Does The ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Cast Really Work At SUR? Let’s Take A Look At The Evidence (2024)

At this point, it's tough not to question the reality of reality television. That's why viewers of the show probably wonder whether the Vanderpump Rules cast members actually work at SUR or if they just "work" at SUR while the show films. Vanderpump Rules is currently in its sixth season, so the cast have to be making decent money as reality stars (even if we've seen their financial woes on the show). Plus, they have sponsored social media posts and get paid to make appearances, so they surely don't really need to work at the restaurant to support themselves.

Then again, the whole premise of the show is based on a group of close friends (and occasional frenemies) who are waiters, bartenders, and hosts at the same restaurant. Sure, the show has plenty of drama to go on without footage of Lala Kent seating customers and Jax Taylor serving Pumptinis, but all roads do lead back to SUR. They are shown working at boss Lisa Vanderpump's events at the restaurant, they celebrate milestone occasions of their own at SUR, and James Kennedy has been shown begging for Lisa to rehire him as a DJ (several times over).

SUR has always served as the backdrop for this show and has driven many storylines, but do the cast members really work there? Long story short, yes, they do work there... for the most part. Lisa fired Kristen Doute after she yelled at a manager, and Stassi Schroeder admitted that she just stopped showing up for serving shifts during the Season 3 reunion. But even so, the other cast members do work at the restaurant and there's plenty of evidence.

Lisa Won't Let Them Pretend To Be Employees

In a 2016 interview with Thrillist, Lisa explained, "Part of the deal is if they're working at the restaurant on the show, they have to work there legitimately." So, how does filming and promoting the show factor in? Lisa said, "They work about three days a week while we're filming, and that's five months of the year. They get a month or two off to do press and appearances promoting the show while it's airing, because they do a lot of promotion." And just for good measure, Lisa was asked "Are they really working, or is it for the show?" She responded, "I don't think that's any different. If they're behind the bar, they have to really work."

Lala Confirmed That She Can't Be On The Show Unless She Works At SUR

During the January 12 episode of The Tomorrow Show, Lala confessed that she has to work at SUR in order to be on the show. She explained, "I can't be a part of the show if I don't have a job at SUR where I'm going in at least once a week working for two hours as a hostess each time." That is not the case for all of the cast members, though. Lala said, "Kristen and Stassi don't work there ... I just know that they're still a part of the show and don't work there. I don't know if there's a difference ... I don't know what [their contracts] read."

Lala Said That Stassi Really Did Plan Her Showcase

During the same podcast episode, Lala confirmed that Stassi's return to SUR as a party planner actually is legitimate. She said that Stassi really did plan her music showcase: "She put the whole thing together, besides the music part where I got the speakers and stage because that's my forte, I guess. But, the rest of it she did all of it. She killed it — flowers, framing, organizing tables. She's great."

James Promotes His DJ Gigs Every Tuesday

This season, James pitched an event to Lisa called See You Next Tuesday, which, as the name suggests, involves him DJing at SUR on Tuesday nights and promoting his own event. It turns out that wasn't just a plot point for Vanderpump Rules since anyone who follows James on social media is well aware that he promotes his set once a week and shares photos from the gig and live footage in Instagram stories.

They Are Consistently Featured On The SUR Instagram

Yes, the SUR Instagram does show a lot of photos from the show and the cast members at non-work events, but there are also plenty of candid photos of them without perfect hair and makeup hard at work. Just scroll through the page to see Scheana Marie grabbing drinks for customers from the bar, Tom Sandoval making margaritas, James spinning on a Tuesday, Jax behind the bar, or Brittany Cartwright and Katie Maloney on shift.

Cast Members Confirm Their Shifts On Social Media

If you want to see the cast members working at SUR, just check out their social media pages to see if they're there. Chances are, there's probably a fresh selfie indicating their presence at the restaurant that night. Sandoval consistently shares photos when he's behind the bar, and Jax has shared photos and videos of himself and Brittany on shift.

They also respond to fans asking when they'll be at the restaurant and even just announce their next shifts via tweet like Ariana and Scheana often do.

Fans Share Photos Of Them Working At SUR

For skeptics who refuse to believe the interview quotes and social media posts from the cast members and the restaurant itself, one of the biggest pieces of evidence are the consistent photos from SUR customers with the cast members at work. Check out these photos of Tom and Ariana, Scheana, James, and Brittany posing with customers during their shifts.

The truth of the matter is that Vanderpump Rules is a wildly popular show. It makes perfect sense that the cast members would want to ditch the restaurant work and just be professional reality stars, but with the show based on them working at the restaurant, they're still working there... for now.

