Ryan Serhant

Ryan Serhant – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes


Learn about Ryan Serhant (born July 2, 1984) — American real estate mogul, TV personality, author, and founder of the SERHANT brand. Read his biography, career path, philosophy, notable quotes, and lessons from his entrepreneurial journey.

Introduction

Ryan Matthew Serhant (born July 2, 1984) is an American real estate broker, entrepreneur, author, and reality television personality.

Television & Media Presence

  • Serhant debuted on Million Dollar Listing New York in 2012, and remained on it for nine seasons.

  • He also spearheaded Sell It Like Serhant (a show where he coaches others in sales).

  • In 2024, he became the star and executive producer of Owning Manhattan on Netflix — a docu-reality show following his firm SERHANT and the New York luxury real estate world.

  • The show was renewed for Season 2 in August 2024.

His media presence helps drive lead generation and brand awareness for his real estate business.

Founding SERHANT

In September 2020, Serhant launched his own brokerage brand, SERHANT.

Under his leadership, SERHANT has positioned itself not just as a brokerage, but a hybrid company combining brokerage + content + education + technology.

The firm claims over US$14 billion in lifetime sales.
Before founding SERHANT, his team had done over US$4 billion in sales.

SERHANT includes its own in-house film / content studio to help produce property listings and visuals (part of the “content-to-commerce” model).

Publishing, Education & Brands

Serhant has authored multiple books:

  • Sell It Like Serhant: How to Sell More, Earn More, and Become the Ultimate Sales Machine

  • Big Money Energy: How to Rule at Work, Dominate Life, and Make Millions

  • Brand It Like Serhant: Stand Out From the Crowd, Build Your Following and Earn More Money

He also created the Sell It education ecosystem (courses, digital education, coaching) to teach sales and personal branding skills.

He hosts a podcast, Big Money Energy with Ryan Serhant, and runs Listed, a YouTube network for lifestyle and real estate content.

Personal Life & Highlights

In 2016, Serhant married Emilia Bechrakis, a lawyer. Their wedding was documented in a four-part mini-series (Ryan’s Wedding) on Bravo.

They have one daughter, Zena, born in 2019.

Between 2018–2021, he and Emilia undertook a 3-year renovation of a $7.8 million townhouse in Brooklyn, which was also documented in a Bravo mini-series (Ryan’s Renovation).

Philanthropically, Serhant supports causes such as housing equality, health, and city-based charities.

Personality, Strengths & Philosophy

Ryan Serhant’s public image is built on several core traits:

  • Ambition & hustle mindset: He often talks about working harder, standing out, and persistence in sales.

  • Branding orientation: He emphasizes how a strong personal brand amplifies business and trust.

  • Commitment to education & giving back: Through his Sell It system, he shares strategies with others.

  • Media-savvy: He understands the power of storytelling and content in converting audiences into clients.

  • Resilience through early adversity: His initial years in NYC (acting, small gigs) were challenging; he used that struggle as fuel.

Serhant often frames success as a combination of sales skill, narrative, work ethic, and adaptability.

Famous Quotes of Ryan Serhant

Here are a few quotes attributed to Serhant that capture his mindset:

  • “Sell it like Serhant.” (His signature phrase and brand tagline.)

  • “Be the go-to person in your niche. Stand for something.”

  • “Your brand is your reputation. Build it carefully.”

  • “Don’t wait for leads. Create content. Show value. Bring the world to you.”

  • “Fail fast. Learn faster.”

(These are paraphrased from his public talks, writings, and interviews. Exact sourcing for each line is scattered among various media appearances and his books.)

Lessons from Ryan Serhant

From his trajectory and public persona, we can extract several lessons:

  1. Leverage your existing skills in new fields
    Serhant transitioned from acting into real estate, and he used performance, storytelling, and personal presence to differentiate himself.

  2. Build a brand, not just a business
    Rather than simply being a real estate agent, he created a media-forward brand (SERHANT) that could support multiple revenue streams (brokerage, media, education).

  3. Own your narrative
    He documents his successes and struggles (e.g. renovation, wedding) publicly. That transparency builds connection and trust.

  4. Content is a modern lever for sales
    In the digital age, producing meaningful content can amplify reach and shorten the sales cycle.

  5. Scale with systems
    Education platforms, in-house content studios, technology, and agent training help a solo brand scale into a company.

  6. Resilience and patience pay off
    His early years were far from glamorous, but persistence, adaptability, and incremental wins compounded over time.

Conclusion

Ryan Serhant’s story is a compelling example of how one can merge salesmanship, storytelling, brand building, and media to redefine a traditionally commission-driven business. He didn’t just sell real estate — he sold himself, built a brand, and expanded into content and education, turning a real estate career into an entrepreneurial platform.

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