Ryan Serhant Reveals the Turning Point That Made Him a Real Estate Star—and How He Thinks Agents Can Cash in On AI

Before Ryan Serhant became a recognizable face in real estate, he was one of thousands of agents showing up to an open casting call—and declaring himself the best in the universe.The opportunity would put him on “Million Dollar Listing” and turn him into what he described as a “walking billboard,” giving him a platform he was determined to make count.Speaking at NAR NXT 2026 in New Orleans, Serhant reflected on that career-changing break, the relentless social media strategy that followed, and why he believes agents should now be looking to artificial intelligence to help build their businesses.His message to agents navigating an uncertain market was straightforward: “Markets don’t dictate your income. They dictate your strategy.”For Serhant, learning where to direct his energy was part of that process. He recalled spending too much time early in his career stressing about things he could not control, including what might happen in the months ahead.Loading...Before Ryan Serhant became a recognizable face in real estate, he was one of thousands of agents showing up to an open casting call—and declaring himself the best in the universe.SERHANTInstead, he encouraged agents to focus on...