Gregg Leakes was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on August 18, 1954, and is best known for his roles on MasterChef USA (2010), I Dream of Nene: The Wedding (2013), and E! NeNe Leakes (Entertainment Special) (2013).
He rose to prominence as the voice of reason on the same show where NeNe has been a regular for the past eight years. He was a real estate agent before he became a reality celebrity. Gregg Leakes, who was born and raised in Atlanta, did not receive his college education from a prestigious business school, but that did not stop this self-taught entrepreneur from reaching success.
Upon his divorce from Nene in 2011, he ended up going out of the radar of reality shows for a few years but when the couple made the decision to remarry in 2013, Gregg was back as part of reality show. Bravo TV covered the duo’s second wedding under a spin-off title I Dream of Nene: The Wedding and this show brought Gregg Leakes limelight and celebrity status once again. Following their second marriage, the couple appeared on a number of reality shows together. Gregg was diagnosed with Colon cancer in 2018 and capitulated to the disease on September 1, 2021.
Gregg Leakes' Net Worth
Gregg Leakes had a net worth of $4 million at the time of his death as an American real estate investor and reality television celebrity. Leakes’ net worth is the result of more than two decades of experience investing in Atlanta’s real estate market.
Gregg rose to prominence as a result of his relationship with reality TV actress NeNe Leakes. From 2008 to 2020, NeNe was one of the stars of Bravo’s reality show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” (with the exception of season nine). Gregg, who was married to NeNe twice, first came on the show in 2008 and then again in 2018 and 2019.
NeNe and Gregg bought a $2.1 million property in Atlanta’s Duluth neighborhood in 2015. Six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, marble floors, and a swimming pool surrounded by fountains are all included in the 10,000 square foot mansion. The Leakes were reportedly evicted from a Duluth home they had moved into two years prior in December 2008. The couple was served with an eviction notice because they owed $6,240 in behind rent.
The property is situated on a golf course with a country club, restaurant, tennis courts, pool, and other amenities. This residence was listed for $4 million by Nene in October 2021. She accepted a $2.6 million deal in January 2022.
Gregg and NeNe amassed a considerable fortune, yet they owed at least $870,000 in delinquent taxes in 2016.
According to court documents obtained by Radar Online from Georgia’s Gwinnett County, NeNe was “slapped with a $824,366.01 federal tax lien by the IRS on August 1, 2016.”
Gregg owed an additional $45,752.42, bringing their total tax liabilities to $870,000. It is still unknown whether or if the taxes were paid.
Gregg Leakes' Early Life
Gregg Leakes was born on August 18, 1954, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America. Little is known about his personal life and early years before marrying NeNe Leakes.
There’s also no known information about siblings and/or aunts uncles and cousins.
Gregg Leakes' Education
Mr. Leakes did go to high school, but he has no official expertise in real estate or business. According to The Famous People, Leakes is self-taught in all aspects of his industry, including real estate and business.
Gregg Leakes is a self-taught businessman. Gregg Leakes, who was born and raised in Atlanta, did not receive his college education from a prestigious business school, but that did not stop this self-taught entrepreneur from reaching success.
Gregg Leakes' Wife and Family Life
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In 1996, Gregg met Linnethia “NeNe” Johnson in Atlanta, where she was working as an exotic dancer. They married in 1997 and brought Brentt into the world on February 22, 1999, before divorcing in 2011. The next year, Gregg and NeNe reconciled, and Leakes proposed again on January 1, 2013. The pair remarried on June 22, 2013, in Atlanta’s InterContinental Buckhead Hotel, and the ceremony was captured for Bravo’s seven-episode special “I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding,” which aired in September 2013. Bryson (born December 1989) is Leakes’ stepson, and he has five children from previous relationships: Daryl (born September 1976), Damian (born September 1977), Katrina (born September 1982), Dexter (born April 1985), and Denton (born April 1985). (born January 1990).
After attempting unconventional therapies including alkaline water and a vegan diet, Leakes was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in June 2018 and had chemotherapy. Gregg and NeNe began sleeping in separate bedrooms as his illness took its toll on his marriage.
“I’m tired of hurting my wife who is only trying to take good care of me and wants only the best for me too. She deserves much more for her hard efforts and tireless hours spent on me. I pray to God to get it together…done She’s NO wrong… this is ALL on me……Cancer WILL change your Life,” he later wrote on Instagram. In early 2019, Gregg and NeNe became American Cancer Society Ambassadors, and Leakes founded the website can-sir.org, which sold products to help the American Cancer Society, while battling cancer.
