'MDLNY's' Tyler Whitman Loves His Job, But Not the Drama

When Tyler Whitman started his team at Triplemint, the real estate agency he's been with since 2013, his goal was to make $100,000 in personal income his first year. He also had a five-year plan – to make $33,000,000 as a team in that time span because that would bring him a $1,000,000 commission.

Whitman joined the cast of Bravo's hit reality show "Million Dollar Listing New York" in 2019 for its eighth season, but in 2020 the pandemic hit and the show was put on hold. New York City was hit hard at first and people began to flee the city, which led the market to plummet. But as the show prepared for its ninth season, shot under strict pandemic protocols, the market had come back and Whitman became the show's newest regular.

The pandemic also offered Whitman some time for self-reflection, specifically his relationship with alcohol. He told Forbes in June that a conversation about his drinking to a life coach was life-changing. Asked how much he drank a day, he said six glasses of wine, which she thought problematic. It was actually twice that, and the conversation led to Whitman becoming sober.

He had overcome another addiction, this one with food. While in his 20s and building his career as a real estate agent, his weight fluctuated between 240-280 pounds. He was so self-conscious that he took a back office management job so he wouldn't have face-time with clients. Then when he blew up to nearly 400 pounds, he realized he needed to do something and had successful weight loss surgery in 2015. Still overweight, he turned to the gym, dieting, and working out 90 times in 90 days to lose the additional weight.

Sober and fit, Whitman returned to "Million Dollar Listing New York" as something of the new kid on a very competitive block. (His freshman status was replaced by Kirsten Jordan Farsura, who joined the show this season.) Any worries about the New York City real estate market being soft were quickly dispelled when it bounced back, which has made Whitman busier than ever.

EDGE spoke to Whitman about the show, his sobriety, and whether he enjoys watching himself on television.

EDGE: This is your 2nd season on "Million Dollar Listing." What makes you keep coming back?

Tyler Whitman: I love it! I just think it's the most fun thing ever. I love my job. I think one of the reasons I'm good at my job is because I'm over the top and a lot of fun. And, I love putting that on blast, and there's really no bigger way to put it on blast when you have cameras following you around.

EDGE: How much of the drama on the show is created for the cameras versus what is real?

Tyler Whitman: It's actually interesting to me that there is drama and that I have not created any of it. I really don't contribute any drama on the show. I'm not somebody who gets into big fights. I think the only slight thing was when the new cast member started this season. She and I were up for some of the same listings. She came to one of my listings and tried to steal a different listing in the building. To be honest, she actually didn't break any rules. She's very established, and so are the other cast members. I'm the underdog, and I was just feeling a little threatened. It's funny to me to watch it back, because I was like, "Oh, God, I was so insecure in that moment." It was real, and a very organic reaction to the situation.

EDGE: Would you say that Fredrik is the "villain" of the show? And how did he become the antagonist?

Tyler Whitman: He's just someone who has no filter. He says exactly what's on his mind. Confrontation does not make him uncomfortable. I think that's why the network and the producers probably love him so much. I think because he's so direct, and some people can be overly sensitive to things that he says and just get upset. I have certainly been upset to things that he has said, and then later whenever I'm just digesting it I'm just like, "That is Frederick was just being Frederick." I don't think he is ever being intentionally mean, I just think he is being himself. A lot of New Yorkers just say whatever the hell is on their mind. He's one of those people that you weirdly grow to love, which is why the fans are obsessed with him.

EDGE: As a realtor, what kind of new challenges are you facing as we emerge from this pandemic?

Tyler Whitman: Well, just in general, there is so much uncertainty. So many people are still working from home, and the desire to sell is off. There has been all this press that the mega-wealthy in big cities have fled to tax-free states like Florida. A lot of realtors were fearful that would happen in New York City, specifically, in our ultra-luxury market. We've all been very surprised that 2021 so far, has been the highest ultra-luxury transaction volume in the history of New York City real estate. It's been a banner year, and kind of jaw dropping. We're still dealing with remote work, we're still dealing with Delta variant. It just proves that you never bet against New York City, because you will always lose.

EDGE: We watch as you sell million-dollar listings; what are your own living quarters like?

Tyler Whitman: I live in Chelsea, and then I have a place in East Hampton. I split my time 50/50 between the two. I also sell in the Hamptons. I think both of my places are pretty sexy. My place in Chelsea is a 2,300 sf walk through – it's one of those apartments that the elevator opens into it. It's super modern and beautifully designed, and very open. It has two bedrooms and a huge open living/dining area. I just love it! The location is amazing, I'm right by the Highline. I actually just put an offer on a new place in East Hampton, right before this phone call, on my dream house. It's a 4-acre waterfront home and it's just to die for. So, I hope I get it. Hopefully, by the time this is published, it'll be mine.

EDGE: Congratulations on one year of sobriety. How are you feeling?

Tyler Whitman: It just depends on when you ask me. It's been really helpful to go through this journey and take the principles that you learn in the program and apply them. In my sobriety, my life has skyrocketed, both personally and professionally. I have the deepest and strongest friendships that I've ever had. I'm closer with my family than I've ever been. I'm more organized and focused and driven at work. These are things I never could have done when I was actively using. I just wasn't present enough to have it all. I have so much time to enjoy my life and do things that I love. I'm somebody who definitely works to fund the life of my dreams and I'm starting to live that finally, and it's been really nice.

EDGE: What's the best piece of advice you've ever received professionally or personally?

Tyler Whitman: Did you really have a bad day? Or did you just have a bad five minutes that you milked all day?

EDGE: Has being on the show helped up your real estate game?

Tyler Whitman: Oh, my gosh, yes! There's such a big audience for the show, and it massively explodes our business. I'm getting phone calls and meetings with clients that would have never worked with me before. No one knew who I was before the show, and now everyone knows me. It is such a such a gift to be on the show. It has definitely given my business and brand more exposure.

EDGE: What is it like watching yourself on television?

Tyler Whitman: I do watch myself to learn and observe. I don't do it from a negative standpoint, like tearing myself apart kind of thing. I find it is very helpful for me to watch myself on camera and work scenarios in my mind. I like to see what I did really good and then what I need to improve on from both a professional and personal view. What you see on TV is really me just doing my job, and what you see is what you get. Everybody who meets me in person, who's a fan of the show, says, "Oh my god, you're the exact same way in real life as you are on TV."

EDGE: If asked, will you be back for another season?

Tyler Whitman: No doubt about it! If it was up to me, I'd be on the show forever. Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of power. But, yeah, if asked, it's a resounding yes.

EDGE: What real estate advice can you give to our readers?

Tyler Whitman: The one lesson that I have learned so many times through coaching clients, is that some deals just simply aren't meant to be. There will be another house or another property that you fall in love with when the time is right. I'm very much of a spiritual person, and believe if that house is supposed to happen for you, and you have the money and you're being responsible, and you're making responsible choices with your offer, it will happen if it's supposed to happen.

"Million Dollar Listing New York" is now streaming on Bravo. For more information about the show, visit www.bravotv.com