In this popular business reality show, contestants lived in a New York or Los Angeles penthouse where they were divided into teams. They’d complete tasks each week, with one team member acting as the project manager. The losing team each week found either the project manager or team member fired. NBC ran it from 2004 to 2017. Where is every winner of “The Apprentice” now?
Mark Burnett and Donald Trump’s popular reality game launched in January 2004 and continued for 10 seasons with Trump at the helm, sometimes doing a charity “Celebrity Apprentice” for a season instead of the regular one. “The Apprentice’s” final season found Arnold Schwarzenegger taking over following Trump’s election. Burnett also created a British version of “The Apprentice,” which is even more successful with 18 seasons on BBC Two (2005 and 2006) and BBC One (2007 – present).
I have never been a big fan of Trump, but I enjoy the BBC show so I know how the show works. I also write for a public speaking firm, and many public speakers are former reality show winners. I’m focusing this list on every winner of “The Apprentice” from the U.S. version and finding out where they are now. (Also read “Every Winner of Masterchef and Where They Are Now.”)
Season 1: Bill Rancic
As the first “The Apprentice” winner, Rancic released “You’re Hired: How to Succeed in Business and Life” and three other best-selling books. He and his wife, Giuliana, wrote “I Do… Now What?” together, appeared together on the show “Giuliana and Bill,” and went through a public battle with infertility. He’s also a partner in the RPM brand of Italian restaurants.
Season 2: Kelly Perdew
Perdew was the second season winner of “The Apprentice.” Since then, he’s packed his LinkedIn experience with dozens of start-ups. Moonshots Capital is nearing 10 years in business and has invested in amazing companies, including ID.me and Slack.
Season 3: Kendra Todd
Back view of hugging couple standing with real estate agent in front of house for sale
Todd earned accolades as the youngest to be hired on “The Apprentice.” This “The Apprentice” winner was also the first female candidate. She owns The Kendra Todd Group, a real estate group with more than 100 years of combined real estate knowledge and $1 billion in closed sales.
Season 4: Randal Pinkett
Since becoming the fourth season’s winner of “The Apprentice,” Pinkett worked with three partners to found BCT Partners, an award-winning consulting firm. He’s also a popular keynote speaker and media personality. His fifth book, “Data-Driven DEI: The Tools and Metrics You Need to Measure, Analyze, and Improve Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” came out in 2023.
Season 5: Sean Yazbeck
Before winning “The Apprentice,” Yazbeck appeared in a handful of shows and films, including “Over the Hedge.” Once he won the fifth season, he founded Wavsys, a telecom company that builds and maintains networks for big players like AT&T and Verizon.
Season 6: Stefanie Schaeffer
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 07: The Trump International Hotel Las Vegas stands along the Las Vegas Strip one day before the Nevada Republican presidential caucus on February 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump will host a caucus night watch party in Las Vegas tomorrow. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Schaeffer is a special legal correspondent for the TV Guide Channel and hosts the Autism Society’s “The Future is Bright.” After winning “The Apprentice,” She served as the VP of Sales and Marketing for Trump International Hotel and Tower in Las Vegas.
Season 7: Piers Morgan (Celebrity Apprentice)
This was the first year where “The Apprentice” winner was a celebrity and winnings went to a charitable cause. Morgan is a former “America’s Got Talent” judge and the first winner of “Celebrity Apprentice.” He’s a long-running British journalist known for his tabloid-style writing. His winnings went to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
Season 8: Joan Rivers (Celebrity Apprentice)
12/7/1983 President Reagan during the State Visit of King Birendra Bir Kikram Shah Dev of Nepal with Joan Rivers in the East Room
Rivers was well-known long before her win on the eighth season of “Celebrity Apprentice.” After a strong career start thanks to “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson,” her career slid a bit following her husband’s suicide. Her win helped showcase her savvy business skills and winnings were donated to God’s Love We Deliver. She passed away in 2014 following vocal cord surgery.
Season 9: Bret Michaels (Celebrity Apprentice)
The third winner on “Celebrity Apprentice” is best known as the lead singer of the rock band Poison. Michaels was nominated for a 2024 CMT Award for “Performance of the Year.” He continues to tour and recently participated on the “Rock Legends Cruise.” As he has diabetes, he chose the American Diabetes Association as his charity.
Season 10: Brandy Kuentzel
“The Apprentice” went back to the original format for the 10th season. That year’s reality show winner worked for the Trump Organization for a year and shifted to working in corporate law at SVP Law & Public Policy in San Francisco.
Season 11: John Rich (Celebrity Apprentice)
Part of the country due Big & Rich, Rich transitioned from music to TV when he hosted CMT’s “Gone Country” in 2007 and competed and won the 11th season of “Celebrity Apprentice.” His most recent album, I’m Offended” failed to make it onto the U.S. country charts. His charity was the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Season 12: Arsenio Hall (Celebrity Apprentice)
Since winning “Celebrity Apprentice” in 2012, Hall revived his former talk show, “The Arsenio Hall Show,” but it only lasted a year. He’s played himself in several movies, including “Coming 2 America 2,” and shows like “The Mayor.” Mostly, he’s focused on being with his son. He donated his winnings to the Magic Johnson Foundation.
Season 13: Trace Adkins (Celebrity Apprentice)
After his “The Apprentice” win, Adkins kept doing what he loves. He records music and tours around the country. He also recorded a song with rocker Melissa Etheridge in 2022. His 2024 tour “Somewhere in America” kicks off in April. He chose the American Red Cross as his charity.
Season 14: Leeza Gibbons (Celebrity Apprentice)
Gibbons 14th season winnings went straight to her hometown to her flagship Leeza’s Care Connection, a support system for family caregivers. Using her experiences caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s, she’s written books and hosts “The Three Week Yoga Retreat.”
Season 15: Matt Iseman (Celebrity Apprentice)
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 06: Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks onstage at the 15th Annual Holocaust Museum Gala at The Beverly Hills Hotel on November 06, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
In this final season of “The Apprentice,” a season hosted by Schwarzenegger instead of Trump, Iseman was declared the winner. He’s an Emmy award-winning host of “American Ninja,” and former doctor. He left medicine to become a comedian. He has rheumatoid arthritis, which explains his charity, the Arthritis Foundation.
Every winner of “The Apprentice” continues to succeed. The show ended a year after Trump became president. He’s on our list of “The Oldest U.S. Presidents in History.”