Bill Rancic

William Rancic (; born May 16, 1971) is an American entrepreneur who was the first candidate hired by The Trump Organization at the conclusion of the first season of Donald Trump's reality television show ''The Apprentice''. He is married to E! News host Giuliana Rancic and currently resides in Chicago, Illinois.

Early life

Rancic was born on May 16, 1971 in Chicago to Gail () and Edward Rancic, who died of cancer in 1999. Rancic has three sisters, Beth, Katie and Karen. He grew up in the suburb of Orland Park in a family of Croatian and Irish heritage. His paternal grandfather Nikola Rančić had immigrated to the United States from Split. Rancic attended St. Michael's School and graduated from Carl Sandburg High School. He earned a B.S. from Loyola University Chicago.

''The Apprentice''

Rancic was one of the job applicants in the first season of ''The Apprentice'' during the spring of 2004, as one of 16 contestants. Rancic was hired at the conclusion of the 14-week job interview after Donald Trump selected him over finalist Kwame Jackson.

For the final challenge against competitor Kwame Jackson, Trump gave Rancic the task of running a celebrity golf outing at Trump National Golf Club Westchester in Briarcliff Manor, New York, while Jackson was tasked to manage a Jessica Simpson concert. At the final board meeting, Jackson remarked that running a golf outing was the easier of the two tasks, which brought a disagreement from Trump VP Carolyn Kepcher, who was managing a golf course when Trump hired her. Trump hired Rancic.

Rancic was elected to take charge of the construction of the Trump Tower Chicago in his native Chicago, on the site of the demolished ''Chicago Sun-Times'' building. His other option was to oversee and manage a new Trump National Golf Course and resort in Los Angeles.

Originally, Rancic said that after his one-year contract as Trump's Apprentice expired, he would leave the job and start his own company. He instead opted to remain part of the Trump Organization, and in some seasons filled in as a judge when regular judge George H. Ross was away on business.

Career after ''The Apprentice''

Entertainment

In September 2007, Rancic co-hosted iVillage's '' In the Loop with iVillage,'' a TV show and webcast produced by NBC Universal. NBC commissioned a set at the Universal Orlando Resort in Florida. In September 2008, Rancic began as host for the A&E reality show ''We Mean Business,'' in which small business owners undergo business make-overs.

In 2008, Rancic and his wife, TV host Giuliana Rancic (née DePandi), started a joint television production company, You and I Productions, which produces reality and scripted programming for television. In 2009, they started their own reality-television show '' Giuliana and Bill'' which aired on the E! network. In 2010, Rancic started hosting a news program called ''America Now,'' which is broadcast across the United States on stations owned by Raycom Media. The following year, "America Now" was brought back for a second season, with Leeza Gibbons joining Bill Rancic. Originally, the show was on every weekend, but when Leeza Gibbons joined the show, it moved to a Monday through Friday timeslot.

In 2012, Rancic became a television spokesperson for the product Rogaine, appearing in national commercials detailing his experience with hair loss. In April 2014, Rancic began hosting the Food Network competitive cooking series ''Kitchen Casino'', where chefs participate in three casino-themed challenges in an attempt to win up to $30,000.

In 2016, Rancic published his first novel, ''First Light'', to mixed reviews.

Chicago real estate

In 2009, Rancic sold a century-old Gold Coast row house he had bought in 2007, after extensive renovations. In 2011, Rancic sold a condo on the 50th floor of the Park Tower building, on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago, less than 20 months after purchasing the unit.

Rancic owned a home in Hinsdale, Illinois, which was prominently featured on his reality show. He sold it in February 2011 after extensive renovations.

In 2013, Rancic and his wife purchased a 19th-century house on Bellevue Place, which they rehabbed and sold in 2019.

Restaurants

In August 2011, Rancic and his wife entered into a partnership with Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises to open an Italian restaurant in Chicago. The restaurant was named ''RPM Italian'', and it opened in February 2012 in Chicago's River North District. They opened several more restaurants, including ''RPM Steak'' in Chicago, another ''RPM Italian'' in Washington, D.C., and a planned ''RPM On the Water'' opening in 2019 in Chicago. The restaurants have been popular with celebrities, including Barack Obama and Michelle Obama.

Personal life

In December 2006, he became engaged to Giuliana DePandi, and the couple wed in September 2007 in Chiesa di Santa Sofia, Capri.

On April 23, 2012, Giuliana and Rancic announced on ''The Today Show'' that they were expecting their first child via gestational carrier. In August 2012, the couple had a son in Denver, Colorado.

Published works

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References

External links

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The Apprentice Rules Bill Rancic Bio

Giuliana and Bill

IVillage Official Website

SupportSquad Ultra Fast Video

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rancic, Bill
1971 births
Living people
Businesspeople from Chicago
American business writers
American people of Croatian descent
American people of Irish descent
Loyola University Chicago alumni
Writers from Chicago
Participants in American reality television series
People from Orland Park, Illinois
The Trump Organization employees
21st-century American businesspeople
21st-century American non-fiction writers
American restaurateurs
The Apprentice (franchise) winners