Net Worth Ranker
What Is Bobby Zarin’s Net Worth?
At the time of his death in January 2018, Bobby Zarin had a net worth of $35 million. This fortune was primarily accumulated through his business ventures, real estate holdings, and appearances on reality television.
Bobby Zarin’s Business Ventures and Real Estate Holdings
Bobby Zarin’s primary source of wealth was derived from Zarin Fabrics and Home Furnishings, a business founded by his father, Harry, in 1936. Located in New York City, Zarin Fabrics became known as the city’s biggest discounted designer fabrics warehouse. While specific annual revenue figures for the company are not publicly available, its prominence in the industry and its frequent use in television production sets—including shows like “Gossip Girl,” “Lipstick Jungle,” “Sex and the City,” “What’s Your Sign Design?,” “Cashmere Mafia,” and “Saturday Night Live”—suggest a substantial and consistent income stream over the years. Bobby took over the business from his father after working as a special education teacher, and later ran the store alongside his wife, Jill Zarin.
In addition to his involvement with Zarin Fabrics, Bobby Zarin owned a valuable real estate portfolio. This portfolio included commercial centers and apartment buildings located throughout the country. While specific details about the number of properties or their individual values are not publicly disclosed, this real estate portfolio likely contributed significantly to his overall net worth of $35 million.
Bobby Zarin’s Reality TV Career
Bobby Zarin gained additional public recognition through his appearances on “The Real Housewives of New York City.” His wife, Jill Zarin, joined the cast of the Bravo reality series in 2008, and Bobby frequently appeared on the show alongside her. Although Jill was a main cast member from 2008 to 2011 (when she was fired from the show), Bobby appeared in 35 episodes of the series. While his exact earnings from these appearances are not publicly known, such roles typically provide a consistent income, further bolstering his net worth.
In 2014, Bobby and Jill Zarin also appeared on “Celebrity Wife Swap,” where Jill switched lives with actress Jenna von Oÿ. Again, the specific financial compensation for this appearance is not publicly available, but such reality TV appearances can contribute to a celebrity’s overall income.
Bobby Zarin’s Personal Life and Real Estate
Bobby Zarin was married to Jill Kamen on January 4, 2000, and was the stepfather to her daughter, Allyson Shapiro. Prior to that, he was married to Eileen, and they had three children, Jonathan, David, and Jennifer.
At the time of his death, Bobby and Jill Zarin were living in a 2,000 square foot Upper East Side apartment that they had owned for 18 years. The apartment, located in a prime Manhattan neighborhood, was put on the market in October 2018 and sold for $3.25 million in June 2019. This sale provided a clear indication of the value of their real estate assets and their contribution to the overall net worth. Before their move, the couple owned a 7,300 square foot home in Sag Harbor, which they sold for $2.85 million in 2007, suggesting a potential profit from the sale. They also owned an estate in Southampton, referred to as Camp Zarin. In May 2018, Jill listed the home on the rental market, asking $260,000 for the entire summer or $110,000 for July and $125,000 for August to Labor Day.
Zarin’s family slept in his hospital room with him the day before his death, and his funeral was held at Riverside Memorial Chapel in New York City. At the funeral service, Jill spoke about how she began knitting a blanket for Bobby when he was hospitalized in July 2017 and finally finished it three days before he passed, stating, “He spent the last days of his life snuggled up in it. The irony is when I draped it over the casket, it fit perfectly. Bobby knew.”
