 payday in exchange for her permission to publicly release the tape. She was also allegedly entitled to 50% of the revenue from sales of the tape.

Real Estate

In 2011, Hank and Kendra paid $1.6 million for a 5,295 square foot home in Calabasas, California. In June 2018, after filing for divorce, they put the five-bedroom, six-bathroom mansion on the market for nearly $2.5 million. The home sold for $2.2 million in October 2018.

Books and Media Work

In addition to television, Wilkinson authored two memoirs. Her first book, "Sliding Into Home," was published in 2010 and detailed her early life, Playboy years, and transition into marriage and motherhood. A second memoir, "Being Kendra," followed in 2011 and focused on the pressures of fame and the emotional cost of living publicly.

She has also made guest appearances on talk shows, competition programs, and commentary panels, often framed around discussions of reality TV culture, mental health, and life after Playboy.

Later Career and Reinvention

After stepping away from reality television, Wilkinson pursued a career in real estate, earning her license and working in residential sales. The pivot marked a deliberate effort to establish stability outside entertainment and redefine her identity beyond her early fame.

In recent years, she has spoken candidly about therapy, anxiety, and the long-term effects of becoming famous at a young age. Rather than attempting a traditional comeback, Wilkinson's later career has focused on personal reinvention, financial independence, and reframing her public image on her own terms.

Who's Richer?

Kendra
Wilkinson

Compare!

Farrah
Abraham