The Shocking Financial Fallout of Vanderpump Rules' Scandalous Affair

Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss' infidelity scandal resulted in a surprising financial gain for some of the cast members on Vanderpump Rules. As the tenth season premiered in February 2023, the focus was initially on Tom Schwartz's affair with Leviss while in the midst of divorcing Katie Maloney. But soon after, discussions arose both on and off screen regarding Leviss' relationship with Sandoval.

In March 2023, it was announced that Sandoval and Ariana Madix had ended their near decade-long relationship due to Sandoval's infidelity. The aftermath of their split was captured on camera for the season finale, revealing details about the affair. A month later, Sandoval vented his frustrations on the "Howie Mandel Does Stuff" podcast, accusing his coworkers of exploiting the situation and disregarding their long-standing friendship. He felt that his actions were being used to paint him as a narcissist, erasing all the positive contributions he had made to their lives.

Sandoval expressed his frustration with his fellow cast members using the situation as fodder for their podcast, accusing them of not caring about his girlfriend Ariana and instead using it for their own personal gain. Madix initially kept quiet about the scandal, but later shared sponsored ads on Instagram that made light of the situation involving Sandoval and Leviss.

Madix expressed her appreciation for the unwavering support of her Vanderpump Rules castmates leading up to the season 10 reunion. Despite feeling a range of emotions including anger and sadness, she felt immense gratitude for her friends both on and off set. During the reunion, Madix made a personal rule to only communicate with Andy Cohen or Lisa Vanderpump, and otherwise directed her attention solely to the sound stage.

Leviss issued a public apology to Madix prior to their reunion meeting. Following the taping in March 2023, Leviss voluntarily checked into a mental health facility, according to Us. As of June 2023, a source exclusively told Us that Leviss is still undergoing treatment. The insider shared, "Raquel entered a voluntary inpatient behavioral health and trauma facility after filming the reunion and remains there to date – 68 days and counting. Her treatment is aiding her in understanding the root of her decisions, learning from her errors, and striving to make improved choices and become a better individual."

The individual who provided the information also stood up for Leviss in the midst of negative feedback, stating that she is a young woman who has expressed regret for her behavior and has offered apologies multiple times. Raquel is eager to share her genuine story once she is able to do so. Keep reading for a detailed overview of the accomplishments of each Vanderpump Rules cast member since their time with Sandoval.

Credit: Tommy Garcia/Bravo(3)

Scandoval by the Numbers: Breaking Down How the 'Vanderpump Rules' Cast Financially Benefited From Tom and Raquel's Affair

Cashing in. Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss' cheating scandal came with an unexpected paycheck for several Vanderpump Rules stars.

As season 10 of the Bravo series commenced in February 2023, viewers were fixated on the scandalous news of Tom Schwartz's affair with Leviss amid his separation from Katie Maloney. Nevertheless, the plot thickened both on and off screen as Sandoval's involvement with the former beauty queen was brought to light and scrutinized. In March 2023, it was confirmed that Sandoval and Ariana Madix had ended their nearly decade-long relationship due to his infidelity, leading to more dramatic footage being captured for the season finale, revealing the details of the affair.

"I feel like my coworkers are using my personal struggles to make themselves look good," said the TomTom cofounder during an interview on the "Howie Mandel Does Stuff" podcast in April 2023. "They're painting me as a narcissist and erasing the 15 years of friendship we had before this. It's disheartening to see them exploit my situation for their own gain, even using it as content for their podcast. It's not about caring for Ariana, it's about getting more material for their show. I find it truly disgusting."

Madix initially chose to stay silent about the scandal, but after taking a short hiatus from social media, she made a comeback on Instagram by promoting sponsored content that humorously referenced the Sandoval and Leviss situation. As the season 10 reunion approached, Madix expressed gratitude towards her Vanderpump Rules cast members for their support during the filming.

During her appearance on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast in May 2023, she shared that while she experienced anger and sadness, her gratitude towards her friends was the strongest emotion she felt. She expressed feeling numb during the reunion and even set a rule for herself not to look at either of them, instead opting to communicate with Andy Cohen or Lisa Vanderpump or speak to the sound stage. Leviss apologized publicly to Madix before their reunion and it was later confirmed that she entered a mental health facility shortly after the March 2023 taping.

