Margaret Katona Josephs is an American fashion designer, entrepreneur, and television personality who was born on April 9, 1967. She is the owner, founder, and designer of Macbeth Collection, a lifestyle brand. Since its eighth season in 2017, she has been a main cast member of the Bravo reality television series The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
Margaret has a book and podcast with the same name as her hallmark phrase, “Caviar Dreams, Tuna Fish Budget,” and her Caviar Dreams brand continues to develop. She continues to put the fun into function as a designer and entrepreneur of a worldwide lifestyle brand with her cute girlie products that reflect the expression “luxury for less” under her brands Macbeth Collection and Candie Couture by Margaret Josephs.
Margaret Josephs' Net Worth
In 2021, Margaret Josephs’ net worth is estimated to be $50 million. Margaret Josephs first appeared on the Real Housewives of New Jersey in 2017 and has since supplied viewers with unending entertainment, most notably for her thirst for grandeur. With the help of her contractor husband, the RHONJ star is known for her extravagant, never-ending home renovations. Josephs’ diverse company portfolio includes several that have helped her earn a wealth of $50 million. (1)
Josephs had a profitable business even before Bravo fans saw her on The Real Housewives of New Jersey. The majority of Josephs’ fortune stems from her Macbeth Collection clothing and accessory company, which she founded in 1999. While filming RHONJ, Josephs gently promotes the Macbeth Collection through her costumes and accessories, which is a savvy marketing approach. The now 54-year-old was a successful dress designer before launching her own label. She has also launched Candie Couture and a separate apparel line in addition to the Macbeth Collection. Her various enterprises have made her the richest housewife on RHONJ.
It’s not all glitz and glamor for this star, however. Two former pals sued her for $200,000, claiming she owed them money from a loan. She also owing back taxes, and when Vineyard Vines sued her for $12 million, claiming her company plagiarized their brand design, she declared bankruptcy. In 2018, her home was reportedly reported to be in foreclosure by Page Six.
Margaret Josephs' Early Life
Margaret Josephs is 54 years old. She was born on April 9, 1967. Margaret Josephs was born to Hungarian immigrants in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and raised in Westchester, New York. Margaret has a strong bond with her mother. Margaret’s mother worked for Margaret’s company for 15 years before moving to New York City, demonstrating their closeness beyond their personal relationship. Margaret’s mother worked as her bookkeeper, and Margaret was so dependant on her mother that she never bothered to learn the password to her company’s website. As a result, when Margaret Sr. left, they were in a pickle because she was the only one who knew the company’s website password. (2)
Margaret Josephs has been open about her unconventional upbringing with Marge Sr., her always-fabulous mother. But now, including Margaret’s stepfather, we’re learning even more about the crucial figures in Margaret’s life and upbringing. She recognized her stepfather as a great man who showed her unconditional affection despite biological limitations. Wayne actually was never married to her mother, but he was her mother’s boyfriend. Throughout her childhood, she saw him as her stepfather, and the two have remained close to this day. They remain frequently in contact, and Margaret and her current husband Joe travel all the way to Florida to see him and his current wife.
Margaret Josephs' Education
When Josephs was 11 years old, she moved to Mahopac and attended Austin Road Elementary School before graduating from Mahopac High School in 1985.
Margaret Josephs earned a degree in marketing and fashion design from Fashion Institute of Technology, a state university in New York, and worked as a dress designer in the heart of the New York Garment Center.
Margaret Josephs' Husband/Boyfriend and Family Life
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Margaret Josephs is fully aware that everything happens for a purpose. She had no idea that accepting Jan Josephs’ marriage proposal would lead to her becoming a multimillionaire businesswoman. Then, Margaret had no idea that she had met her future husband when they hired Joe Benigno to clean their house of mold. (3)
Margaret Josephs has been married to Joe Benigno since 2013, however she was previously married to Jan Josephs for nearly 20 years. From 1994 through 2013, the former Real Housewives of New Jersey star was married to Jan. According to IMDb, he featured on one episode of RHONJ in 2019, but fans still don’t know much about him.
According to Romper, after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, the future designer met her first husband, who was 20 years her senior. Margaret married Jan when she was only 24 years old, and she became an instant stepmother to Jan’s three children, ranging in age from 8 to 14. In 1996, the couple had a son together, but after 19 years of marriage, they split. Margaret married her second husband, Joe, a few weeks later, and she considers him to be the love of her life.
Of fact, Margaret’s haste in marrying her second husband should have been a red flag that they were already a couple even before the split. When Joe came to Margaret’s and Jan’s house to remove their mold, Margaret agreed that there was chemistry. As a result, they began having an affair and spent as many nights as they could in The Bowery. Margaret, on the other hand, realized it was more than just an affair on an instance where it began snowing heavily. Margaret was wearing high heels, so Joe volunteered to have her step on his boots so she wouldn’t step in the puddle on her way to the taxi. Margaret knew she was going to marry Joe at that point. Given the fact that Margaret’s marriage to Jan was ended due to her infidelity with her husband, it caused a rift between her and her stepkids. The Bravo star expressed regret for the way her marriage ended, telling the publication that she was sorry.
Margaret claimed to love them to the moon and back, but things changed after she divorced their father. They may have felt abandoned, and Margaret claims that her three stepchildren do not hate her, but they do not speak to her. Margaret had not spoken to two of her step-children in more than six years, as reported by People, and it broke her heart. She still loves and prays for them on a daily basis, hoping that one day they will be reunited.
Margaret Josephs' Career
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Margaret is quite involved in her community, which she is very proud of. For the third year in a row, she raised the Pride flag in Englewood, was recognized by the Women’s Rights Information Center for her dedication to advocacy and change, and received the Pink Ambassador of Hope award from Maimonides Breast Center.
