How ‘ruthless’ reality TV queen Lisa Vanderpump made £75m fortune – as pals reveal secret Real Housewives return talks

SHE is the 65-year-old Brit who has become the undisputed queen of American reality TV with a £75m business empire and a string of shows to her name. Incredibly, Lisa Vanderpump has grown her business and avoided cancellation despite being slap-bang in the middle of massive screen dramas and off-screen scandals. Now we can reveal that she has had secret talks with Real Housewives boss Andy Cohen to return to the show that made her name. Former Real Housewives star Lisa Vanderpump alongside her former professional footballer husband Ken Todd Credit: Getty Lisa Vanderpump has received “big money offers” from Bravo exec Andy Cohen for her return to Real Housewives Credit: Getty Today friends reveal the truth about how underneath the smiley and calm persona of LVP lies a “highly driven, self starting, ambitious, no nonsense entrepreneur”, who has boasted often: “I am a man in a woman’s body”. And behind-the-scenes her publicity shy former pro footballer husband Ken Todd is the “key to her thriving empire and often aggressive business decisions.” Lisa has confided to friends that ex midfield dynamo Todd, who played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Port Vale and Portsmouth, helped provide her with the mindset and experience to crack the hospitality business across the Atlantic. One US reality TV executive admitted: “Lisa loves to act like an innocent bystander and ‘good girl’ of reality TV, who has blamelessly sailed through huge scandals which have drawn hundreds of millions of fans to her shows. “But the truth is she secretly revels in all these drama because she quickly learned that being the center of the storylines makes the public fascinated in you and your business.” “No one can say that any scandal is set up, but she has a knack of not only assembling cast members who shamelessly prompt troubles 24/7, but also then maneuvering herself into being a central figure of the fallout. “It’s a feat that’s repeated multiple times on Housewives, VPR and Vanderpump Villa and, of course, it ensures more twists, turns, fan outrage and media coverage. “And it all adds to the benefit of her bank balance – more commissions for shows, bookings at restaurants, merchandise deals and now her own Las Vegas hotel.” “Make no mistake about it, Lisa is the ruthless queen of this world and the big financial winner, while quietly being seen by some in TV circles as the ‘puppet master general’. “ Even Lisa’s friend and English music manager of Boy George, Paul Kemsley, known as PK, has admitted that: “I love her but LVP is a genius at manipulation and control.” ”She’s the best in the world at it and I respect her for it.” Lisa’s initial dream journey to Hollywood was crushed early because despite several high profile model roles and appearance in ABC’s “Poison Arrow” video, her acting career faltered in London. The Dulwich-born brunette was a big hit in the 1980s London club scene, which prompted her best business move ever – falling for Todd who owned London restaurants and bars. The pair flourished – who had a 16-year age gap – flourished in love and business building and then selling a portfolio of 1990s hot spots like Shadow Lounge and Cheers. One friend said: “Ken may appear that he is disconnected from everything when you see him on the shows, but not a single decision doesn’t get his seal of approval. “He is the reason why Lisa is where she is today. They are a great team. He has an aggressive business drive with a vision about what customers want.” After moving to LA in 2005, the pair became part investors in a swish West Hollywood restaurant called Sur and built Villa Blanca eatery, where TV producers noticed her potential as a castmate of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. An insider detailed how “Lisa made them almost beg for her to join because she was so entertaining and fun to be around.London-born London-born Lisa Vanderpump has become the queen of American reality TV Credit: Getty Lisa Vanderpump poses alongside her husband earlier this year Credit: Getty “She did a screen test where she joked that Ken and she only have sex twice a year and they lapped it up, because those were innocent days.” The source added: “She really played hardball to get her restaurants Villa Blanca and Sur mentioned a lot on camera and knew that this media visibility was a free marketing opportunity. “Others loved the fame, her mindset was growing the restaurant numbers and increasing her business profile. “She admitted it was fun at first, but as the series went on the show would take dark turns with family heartbreaks, trauma, fights and feuds. “Lisa always seemed to get in the last word and avoid being presented as the villain. “She is nicknamed ‘teflon’ by one producer because while her castmates were ‘dealing with hell’, Lisa just keeps going and avoids facing calls for cancellation while being thrown into major dramas.” However in the “reality sphere” questions have been raised about Lisa’s “cosy relationship” with “specific media outlets and executives”. It was an open secret that she has “wined and dined” with network TV executives and media bosses away from cameras since her TV debut in 2010. A manager of one of her high profile cast-mates confirmed: “There has always been this whisper behind closed doors that she has such good relations with key media people that never throw s*** at her. “But at the same time, she always gives these editors and TV shows so much content and great headlines that of course they’d want to be her friend.” The subject of close media friendships and accusations of leaking information and orchestrating scandal was central to RHOBH’s huge “Puppygate” scandal, which prompted her shock 2019 exit. Castmates accused Lisa of stirring up trouble on camera after co-star Dorit Kemsley placed a dog adopted from The Vanderpump Dog Foundation, a rescue charity run by Lisa, with another family after it bit a family member rather than returning it to the Vanderpump shelter. Unbeknownst to Dorit the new family later placed the dog into a kill shelter, a dog home that euthanises dogs that they are unable to rehome. Lisa was accused of leaking the story to the press, which she denied. Some unhappy castmates took sides with Dorit leading to attacks on Lisa in media interviews and some of the cast no longer speak to the English star. There has been bad mouthing between them ever since, but the LA source says show franchise boss Andy Cohen has “made several big money offers” to bring Lisa back. But she has previously vowed to only return if she had apologies from the cast and “enough cash to buy me another mansion. Thank you very much.” After RHOBH, Lisa leapt into even greater dramas with reality show Vanderpump Rules, where she serves as executive producer, in 2013. The most recent scandal dubbed “Sandoval” made headlines in mainstream media, broke the internet and was discussed in US Congress. Her business collaborator and ex-barman Tom Sandoval was caught cheating on his long term partner and co-star Ariana Madix, with her best friend Raquel Leviss in March 2023. Raquel later checked into rehab and faced death threats, which has promoted her leading a semi reclusive life today. Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd are seen on April 16, 2026 in New York City Credit: Getty Lisa Vanderpump poses for a photo at her newest restaurant Pinky’s By Vanderpump at Flamingo Las Vegas Credit: Getty My LA source said: “Season 10 averaged around 11m average viewers per episode, which are figures no networks see these days. “While the people involved saw their lives turned upside down, Bravo were crowing to the world about ratings and Lisa was championed behind closed doors. “And she was handed another reality show Vanderpump Villa and surprise surprise that cast found themselves in the headlines.” Now, business mogul Lisa has launched her most ambitious project yet – a self named 188 room hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, which has a reported £150m worth of investment from Caesars Palace. Insiders claim that she is being fronted as much £4m annually to put her face and brands on the hotel, which had suffered dwindling revenues as The Cromwell Hotel. The venture adds to her expansive money making ventures, which have boomed over 16 years. LVP earns well over £11m from her own reality TV spin offs a year from US and global deals such as Vanderpump Rules and Vanderpump Villa as a star and producer. Her Vegas partnership with Caesars Palace is a huge money spinner thanks to a collection of venues including Vanderpump Cocktail Garden. My insider said: “Despite all the controversies, the audiences just love Lisa and no matter the scandals her fans have stuck with her. She is the ultimate cat with nine lives.” “But she also knows how to get those fans to her venues and spend, spend, spend making her a very rich woman in the process.”