Does The ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Cast Really Work At SUR? Let’s Take A Look At The Evidence (2024)

FAQs

Does Raquel actually work at Sur? ›

Behind Ariana's back, Tom Sandoval hooked up with yet another cast member, Raquel, and she actually does work at SUR. Raquel used to be engaged to another cast member, James, and Tom [Sandoval] used to date another former cast member, Kristen, and was accused of cheating with Ariana while he was with Kristen.

How much of Vanderpump Rules is real? ›

It's pretty not-scripted,” she told Galore in 2016. “You see, our relationships are real. We all have our history. There are plenty of shows out there that are kind of [cast] in ways where people don't have any kind of history prior.

How much do the servers at Sur make? ›

Avg. Base Salary (USD)

Sur Restaurant And Bar pays an average salary of $493,714 and salaries range from a low of $427,030 to a high of $567,415. Individual salaries will, of course, vary depending on the job, department, location, as well as the individual skills and education of each employee.

Who is the richest Vanderpump Rules cast? ›

Answer: Lisa Vanderpump is the richest cast member of 'Vanderpump Rules', with an estimated net worth of USD 90 million, as per 'Celebrity Net Worth'.

Who actually works at SUR? ›

Nine years after the series was launched as a spinoff of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills that was based out of Lisa Vanderpump's West Hollywood restaurant, Charli, who joined the series during its eighth season in a recurring role, told a fan on Twitter that she is the only member of the show who actually works at ...

Who does not work at SUR anymore? ›

Vanderpump Rules star Brittany Cartwright is no longer working at SUR and below, find out what new hookups are taking place in season 8 of the show.

Is Lisa Vanderpump a billionaire? ›

Lisa Vanderpump's net worth in 2023 is $90 million. Vanderpump is a businesswoman and a reality show actress who has starred in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, American Housewife, Seperate Lives, Baywatch Nights, The Comeback, and many others.

Why is Lisa Vanderpump so rich? ›

Vanderpump appeared on nine seasons of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which made her a household name and netted her a significant sum. In Brian Moylan's book The Housewives: The Real Story Behind the Real Housewives, he estimated that Vanderpump's salary by the time of her departure was US$1 million per season.

How much does James Kennedy make per episode on Vanderpump Rules? ›

James Kennedy has an estimated net worth of $4 million and makes around $10-$15K per episode of Vanderpump Rules.

How much of Tomtom does Lisa own? ›

Raquel Leviss Addresses Her Situation with Tom Sandoval

It's been, like, a lot of head banging on my part.” Vanderpump Rules documented Lisa, Ken Todd, Sandoval, and Schwartz opening Tom Tom together in 2018, with the Toms each making a $50,000 investment for 5% of the business.

How much does Tom Sandoval make per episode? ›

So What Does Tom Sandoval Make for VPR? According to the Hollywood Reporter, the core cast of Vanderpump Rules was “barely netting $10,000 for their participation in the entire first season” but went through a round of contract negotiations in 2017 and 2018 to the tune of $25,000 per episode.

How much does scheana make per episode? ›

In Touch Weekly reports that she makes $10,000 an episode, which is a little less than her female costars. However, Scheana could make as high as $25,000 as an core cast member, according to THR. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Scheana has a $500,000 net worth.

Who owns TomTom bar? ›

Sandoval isn't just a star on Bravo. He and costar Tom Schwartz are partial owners of TomTom, a West Hollywood bar they launched with Vanderpump in 2018, as well as Schwartz & Sandy's, which opened in November after a number of delays.

How much was Jax and Brittany's new house? ›

'Vanderpump Rules' stars Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright just purchased a $1.9 million new house in Los Angeles. See photos from inside their home.

How big is Stassi's ring? ›

STASSI SCHROEDER & BEAU CLARK

The Clark family treasure is a 3.5-carat ring featuring a European round-cut diamond surrounded by 24 smaller stones in a platinum setting. With a price tag upwards of $100,000, Stassi said of her ring: “It's beautiful.

Does Lisa still own SUR? ›

Vanderpump is still planning to open two Las Vegas restaurants with Caesars Palace. She also owns SUR with her husband Ken Todd and is business partners with "Vanderpump Rules" stars Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval with their bar, TomTom.

Does Lisa really own SUR? ›

Restaurants, bars and clubs

The couple currently own three restaurants in California; SUR Restaurant & Lounge, the focus of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills spin-off Vanderpump Rules, is based in West Hollywood along with Pump Restaurant and Tom Tom Restaurant & Bar.

