NeNe Leakes is an American television personality, actress, and entrepreneur who became famous as an original cast member of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Born Linnethia Monique Johnson, she built a career that extended into scripted television, Broadway, writing, fashion, and business. Her roles in Glee and The New Normal introduced her to audiences beyond reality TV. With her outspoken personality and memorable screen presence, NeNe has remained a recognizable figure in entertainment.
NeNe Leakes – Quick Bio Table
| Profile Detail | Full Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Linnethia Monique Johnson |
| Nickname | NeNe |
| Height | 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) |
| Date of Birth | December 13, 1967 |
| Age | 58 years old as of October 2026 |
| Birthplace | Queens, New York City, New York, USA |
| Hometown | Athens, Georgia, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Television personality, actress, author, and entrepreneur |
| Famous For | The Real Housewives of Atlanta |
| Other Known Roles | Coach Roz Washington in Glee; Rocky Rhoades in The New Normal |
| Education | Clarke Central High School; attended Morris Brown College for two years |
| Parents | Their names are not consistently confirmed in reliable public biographies |
| Siblings | One of five children |
| Marital Status | Widowed |
| Husband | Gregg Leakes; married in 1997, divorced in 2011, and remarried in 2013 |
| Husband’s Death | Gregg Leakes died in September 2021 |
| Children | Two sons: Bryson Bryant and Brentt Leakes |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $14 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth; not independently verified |
| Reported Peak TV Salary | Reported at approximately $1 million per season during her Real Housewives of Atlanta career |
| Height in Centimeters | Approximately 178 cm |
| Weight | Some older sources report approximately 74 kg (163 lbs); current weight is unverified |
| Hair Color | Varies; she has appeared with blonde and other hairstyles |
| Eye Color | Not reliably verified |
| Official social links: NeNe Leakes | |
| Career Start | Worked in entertainment before her reality-TV breakthrough |
| Reality TV Debut | The Real Housewives of Atlanta (2008) |
| Acting Career | Appeared in Glee, The New Normal, and other television productions |
| Broadway Career | Cinderella (2014) and Chicago (2015) |
| Other Television Appearances | The Celebrity Apprentice, Dancing with the Stars, and To Tell the Truth |
| Author | Co-author of Never Make the Same Mistake Twice: Lessons on Love and Life Learned the Hard Way |
| Business Ventures | NeNe Leakes Collection, SWAGG Boutique, and The Linnethia Lounge |
| Awards and Nominations | A complete, verified list of formal awards and nominations was not established from the sources consulted |
| Hobbies and Interests | Fashion, entertainment, business, and public appearances; specific personal hobbies are not firmly verified |
| Current Career Notes | Returned to the Bravo franchise in 2026 through The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius, based on her reported December 13 birthday |
| Residence | Associated professionally and personally with the Atlanta, Georgia, area |
| Known For Beyond TV | Fashion ventures, live appearances, writing, and entrepreneurship |
| Official Website | No independently verified official personal website established for this profile |
NeNe Leakes Career Timeline
| Year | Career milestone |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Joined The Real Housewives of Atlanta as an original cast member. |
| 2011 | Appeared on The Celebrity Apprentice. |
| 2012 | Began her recurring role as Coach Roz Washington on Glee. |
| 2012–2013 | Played Rocky Rhoades on The New Normal. |
| 2013 | Her second wedding to Gregg Leakes was featured in I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding. |
| 2014 | Competed on Dancing with the Stars, appeared in Cinderella on Broadway, and launched her fashion collection with HSN. |
| 2015 | Appeared on Broadway in Chicago. |
| 2016 | Became a regular panelist on To Tell the Truth. |
| 2020 | Announced her departure from The Real Housewives of Atlanta. |
| 2022 | Filed a lawsuit against Bravo and related parties; the case was later dismissed without prejudice. |
| 2024 | Appeared in the Lifetime film Hunting Housewives. |
| 2026 | Returned to the Bravo franchise through The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th. |
NeNe Leakes Family
| Family member | Relationship | Information |
|---|---|---|
| Gregg Leakes | Husband | Real estate investor; married NeNe in 1997, divorced in 2011, and remarried in 2013. He died in 2021. |
| Bryson Bryant | Son | NeNe’s older son, from her relationship with Calvin Bryant. |
| Brentt Leakes | Son | NeNe’s younger son with Gregg Leakes. |
| Gregg’s other children | Stepchildren | NeNe became stepmother to Gregg’s five children from previous relationships. |
| Bri’Asia Bryant | Granddaughter | Bryson’s daughter. |
| NeNe’s parents | Parents | Details about her biological parents are discussed in biographical reporting, but some names and family details require careful verification. |
NeNe Leakes Awards and Nominations
| Award or recognition | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Reality television recognition | 2008 onward | Became a prominent original cast member of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. |
| Dancing with the Stars | 2014 | Competed with professional dancer Tony Dovolani and finished seventh. |
| Broadway debut | 2014 | Appeared as Madame in Cinderella; a career milestone, not an award. |
| To Tell the Truth | 2016 | Joined the revival as a regular panelist. |
| Formal award nominations | — | A complete, verified list was not established from the sources reviewed. |
NeNe Leakes Handbag Collection
| Handbag | Available information |
|---|---|
| Hermès Birkin | Photographed carrying a gray Birkin-style Hermès bag. |
| Luar handbag | Carried with a fashion look at the Luar Spring/Summer 2027 show in September 2026. |
| Black clutch | Seen carrying a black clutch with a patterned Lanvin dress. |
| Other designer handbags | She has appeared with a variety of bags, but a complete personal collection and its current value are not publicly verified. |
NeNe Leakes Dress Collection
| Fashion item | Brand or style | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| Patterned dress | Lanvin | Paley Center for Media event |
| Hooded jumpsuit | Tom Ford | Watch What Happens Live |
| Navy evening gown | Designer not independently confirmed | 2022 BET Awards |
| Sheer black ensemble | Luar | New York Fashion Week, September 2026 |
| Red-carpet outfits | Various designers | Television events, award shows, and fashion appearances |
NeNe Leakes Watch Collection
| Watch detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Luxury wristwatch | A watch is visible in published photographs of NeNe. |
| Brand | The exact make and model have not been reliably confirmed from the available evidence. |
| Price | Not verified. |
| Collection size | No reliable public inventory of watches she owns was established. |
NeNe Leakes Social Media
| Platform | Account or link | Content |
|---|---|---|
| @neneleakes | Fashion, personal updates, entertainment appearances, and business promotions | |
| Bravo profile | NeNe Leakes on Bravo | Official network news, interviews, and show updates |
| Publisher profile | NeNe Leakes at Simon & Schuster | Author biography and book information |