Real Housewives with the Most Debt
The Real Housewives The franchise is full of luxury real estate, designer clothes, and incredibly over-the-top events. But the dark side of the glamorous lifestyle is even more common: countless housewives are facing foreclosure, lawsuits and even prison sentences. In each city in the series, you’ll find that at least some of the stars have neglected to pay their taxes and/or rent.
Debt itself isn’t surprising in this economy, but the amounts these ladies owe are truly staggering. We look at the housewives who are most financially in the red.
Teresa Giudice
Teresa Giudice may be the Real Housewives poster child with the most debt and has a long history of tax problems. Since 2000, Tre has accumulated $1 million in tax debt. She claimed that this was mainly because of her ex-husband Joe Giudice.
It seems old habits die hard, as earlier this year the Real Housewives of New Jersey OG once again made headlines for back taxes. However, Teresa’s lawyer issued a statement insisting that his client is making serious efforts to pay off her debts. But she still has a long way to go. She even admitted to hoping that Joe could return to the US to help her financially. And she still surrounds herself with people who make questionable financial decisions, like her friend and stylist Jennifer Piña.
Kim Zolciak
Kim Zolciak and her on-again, off-again husband Kroy Biermann have so many different debts at this point that it’s hard to keep up. It seems like every day there is a new lawsuit against the former Real Housewives of Atlanta stars.
Most recently, Kim and Kroy were sued by their bank for over $230,000. You owe the IRS at least a million. Kim’s gambling addiction certainly doesn’t help. Nor the $30,000 she just spent on vaginal rejuvenation surgery.
Apparently financial problems run in the family, as Kim’s eldest daughter, Brielle Biermann, was recently sued by American Express over an unpaid credit card bill.
Nene Leakes
Kim’s boyfriend and former co-star NeNe Leakes has also always been in major financial trouble. The RHOA alum owed the IRS $820,000 in 2016. It was recently reported that she owes unpaid rent on her fashion boutique.
Erika Jayne
Erika Jayne seems to be the Real Housewife who has the most debt right now. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star’s financial problems continue to make headlines: estranged husband Tom Girardi owes $101 million.
Erika’s debts include a $25 million lawsuit in which she was accused of knowingly using Tom’s law firm to finance her lifestyle. Considering she literally has a song called “XXXPENSIVE” and once bragged about spending $40,000 a month on glam, that seems to be true. And last year it was reported that Erika owes $2.2 million in taxes. Despite all her debts and all the sacrifices Tom owes money to, Erika’s biggest concern remains her beloved diamond earrings.
Erika’s debts have made plenty of headlines, but she’s not the only RHOBH star with tax problems. Dorit Kemsley and husband PK, the couple that Erika memorably predicted would split up next, were once $1.3 million in debt to the IRS.
Jen Shah
Jen Shah’s legal and financial problems didn’t go away when she began her prison sentence. Over the summer, it was reported that Jen owes her attorney over $124,000 in unpaid legal fees and costs. Jen and her husband Sharrieff Shah were reportedly contacted about the charges at least six times before filing the lawsuit. None of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City alums responded.
Karen Huger
Karen Huger and husband Ray “The Black Bill Gates” Huger’s Tax problems were a major storyline in Season 3 of Real Housewives of Potomac. But the RHOP star refused to let that diminish her self-proclaimed grand dame status. As Karen memorably told her co-star Robyn Dixon, “You have to make millions to owe millions!” Karen and Ray were actually millions in debt. According to a 2017 report Washington Post Article, her debts were at least $1.5 million. A year later, Karen claimed everything was paid off and settled.
Brynn Whitfield
The newest Bravolebrity on our list, Real Housewives of New York reboot star Brynn Whitfield, reportedly owes $30,000 in taxes. She was also evicted from a former apartment in 2014 after failing to pay $7,000 in rent. Luckily, she was able to stay in her current home, which RHONY viewers were happy about.
Brynn’s debt-filled story should further disprove fan theories that she has sugar daddies. We’ll see if these bad financial habits change now that she’s in the spotlight. But judging by the other “Real Housewives” with the most debt on this list, fame might just make those problems worse.
Tell Us: Does any of the Real Housewives who have the most debt surprise you? Why do you think so many Real Housewives don’t pay their taxes and rent?