Gregg Leakes and his wife NeNe have been the subject of numerous disputes. According to a 2014 article, the duo had a criminal history and had been arrested many times on various offences. According to many, Gregg has climbed the stairs of success only because of his wife NeNe. When Gregg divorced NeNe in 2011, there were also rumors and accusations leveled against him. Many difficulties arose after they remarried in 2013, with many believing the divorce and remarriage was only a publicity gimmick to improve their career.
Gregg Leakes' Career
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Gregg Leakes was a real estate investor and consultant who rose to prominence as a result of his on-again, off-again romance with Nene Leakes of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Gregg Leakes came from a poor background and struggled in business in his early years. When Gregg married NeNe Leakes in 1997, she was also going through a tough time in her career. Many people are still puzzled as to how the duo managed to make ends meet during that time.
NeNe’s career took off in 2003, and she was among the top reality TV stars by 2008, when she signed for ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta.’ Gregg’s career took off in tandem with hers. Gregg Leakes, NeNe’s husband, appeared on several shows as the spouse of NeNe Leakes when NeNe was a well-known name on American television. Gregg’s career as a reality star was resurrected when Bravo TV broadcasted the couple’s re-marriage. He competed in the MasterChef Celebrity Showdown and the Tag Team challenge in 2017.
He did, however, invest in his wife’s early television career, revealing that he spent $300,000 on Season 1 alone in a leaked tape.
“I put $300,000 of my own money into this.” In that show, I wanted to make sure she leapt off. We understood that if they built a show around her, it would be a disaster. I’m sucking up as much as I can from her. And then she went about doing her work. He said, “She blew up.”
Today, Gregg has succumbed to colon cancer and left behind his wife, kids, and grandchildren.
Real Housewives of Atlanta Storyline for Gregg Leakes
Gregg Leakes joined “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” in season 1 in 2008.
NeNe Leakes has been a regular on the Real Housewives of Atlanta since 2008. (save for a few seasons). And, despite how dramatic the lives of Bravo’s celebrities can be, her husband, Gregg Leakes, has stuck by her side—even when they were going through their own difficulties. They allowed viewers to learn about every element of their relationship by working together. When they filed for divorce in 2011, the public was astonished, but even more so when they remarried in 2013. Gregg was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2018 and eventually fought it, which exacerbated their circumstances.
NeNe was 28 years old at the time, and she worked as an exotic dancer until Gregg persuaded her to leave. However, during an episode of RHOA, NeNe went into greater depth about their early days. “We exchanged numbers, and he left me a voicemail saying, ‘Give Big Daddy a call,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, hell, no!'” she explained. “He said, ‘I’ma marry you one day,’ and I answered, ‘Uh uh uh!’ He didn’t ask me to sleep with him, and I was thinking to myself, ‘Now, what’s going on?’ And from then on, I was just in the bed with no clothes on.”
With her no-holds-barred attitude and snappy comebacks, NeNe became a household figure in the first few seasons of Atlanta. However, the show shone a spotlight on her marriage to Gregg, which was far from flawless. The show’s third season depicted the breakdown of their marriage, with NeNe meeting with a divorce attorney and Gregg screaming about their relationship to a radio presenter. After 14 years together, NeNe and Gregg filed for divorce. The third and fourth seasons of RHOA followed the road to their breakup, as Gregg claimed that fame had gotten to NeNe’s head.
Throughout Season 5, we see Gregg working to reclaim her. She did, however, try to keep details hidden at the time, telling Us Weekly that she was single. “We’re divorced, and I’m single and not searching,” she explained. “Love is a great thing, and marriage is a beautiful thing,” she added.
Gregg’s diagnosis and battle with cancer was also shown on the series. Despite the fact that Gregg Leakes’ cancer fight was not the focus of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the Bravo show did record some of the family’s struggles following his diagnosis. Nene Leakes was a key cast member on the Real Housewives of Atlanta from Seasons 1-7 before departing, then returning for Seasons 10-12 with her husband, who appeared in over 80 episodes.
Gregg Leakes' Appearance (Height, Hair, Eyes & More)
| Height | 5 ft 10 in 1.77 m |
|---|---|
| Weight | 136 pounds 62 kg |
| Hair Color | White |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
| Body Type | Fit |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Facts About Gregg Leakes
| Nationality | American |
|---|---|
| Estimate Net Worth | $4 million |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Birthplace | New York, New York |
| Birthday | August 18, 1954 |