Danielle Staub Net Worth

Danielle Staub’s Net Worth: A Look at Her Career, Controversies, and Finances

Danielle Staub, an American author, singer, and reality television personality, has captivated audiences with her dramatic life. Best known for her appearances on “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” Staub’s journey has been marked by both success and controversy. This article delves into Danielle Staub’s net worth, her career trajectory, personal relationships, financial struggles, legal issues, and real estate endeavors, providing a comprehensive overview of her life.

Early Life

Born Beverly Ann Merrill on July 29, 1962, in Wayne, New Jersey, Danielle Staub’s early life was marked by challenges. Raised in Pennsylvania after being adopted, she later revealed in her autobiography that she experienced significant childhood trauma, including sexual abuse by relatives. Her difficult upbringing shaped the course of her life and influenced her later choices.

Further complicating her past, a book titled “Cop Without a Badge” by Charles Kipp detailed Staub’s connection to Kevin Maher, an FBI informant, whom she was married to in 1986. Additionally, reports suggest that during the mid-1980s, while working as a model in Miami, she was arrested in connection with an extortion and kidnapping investigation. Allegedly, she was associated with Daniel Claudio Aguilar, a drug dealer with ties to the Medellin cartel. Staub maintained that she was “in the wrong place at the wrong time.” However, she eventually cooperated with authorities, helping them prosecute Aguilar and receiving five years of probation.

Career

Danielle Staub’s career has been diverse, ranging from acting to reality television and podcasting. Before gaining widespread recognition, she had a brief acting role in an episode of “All My Children.” However, her most prominent role came with “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.” She was a main cast member for the first two seasons, and later returned as a supporting cast member from 2017 to 2020.

Her departure from the show after the initial seasons was abrupt, with no official explanation provided by Bravo. In 2011, Staub made headlines when she agreed to participate in online adult content, but later backed out, citing substance abuse issues and seeking psychological help. After leaving the show, Staub appeared in other reality series like “The Dish” and “Famous Food.”

In 2020, Danielle launched her podcast, “Absolutely Danielle,” further expanding her presence in the media landscape.

Relationships

Danielle Staub’s personal life has been marked by a series of relationships and marriages. Her first marriage was to Kevin Maher in 1986, which ended a year later. In 1993, she married Thomas Staub, with whom she had two children. Their marriage dissolved in 2007. In 2018, she married Marty Caffrey; however, this marriage also ended in divorce by 2019. Over the course of her life, it has been reported that she has been engaged 19 times, reflecting a complex romantic history.

Financial Issues

Danielle Staub’s financial struggles have been well-documented. In 2012, she filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, listing debts between $500,000 and $1 million. Some media reports even suggested her debt was as high as $1.7 million. In that year, she reported earning approximately $65,000. These financial difficulties highlight the challenges she faced, particularly in relation to maintaining her lifestyle and managing her assets.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Legal Issues

Danielle Staub’s life has been impacted by several legal entanglements. In 2009, her ex-boyfriend, Steve Zalewski, attempted to release nude photos and a sex tape featuring her. Although a judge ruled against their distribution, some preview images were leaked online. Further complicating matters, Kevin Maher sued Staub for defamation in 2009, and a second lawsuit followed after the release of her autobiography, “The Naked Truth.” These legal battles reveal the challenges Staub faced in protecting her image and reputation.

Real Estate

Danielle Staub’s real estate ventures have also been a significant part of her life story. In 2009, she listed a mansion in Wayne, New Jersey, for $1.495 million. The Tudor-style residence, located in Horizon Heights, featured 10,500 square feet of living space and seven bedrooms. Additional features included a billiard room, a fireplace, a wet bar, and a cabana. Staub and her ex-husband had originally purchased the home in 1998 for $1.025 million. The sale of this home was connected to her divorce settlement, finalized around the same time.

In 2020, Staub was forcibly evicted from her home in Englewood, New Jersey, due to a violation of her marital agreement after her third divorce with Marty Caffrey. Despite Caffrey’s attempts to sell the home, Staub allegedly obstructed showings for over a year. Caffrey eventually obtained a court order, requiring Staub to vacate the property. The Englewood home, which featured 7,500 square feet of living space, was sold for $2.195 million. It included a gourmet kitchen, high ceilings, a media room, and a sauna. Staub claimed she would purchase the home but never did, and ultimately was forced to leave. In the same year, Staub announced via social media that she had moved into a new home, her “own home” with “her own belongings” for the first time in her life.

Conclusion

Danielle Staub’s life is a complex tapestry of triumphs, challenges, and controversies. From her early life struggles to her reality television fame, financial difficulties, legal battles, and real estate dealings, Staub’s journey has been marked by both public scrutiny and personal resilience. This article has explored the key aspects of her life, offering a detailed insight into the story of Danielle Staub.