She was inspired by the designs and textiles she worked with as a dress designer in New York’s Garment Center, which eventually impacted her own brand. She decided to start her own line of decoupage home accessories after the birth of her baby. (4)
Margaret had to care for four children as a stay-at-home mother, and there was a lot of items that needed to be kept before she knew it. She coped with her own storage issues and chose to turn it into a source of income. Margaret purchased ordinary metal buckets, embellished them, and sold them. The 20 buckets were sold out in two days, and demand grew as she moved from buckets to trays and other items. As a result, Margaret needed to find a nanny to look after the children, and she enlisted the support of her neighbors to complete the orders. That was in 1998, and in 2000, she received an order worth $40,000. In 2002, Margaret’s business made its first $1 million, and by 2012, she was raking in $26 million annually.
After discovering the success of her decoupage metal buckets and accessories, Josephs created Macbeth Collection in 1999. It has evolved into a lifestyle brand that includes technology, apparel, and fashion accessories. The collection, according to MargaretJosephs.com, sells a wide range of items, all of which are branded with colorful designs and colors. The Macbeth Collection sends beauty products, bags, luggage, home goods, and workplace accessories all over the world.
The brand has been compared to Nine West, Kate Spade, Guess, and Coach by many people.
While filming RHONJ, Josephs discreetly promotes the Macbeth Collection through her costumes and accessories, which is a savvy marketing approach.
Caviar Dreams Tuna Fish Budget is a podcast that Josephs co-hosts with her creative director Lexi Barbuto. The podcast episodes last about 40 minutes, and the cohosts assist their listeners in achieving their goals. New episodes of the podcast are released twice a week, on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Josephs’ memoir, Caviar Dreams, Tuna Fish Budget: How to Survive in Business and Life, was published by Gallery Books in April 2021. On GoodReads, it has approximately 700 ratings, with an even four-star rating out of five. Throughout season 11 of RHONJ, Josephs thoughtfully documented the whole publication adventure, including her cover photoshoot and meetings with her co-author.
Real Housewives of New Jersey Storyline for Margaret Josephs
Margaret Josephs joined “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” in season 7 in 2017.
Teresa Giudice of the Real Housewives of New Jersey is reportedly over her friendship with fellow housewife Margaret Josephs. Teresa, a mother of four, is known for her fiery temper, and she isn’t one to hold back when it comes to fellow housewives that irritate her.
The old foes appear to have turned into full-fledged enemies this time around, as one clip of a season trailer depicts them fighting one after another. When the cast of “RHONJ” travels to Nashville, things appear to heat up even more. “He’s lying, Teresa,” Josephs says when Giudice tries Tablegate 2.0, to which Giudice shouts back, “Disgusting white trash bitch.”
The feud between the co-stars appears to be centered on Giudice’s new fiancé, Luis “Louie” Ruelas, with many of the “RHONJ” stars voicing their concerns throughout the season.
Ruelas, 46, is compared to a “car salesperson” by Josephs, while Melissa Gorga, Giudice’s sister-in-law, describes him as “charming as s–t.”
The RHONJ guys’ get-together earlier in Season 11 generated big tension during the couples’ trip to the Jersey Shore when Teresa Giudice recalled what Jennifer Aydin told her about certain statements Margaret Josephs’ husband, Joe Benigno, made during the get-together. Margaret and Jennifer’s feud continued the next day, when they had one of their most heated disagreements ever over lunch. (5)
On one season, Jennifer Aydin is reportedly furious at Margaret Josephs for allegedly meddling in her marriage to Bill Aydin. Not only are cheating charges being flung around, but Melissa, Jackie, and Margaret are apparently banding together against Jennifer in the hopes that she will be the next to be dismissed. Teresa Giudice, RHONJ OG, is apparently being given an ultimatum by the ladies, who are insisting that if she wants to have peace with them, she must separate herself from Jennifer.
Margaret Josephs has had a beef with Siggy Flicker since she first came on The Real Housewives of New Jersey. While offering an update on their broken friendship, the present housewife called out her former co-star. The fashion designer has no desire to be friends with the fashion Siggy anymore, saying that she is “pure evil.” Siggy has a personal grudge against Margaret after feeling deceived by the person she helped bring into the show. Margaret washed her hands of the problem after numerous attempts at apologies.
Margaret had a dramatic argument with OG housewife Danielle Staub, which led in one of the husbands being shoved into a swimming pool. Margaret shared an update on her relationship with Danielle and Siggy during a recent visit on Betches’ Mention It All podcast. Margaret has warmed up to Danielle, but her problems with Siggy are too deep to let go of.
Margaret Josephs' Appearance (Height, Hair, Eyes & More)
| Height | 5 ft 6 in 1.68 m |
|---|---|
| Weight | 134 pounds 61 kg |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Body Type | Fit |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Facts About Margaret Josephs
| Nationality | American |
|---|---|
| Estimate Net Worth | $50 million |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Birthplace | Elizabeth, New Jersey |
| Birthday | April 9, 1967 |
References
- Margaret Josephs Net Worth, https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-businessmen/richest-designers/margaret-josephs-net-worth/
- Margaret Josephs, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Josephs
Lori Bashian, RHONJ: Margaret Josephs Gives Update On Relationship With Stepchildren, https://screenrant.com/real-housewives-jersey-margaret-josephs-relationship-update-stepchildren/
Margaret Josephs Bio, Affair, Married, Husband, Divorce, Net Worth, https://marriedbiography.com/margaret-josephs-biography/
- Margaret Josephs Bio, Wiki, Age, Height, Parents, Partner, Net Worth And The Real Housewives Of New Jersey, https://thefamousinfo.com/margaret-josephs/