Michael Fulfree has easily broken into both.
As a prior international model, Fulfree has always been familiar with the entertainment business.
How did it come to be?
With my brokerage, I was really making noise.
He’s like, “You’re made for TV, dude.”
I felt the same exact way.
Well, I wanted to eat.
That’s pretty much how it started.
I’m a big guy, I’m six foot five.
So, you know, there’s a lot that comes with that, obviously.
Being a model was an interesting thing.
I was in high school … and at a bank, [I] was approached in Manhattan.
She did it 25 years on the east end of the Hamptons.
Going from modeling, I had to transition.
A lot of successful people, they do every facet of their business.
it’s possible for you to make a great living.
I saved enough with the modeling business.
I know it’s crazy.
I did my time, was able to sell some cars.
When I was first selling, they were telling me, “you should probably do real estate” …
So, very blessed.
That’s such a fun story.
Do you feel like modeling prepared you in any way for reality TV?
The thing is, I’m not a big fashion guy.
I’m not into that at all.
I was living in Milan.
If they’re asking me, I’ll eat anything.
Everything’s fantastic in Italy.
I never had demands, so I was easy to work with.
I never really complained.
I brought that into every facet of my career and what I’ve done.
From the car business to real estate, I don’t complain.
You deal with a lot in this business, especially in the market I’m in.
I know that I’ve come from nothing and built something really special, and I’m just excited.
Because there are a lot of new faces in your office.
Yeah, it’s a completely new show.
There’s nothing that has relevance, which I kind of love.
I had to go through the experience all over again of auditioning, you know?
And I’m nervous.
I’m like, “I wonder if I’m going to get it?”
‘Cause it’s something completely new.
When you watch the show, I literally am myself.
I don’t change for anything, so what really helps me is there’s no burden there.
I’m not nervous to be on camera.
Like, “Okay, how did I even get here?”
I don’t forget the deals because the commissions are unforgettable.
Other than that, this summer was very transactional.
A lot of deals were getting done, and luckily, discovery+ was right there to cover it.
Thank God, because it is something really special.
Being in reality TV, you get to go back and watch your life on screen.
Is that interesting to see yourself and see those situations you were in fromliterallyanother angle?
It’s really interesting.
It really shows everything that goes down.
So, it’s an interesting thing.
A lot of people don’t really get that chance.
Watch yourself and see how you talk to me."
Sometimes she’s right, and I realize I got mad for no reason.
What are some of the other things that you’ve learned about yourself from watching?
How do you balance parenthood, real estate, and now a reality show?
What’s some advice you have for working parents?
[Laughs] There is no framework of how this works out.
We don’t want him raised by other people.
Luckily, my wife owns her own company.
We have an office in South Hampton, so we’re nice and local.
And then I am an independent contractor.
I own my own company, too, so we’re blessed in that aspect.
I get as much time with my son as possible.
I do wear sweatshirts and sweatpants.
When you have kids, you got to be comfortable, because your head’s on a swivel.
It’s very unique, my situation.
I’m the only one that has kids on the show and trying to do that whole work balance.
I’m just not going to take away from my son.
I want to be with him.
A big work/life balance [is what] I try for.
It doesn’t always work out.
You have to, you know, find time.
It could be easy just to hire somebody, but we don’t want to do that.
What is it like to work in such a competitive environment with your best friend?
We both just look out for each other.
We have different styles.
I always say that.
I don’t ever look at what other people are doing.
If you like me, then work with me.
If you don’t want to work with me, don’t work with me.
[Laughs]
That’s the vibe I get from seeing you on TV, too.
I think that’s the craziest part about what we do.
I come from immigrant parents.
I know what it is to really kind of struggle, and we’re all so, so lucky.
Michael Fulfree opens up about fame
How has your television career affected your business?
What do clients say to you about seeing you on TV?
What’s going on?"
They’ll just automatically really want to know when it’s airing.
There’s a lot of anticipation, but my clients have taken it very well.
No agent is for everybody.
If they are, I’d be worried about them.
I like to say, “If everybody likes you, there’s a problem.”
How does it feel when people you know approach you about “Selling the Hamptons”?
It’s like, you know, the elephant in the room.
‘Cause I don’t really talk about it too much.
I just kind of go on with business.
[Laughs] Yeah, I definitely don’t, and I have to be careful with that sometimes.
I think you would notice right away if I changed anything or tried to be calculated.
I’m a calculated person.
It’s not going to work out for me.
It’ll come off different.
I think I come off as I come off.
[Laughs] I think the web connection appreciates that.
It’s a really wholesome, real experience, you know?
It comes off well.
You’ve been a model, real estate agent, and now a reality star.
What have you not done yet that you still want to accomplish?
Oh, my God.
To be very honest, I want to get into comedy.
I really want to do stand-up comedy.
I find humor in pretty much everything.
It’s just how I get through it, you know?
Also, it’s not even acting.
I really don’t know, just something in the entertainment business.
If it’s representing, whatever the case may be.
It’s what I want to do.
“Selling the Hamptons” is now available to stream on discovery+.
