. tonight on "nightline"" really bites. the couple pleading guilty for fraud and tax evasion. the cost of fame may be steep. >> i can't just be upset and just go in a room and lock the door. >> is there a curse of reality tv? the giudices are a lock line of stars who experienced fame, fortune and then disaster. recipe for riches. millions are up for grabs. meet the home chefs who say there's real money to be made just by making dinner with the winning recipe. and sobbing in court. the blaze runner breaks down. oscar pistorius on trial for murdering his model girlfriend. what made the olympian hang his

head today.

>> good evening. she is best known for throwing tables around on "the real housewives of new jersey" but tonight, teresa jiudice and her husband are facing possible jail time pleading guilty for fraud. >> arriving at a federal court in newark, new jersey, holding hands, teresa and joe giudice today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and bankruptcy fraud.

>> they both admitted to a federal judge that over the better part of a decade they were engaged in a scheme to defraud financial institutions, and the irs. >> it was the culmination of an almost eight-month-long legal fight where federal prosecutors presented evidence that the reality tv stars' lavish lifestyle was funded partially on ill gotten gains. outside the court, teresa giudice's attorney read a statement from her. >> today, i took responsibility for a series of mistakes i made several years ago. i am heart broken that this is affecting my family. >> reporter: wendy feldman has been counskoucounseling the giu every step of their legal ordeal. >> it's stressful to go through this in private, so you compound that by the fact that they're reality stars. it's very tough. >> reporter: she says their legal problems were only compounding of being on tv. >> part of what that i ear charged with played out on television. >> reporter: it was just another page in the tangled history of

reality tv. in a series known for its over the top theatrics. >> get off, be a man, stick with your blood. >> i'm not sticking with scum like you. >> reporter: she's perhaps the most recognized and controversial of them all. a woman as famous for home run exce -- her excess. >> my house is granite, marble, onyx -- >> >> reporter: as she is for her cat fights. we spent time with her and her husband back in january while they were still in the cross hairs of a federal indictment. was there any pressure when you're on a show like "the real housewives of new jersey" to have a bigger house and fancier things and really show case wealth? >> any pressure? no, i mean, i don't feel it like. i don't try to keep up with the joness. >> reporter: a lavish lifestyle that may have drawn attention to the federal prosecutors. >> they say there's a pattern

that goes back to 2001, misrepresenting how much you were making in order to get loans and then misrepresenting how little you were making when it came to filing for taxes and bankruptcy. what do you make of all that? >> i would love to answer your questions and one day i will, but out of respect for the process, i will let the legal matters play out in court. >> reporter: the giudices are just the latest in a string of reality tv stars whose fortunes turned after they became famous. from anna nicole smith found dead of an overdays to farrah abraham whose sex tape became public to to tareq michaelasalahi. bethenny frankel had a whole

show about her marriage. but the marriage didn't last long after the show. >> you're so worried about people thinking i'm this perfect husband. does that bother you so much? >> yes, it does. >> then i'm done. >> i'm going through a brutal, brutal time. >> i think bethenny has hundreds of millions of dollars but understand this doesn't make you happy. >> camille grammar was married to kelsey grammer. but the couple called it quits at the end of the first season. camille grammer is one of bragg's clients. >> i always tell my clients that there's reality and there's reality tv and don't get the two confused. >> reporter: but it's not just their love life that gets reality tv stars in trouble. with every move being documented

by cameras -- >> now that is how you carve a pumpkin. >> reporter: it's all too easy to say something that gets you in hot water. "duck dynasty" came under fire when their patriarch phil rob t robertson said start with homosexual behavior and it morphs it from there. bea beastiality, sleeping with this woman and that woman. he was suspended only to reinstate him after the family threatened to walk away from the hit show and the millions it brings them. >> it's a&e's biggest hit for sure. it's also spawned this whole multimillion dollar retail empire. like the robertson family, teresa giudice has turned the red hot of celebrity into a successful business. she sells everything from hair care to desserts to her favored

bilini, which she calls a fabilini. she is the face, he is the salesman, working behind the scenes, they hope to make this their legacy. how does that feel, how far you've come? >> the reason why we're doing it is for our daughters. and yes, they can think about their future and what choices they have to make in their lives. >> reporter: tonight the giudice family is grappling with the consequences of this guilty plea. >> this can bring you closer or drift you apart. in this case, and i've spent a lot of time with joe and teresa, it's brought them closer together. >> teresa and joe have four daughters. gia, gabriella, alia and adriana. the older 13, the youngest 4. >> it's a lot of pressure when you're trying to make your kids feel safe. how do you do it? >> i'm a role model for them. i can't just be upset and crawl up into a ball and lock the

door. >> reporter: when the door is shut and when they are in bed, do you get to do that? >> yes. and i do do that. i would be lying to say i didn't. >> reporter: as a convicted felon, joe, who was born in italy and is not a u.s. citizen could face deportation. have you two talk the about what that might mean for your family? >> i've been married to joe for 14 years. he's been here his whole life. so i guess that's something that his attorney is going to deal with. >> reporter: today their attorney said he would fight any attempt to deport the father of 4. >> i think it would be a grave injustice for him to be deported. it would be inhumane to the children and teresa for him to be deported. >> reporter: joe is facing up to 46 months in prison. teresa, up to 27 months, something they always knew was a possibility. >> obviously, you have a lot of uncertainties. major legal issues what are you hoping for in terms of your future? >> just get through all the bad stuff, you know what i mean?