According to a source who spoke exclusively to Us, the California native is still undergoing treatment three months after the filming of the reunion. Raquel voluntarily checked into an inpatient behavioral health and trauma facility where she has been for 68 days and counting. The insider revealed that her treatment is centered around understanding the basis of her decisions and using her mistakes as a platform for growth, with the hope of becoming a better person and making better choices in the future. Despite the backlash she's received, the source defended Leviss, emphasizing that she's a young woman who has repeatedly apologized for her actions and is looking forward to sharing her story with unfiltered truth upon her release.

Scroll on for a breakdown of each Vanderpump Rules cast member's success post-Sandoval:

Credit: Tommy Garcia/Bravo; Youtube

Ariana's Sponsorship Deals

Madix has been quite successful in securing sponsorship deals since her split from Sandoval, reportedly earning over $1 million from companies like Uber, Bic, and Duracell. In a June 2023 interview with Glamour, the former SUR bartender revealed her motivation behind her hard work, stating that she wants to build enough financial security to take care of her family members who may need it. She emphasizes her determination to never have to worry about money again, and is willing to work as hard as necessary to achieve that goal.

Credit: Noam Galai/Bravo; Youtube

Scheana's Podcast Numbers

During a guest appearance on Jason Tartick's "Trading Secrets" podcast in May 2023, Scheana Shay revealed her earnings from Scandoval recaps and interviews. According to the Bachelorette alum, she made an estimated $100,000 per month from these episodes.

"It has been a very successful month with a large number of downloads. I am not sure about the confidentiality of the information, so I won't go into too much detail. Maybe we should keep that part internal?" joked the ex-SUR waitress. "In terms of business, it has been phenomenal."

Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo

Lala's 'Send It to Darrell' Merch

After receiving a legal notice regarding an alleged explicit video involving Leviss and Sandoval, the author of Give Them Lala, Kent, swiftly found success. In March 2023, Kent advised Leviss to send all legal documents to her attorney, Darrell Miller, via an Instagram Story. Kent also instructed Leviss to inform her friends and cast members to do the same. Despite Leviss' inexperience in such matters, Kent confidently directed her to send everything to Miller.

Kent capitalized on the viral social media video by creating merchandise with the phrase "send it to Darrell."

During the after show of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in June 2023, the Utah resident shared that the sales from the merchandise allowed him to make the down payment on his home within a few hours. The success of "send it to Darrell" generated significant profits, making Darrell a prominent figure.

Credit: Tommy Garcia/Bravo

Katie and Ariana's Something About Her Growth

In the initial segment of the Vanderpump Rules reunion broadcasted in May 2023, Maloney and Madix disclosed that their upcoming sandwich shop's merchandise earned them $200,000 as their supporters wanted to stand by Madix following the scandal involving Sandoval and Leviss' affair.

The pair's popularity soared with the release of their latest merchandise, a T-shirt sporting the provocative phrase "F—k Me in This T-Shirt". This item, which hit shelves not long after the reunion's final episode aired, was inspired by Sandoval's eyebrow-raising remarks concerning his intimate relationship with Madix.

Credit: Tommy Garcia/Bravo

Sandoval's Music Tour

During the tumultuous time, the co-owner of Schwartz & Sandy's began his tour with the Most Extras. Sandoval proudly shared that he had sold-out shows in various cities like New York, California, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and more. He expressed his gratitude for the love and support shown by over 2000 people during his May 2023 performance in Texas through an Instagram post.

Footage from several shows, however, showed Sandoval performing for many empty seats after a 2-for-1 ticket deal. 

Credit: Tommy Garcia/Bravo

Schwartz's Reality TV Opportunities

Schwartz secured a part in Fox's Stars in Mars following his appearance in season 3 of Bravo's Winter House. Filming the reality show alongside well-known personalities like Porsha Williams, William Shatner, Ariel Winter, Tallulah Willis, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Natasha Leggero, the Minnesota-born actor opened up about the challenges he faced in his friendship with Sandoval.

Credit: Tommy Garcia/Bravo

Lisa's 'Pump Rules' Spinoff Series

Hulu ordered a new Vanderpump Rules spinoff titled Vanderpump Villa in June 2023 — which focuses on the restauranteur's luxury French villa. Vanderpump will be an executive producer on the project.