The cast of reality show Vanderpump Rules. Photo: @surrules/Instagram
Once TMZ broke the news of the drama, fans quickly became enthralled knowing that Sandoval and Leviss were having an affair behind everyone’s back and lying to their friends and castmates. This has made for some of the most captivating – and cringeworthy – scenes in reality TV history.

The media hype has been so great that the show has been enjoying its best ratings ever and was even covered by CNN, The View and joked about at the White House Correspondents Dinner, according to Glamour.

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But who’s the richest star of the show? We take a look at the cast ranked by net worth, as per Celebrity Net Worth and other outlets.

9. Scheana Shay – US$500,000

Scheana Shay at The Mayan, in December 2022. Photo: @scheana/Instagram
Scheana Shay, 38, has been on the show since its first season and even made appearances on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills when Lisa Vanderpump was still a cast member.

Once an aspiring pop singer and actress, Shay is now an active YouTube vlogger. Her personal net worth is estimated to be US$500,000.

8. Ariana Madix – US$1 million

Ariana Madix shared a post about her gratitude towards friends, family and fans in March. Photo: @arianamadix/Instagram

The third and final star at the heart of the “Scandoval”, Ariana Madix, 37, has reportedly built a personal fortune of US$1 million. Much of her wealth is derived from her US$10,000 to US$25,000 per episode earnings, as estimated by StyleCaster, as well as past acting gigs.

Amid the current media attention from the affair, Madix has also snagged several potentially lucrative endorsements, including with Lays, Bic Razors and Uber Eats, as seen on her Instagram.

7. Katie Maloney – US$1.5 million

Katie Maloney at Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in February. Photo: @musickillskate/Instagram

With an estimated net worth of US$1.5 million, Katie Maloney is seventh wealthiest on this list. The former waitress at Vanderpump’s restaurant SUR has been on the show since its debut season, which has reportedly the primary source of her wealth.

More recently, as documented on this season, Maloney, 36, has ventured into the hospitality industry, working with fellow cast member Madix to open up a sandwich shop called Something About Her.

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6. Lala Kent – US$2 million

Lala Kent at the Vanderpump Dogs Gala in May. Photo: @lalakent/Instagram

Lala Kent, 32, is the sixth wealthiest VPR star with an estimated US$2 million fortune.

In addition to the Utah-born mum’s VPR salary, Kent has written a book Give Them Lala and is the owner of her own line of cosmetics Give Them Lala Beauty.

5. Tom Sandoval – US$4 million

Tom Sandoval on the May Flowers Tour at Gramercy Theatre. Photo: @tomsandoval1/Instagram

The show’s recent drama has been dubbed “Scandoval”, a portmanteau of scandal and Sandoval, the last name of the show’s “other” Tom.

Sandoval’s acquired a US$4 million fortune. The model and actor used to work as a bartender at SUR, and has since been involved in the opening of two establishments, TomTom and Schwartz & Sandy’s.

Sandoval, 39, is the co-founder and lead singer of a cover band called Tom Sandoval & the Most Extras who have recently been touring to sold-out venues amid the media hype around the show.

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4. Tom Schwartz – US$4 million

Tom Schwartz celebrating the show’s 10th season in February. Photo: @twschwa/Instagram

Tom Schwartz, 40, is worth US$4 million. Under the mentorship of Vanderpump, the former SUR bartender opened TomTom in West Hollywood along with Sandoval. The Toms have also recently opened Schwartz & Sandy’s, the run-up to which was featured on this current season of the show.

Beyond his restaurant earnings, Schwartz’s reported salary of as much as US$25,000 per episode has contributed to his large bank balance.

3. James Kennedy – US$4 million

James Kennedy at SUR Restaurant in May. Photo: @itsjameskennedy/Instagram

For third wealthiest, there’s a three-way tie between the show’s male protagonists James Kennedy, Schwartz and Sandoval, each with a reported personal net worth of US$4 million.

DJ and music producer James Kennedy, 31, made millions presumably from his music career, as well as his VPR salary, said to be between US$10,000 and US$15,000 per episode, per Life & Style.

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2. Raquel Leviss – US$30 million

Raquel Leviss celebrating Valentine’s Day on February 14. Photo: @raquelleviss/Instagram

At the centre of the recent scandal is model, influencer and former beauty pageant queen Raquel Leviss. The California native first appeared on the show’s fifth season and since then has reportedly amassed an impressive Life & Style-estimated US$30 million fortune, making her the second wealthiest on this list.

Per MoneyInc.com, Leviss, 28, raked in considerable cash from her rounds on the pageantry circuit. She’s also said to have made bank from brand deals and social media endorsements, reportedly earning as much as US$250,000 per year on social media.

Leviss’ VPR pay cheque of US$15,000 per episode also contributes to her vast wealth, per the same source.

1. Lisa Vanderpump – US$90 million

Lisa Vanderpump promoting Vanderpump Wines in June 2021. Photo: @lisavanderpump/Instagram

Lisa Vanderpump, 62, tops the list of the show’s wealthiest with a US$90 million personal fortune. Reality TV fans fell in love with Vanderpump as one of the original Real Housewives of Beverly Hills with a string of successful restaurants and a passion for pets.

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The British restaurateur and her husband Ken Todd have been in the business for years, owning dozens of restaurants and bars, some of which – like SUR, Villa Blanca and Pump (which recently closed) – were prominent features on both RHOBH and VPR.

Besides her empire of eateries and stints on TV, Vanderpump has also launched a line of pet accessories, Vanderpump Pets and a range of wines, Vanderpump Wines.

The Vanderpump Rules eponym and matriarch reportedly earns US$500,000 per season on RHOBH, according to Cosmopolitan.