and looking forward to the future with, you know, my wife and kids. and there's days where, you know, you feel a little depressed at times. but other than that, you stay strong and keep moving forward. if you keep thinking about it, it will kill you. >> reporter: can you see a day when that storm has passed? >> eventually that day will come. the sooner the better. >> reporter: one day at a time? >> one day at a time. >> our thanks to amy robach for that report. what if you could make millions while making dinner? these home cooks are giving new meaning to the phrase rich food. and what made blade runner oscar mist pistorius break down in court today. ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ (bag shaking) (vo) bring the thrill of the catch... straight to their bowl, with friskies seafood sensations. now with new shrimp flavor. friskies. feed the senses. ♪ see what's new at projectluna.com [ male announcer ] don't miss red lobster's lobsterfest! the year's largest selection of lobster entrees like lobster lover's dream or new dueling lobster tails with one crab-stuffed tail and one topped with shrimp. hurry in and sea food differently. with one crab-stuffed tail and one topped with shrimp. over one million hours of research. are inside are specific vitamins and minerals to help support your heart, brain and eyes.

centrum silver. for the most amazing parts of you. with over 100,000 miles. most vehicles on the road that's the power of german engineering. so i tried depend it really made the difference between a morning around the house and getting a little exercise. hi-ya! and i tried a baking class. one weekend can make all the difference. unlike the bargain brand, depend gives you the confidence of new fit-flex® protection. it's a smooth and comfortable fit with more lycra strands. it's our best protection.

take your weekend on with a free sample at depend.com some brokerage firms are but way too many aren't. why? because selling their funds makes them more money. which makes you wonder. isn't that a conflict? search "proprietary mutual funds". yikes!! then go to e*trade. we've got over 8,000 mutual funds and not one of them has our name on it. we're in the business of finding the right investments for you. e*trade. less for us, more for you. the fund's prospectus contains its investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses and other important information and should be read and considered carefully before investing. for a current prospectus visit www.etrade.com/mutualfunds.

>> the next time dinner on the table seems like an insurmountable challenge, think about this. there are home chefs out there who are making tons of dough right now through their own recipes. they say you don't need any fancy trick, no fancy

connections, just some creativity. so how exactly do they do this? and can you do it, too? . >> reporter: tina barelli is a mom of two, a substitute teacher, and a millionaire. >> i won $1 million. >> reporter: there's that giant $1 million check hanging right above her washer and dryer. >> if you like to cook and if you like food and if you're creative, you can do this. >> reporter: and make a bit of money? >> yes, you can. i was trying to figure out how to bring a little money into the house. >> reporter: you husband must have been thrilled with you. >> i don't think he expected me to win. i didn't expect me to win. it's amazing. especially in these times that we're in. >> reporter: it's all part of a cooking renaissance. fuelled by tv shows like "top chef." and best selling cookbooks by celebrity chefs. cooking has become big business. but it's not just celebrities

cashing in. tina's recipe for success, she entered a recipe contest and won. and not only that, she's won smaller cash prizes such as free groceries. now she's working on a top secret pizza recipe that could win her a trip to italy. >> do you think it's realistic that other stay at home moms or even people with a full-time job could actually enter contests? >> yeah. i'm just your total normal, you know, mom and i do my laundry and, you know, this is just making dinner for the family, but in a creative way. >> reporter: big brands like pillsbury, betty crocker, even lays potato chips put on these contests to hype up new products and give shoppers ideas how to use familiar products in new ways. cooking central.com scour the

net and send members the biggest contests. christina runs the site and says there are more than 500 contests and $3 million in cash and prizes just waiting to be won every year. >> there's a lot to be won out there. you've just got to go claim your piece of pie. >> and do you ever wonder how those celebrity chefs come up with all those recipes in the cookbooks? sometimes they don't. >> i'm just going to mix a little bit of this stuff together. >> reporter: denise says she's a cookbook ghost writer. she writes, develops and photographs some of the recipes. >> gorgeous. >> reporter: the secret is out. she charges between $200 and $400 peres pea. -- per recipe. >> why does a celebrity hire someone else to write their recipes? many reasons. they don't have time to write their own. two, they are the brand and they

are very busy selling the brand. you know, they don't have any extra time. >> reporter: she won't divulge most of her client, but one who stepped forward, suzanne somers. but ghost writing may not be as easy as you think. meet former ghost writer and new york times dining reporter, julian moskin. >> a goal writer is someone who is able to efface themselves. you don't have a voice. you're a mouthpiece for the person. >> reporter: vivaldo's secret on how to get your name out there for the stars to find? create a food blog, complete with recipes and photos and market it to publishers. she says it worked for her. >> no one is more surprised by my success than me. >> reporter: her tip for culinary success? . >> what makes a winning recipe is pretty much what people already know how to do but just a little bit of a tweak that comes with knowledge and comes

from having done it for years. >> reporter: another way to make money, come up with a new product. erica has a secret sauce -- a kech-up alternative made from fruits instead of tomatoes called what else? not ketchup. >> my kid's favorite is definitely the cherry chipotle. it has a little spice to it. >> reporter: she packages and ships right from her home. loading up her van, proudly displaying her logo on the side. traveling grocery store to grocery store selling it. she's in in talks with a big b retailer to sell not ketchup nationwide. but her goal -- >> i want to be on oprah's favorite things loo s list. if you're watching, i'm out there. >> reporter: the fun comes from trying the recipes ourselves. as for making a living out of

creating recipes? >> in the real world, it's difficult for a housewife or a guy with a grilling recipe to earn money winning contests. i think a few people can make a living by entering contests, but they need to be people willing to do the spread sheets with the deadlines and to track all of the ingredients that they need for each recipe. >> reporter: but the even harder part? facing a tough panel of critics. your family. >> up with, two, three. >> reporter: the verdict? >> it's good. >> it's good. >> i wouldn't change anything. i like it a lot. >> reporter: the sweet taste of victory. >> thanks for that report. and coming up next on "nightline," the dramatic moment in the courtroom at the murder trial of olympian oscar pistorius. ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ (bag shaking) (vo) bring the thrill of the catch... straight to their bowl, with friskies seafood sensations. now with new shrimp flavor. friskies. feed the senses. [ female announcer ] if you're struggling with bipolar depression, there are treatment options. ask your doctor if once a day latuda, lurasidone hcl, may help you. in clinical studies, latuda has been shown to be effective for many people struggling with bipolar depression. latuda is not for everyone. call your doctor if you have unusual changes in mood, behaviors, or thoughts of suicide. antidepressants can increase these in children, teens, and young adults. elderly dementia patients taking latuda have an increased risk of death or stroke. call your doctor if you have fever, stiff muscles and confusion, as these may be signs of a life-threatening reaction

or if you have uncontrollable muscle movements, as these may become permanent. high blood sugar has been reported with latuda and medicines like it, and in some cases, extreme high blood sugar can lead to coma or death. other risks include decreases in white blood cells, which can be fatal, dizziness upon standing, seizures, increased cholesterol, weight gain, increased prolactin levels, impairment in judgment, or trouble swallowing. avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking latuda. use caution before driving or operating machinery. there are paths to treat bipolar depression. ask your doctor if once-a-day latuda for bipolar depression is right for you. ♪ for savings options, visit latuda.com. for savings options,

shot neces is this flu shot necessary? it keeps you healthy during flu season. but does it hurt? nah. plus you get a really sweet bandaid! anything else i should know? here's a thought, try scoring more points on the other team. okay. even a warrior can get sick. kaiser permanente reminds you to get your flu shot this season.

[ man ] adventure, it means taking chances. it means trying something new. [ woman ] just, that uncertainty of what's to come. [ man ] just kidding. ♪ can you please stop doing that? ♪ [ woman ] you walk outside, and it's cement and broken glass. and this is just like... the opposite of that. ♪

the opposite of that. uncle go one,two,one,two,one [uncle]thistwo,one.cotch,okay? [niece]okay! [uncle]okay? [niece]one,two three,four,five,six,seven,eight! [uncle laughing] okay,we go the other way,okay? [niece]one,two,three,four,five, six,seven! [uncle laughs]there's ten spaces,you want to try again? [uncle]yeah? >> oscar pistorimiss topistoriu olympian. he had a stunning girlfriend, a star in her own right. but now he's charged with murder. and today in court, a moment of real drama.

oscar pistorius on trial for murdering his model girlfriend broke down and wept for the first time today on day two of his murder trial. the blade runner had appeared composed and focused, but he put his head in his hand as if to block out what he was hearing when his defense counsel challenged a neighbor's testimony that she heard a woman's scream after the final shot. >> there was serious, serious brain damage. and our evidence will be that the person with that brain damage will have no response, no cognitive function, no thought process. she could not have screamed. >> the witness who was not on camera also lost her composure when describing her state of mind when she made her original statement. >> it was quite raw still. >> it was quite? >> raw, the emotion. when i'm in the shower, i relive

those shots. >> she lives approximately two football fields away from the murder scene. we learned today that the defense team had carried out a test to recreate the screams at the same hour of the murder in pistorius' home to see if the sound would carry. a second witness described being awoken on valentine's day of 2013 by a commotion. >> it seems like somebody was involved in a fight. >> if found guilty, os tcar pistorius is looking at life in prison. we will continue to follow this trial. "world news now" is coming up soon. constitution into gma first thing in the morning. and as always, we are online at abcnews.com.