How much does Lisa Vanderpump make from SUR? ›

While that's not confirmed, with multiple 24-episode seasons, it would put her paycheck at around $1.2 million per season. Vanderpump spoke to Forbes in 2023 about the experience of producing the show, which focuses on a group of friends who worked at SUR, one of her restaurants.

Who owns SUR with Lisa? ›

Who Is the Owner of SUR Restaurant? This is an interesting question because most people think that the sole owners are Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd. However, the actual answer to this is that Lisa and Ken jointly own the restaurant along with Nathalie and Guillermo Zapata.

Does Max still work at TomTom? ›

While he stayed on as the TomTom general manager even after leaving the reality series, Max eventually resigned from the restaurant in May 2021.

Are Jax and Brittany still married? ›

One of the only VPR couples still together, Jax and Brittany welcomed their first child—son Cruz—in April 2021 a year after they walked away from the show.

Do the Vanderpump cast get paid? ›

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the core cast of Vanderpump Rules was “barely netting $10,000 for their participation in the entire first season,” but they went through negotiations in 2017 and 2018 and started being paid $25,000 per episode.

Do the Real Housewives get a clothing allowance? ›

The Housewives don't borrow clothes—luxury brands won't lend to them—and they don't rent the runway. To keep up appearances, they're buying their Alexis Carrington Colby finery at their own expense.

How does Brandi Glanville make her money? ›

She hosts her own podcast, which also has a paid Patreon channel. She's written two books, 2013's Drinking and Tweeting followed by Drinking and Dating in 2014. In addition to her Cameo page, where fans can pay for personalized shoutouts, Brandi is also a bonafide influencer for her 625,000 Instagram followers.

How is Kyle Richards so rich? ›

How did Kyle Richards earn her net worth? Kyle Richards' net worth comes from many sources, including acting, launching a clothing line, and owning the boutique chains, Kyle by Alene Too and Kyle x Shahida. Kyle's salary for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is $500,000 per season.

Did Lisa Vanderpump buy her daughter a house? ›

It was a decision Lisa made mostly because she wanted to be able to give her children a shot at home ownership. She felt her kids had paid their dues and deserved to take their lives to the next level.

Why did Lisa Vanderpump's restaurant close? ›

The Vanderpump Rules matriarch is shuttering her WeHo dining spot after 10 years, allegedly due to issues with renewing the lease: “This type of rent is untenable.”

What is Katie from Vanderpump net worth? ›

What Is Katie Maloney's Net Worth? Katie has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million in 2023, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Did Schwartz and Sandys open? ›

Vanderpump Rules stars Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval recently opened their own lounge Schwartz & Sandy's, and fans shared reviews of the restaurant.

Are Ariana and Katie opening a sandwich shop? ›

Vanderpump Rules stars Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney's sandwich shop to open this month & looks ready to go in new pics. VANDERPUMP Rules stars Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney's new sandwich shop looks like a charming Parisian cafe having been decked out with French-style decor - just days away from opening.

Did Lisa invest in Schwartz and Sandy's? ›

Although Sandoval and Schwartz didn't want Lisa financially involved in their new venture, they did ultimately end up taking back their initial Tom Tom investment from Lisa and Ken. “I gave them [the investment] back the week they opened [Schwartz & Sandy's] because they needed money,” Lisa explained.

How much did it cost to open TomTom? ›

Both Sandoval, 36, and Schwartz, 37, invested $50,000 into opening TomTom and $50,000 into the new garden lounge in the space next door with Lisa Vanderpump.

How much money does TomTom Bar make? ›

According to TomTom's latest financial reports the company's current revenue (TTM) is $0.57 B. In 2022 the company made a revenue of $0.56 B a decrease over the years 2021 revenue that were of $0.59 B. The revenue is the total amount of income that a company generates by the sale of goods or services.

Are Tom Sandoval and Jax friends? ›

In 2017, Tom Sandoval advised his friend Jax Taylor to not live with his girlfriend Brittany Cartwright after they broke up. Fast forward to 2021, and Sandoval found himself in the same situation, living with his ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix after cheating on her with Raquel Leviss.

How much does Scheana make on Vanderpump Rules? ›

Scheana Shay Net Worth 2023
Net Worth:$1 Million
Name:Scheana Shay
Salary:$0.1 Million +
Monthly Income:$9,000 +
Date of Birth:May 7, 1985
6 more rows
Mar 27, 2023

Do Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval own TomTom? ›

Sandoval, who co-owns businesses TomTom and Schwartz & Sandy's with VPR's Tom Schwartz, is now being targeted by angry Yelp users, who are attacking his restaurants in light of his cheating scandal.

Why did Scheana lose so much weight? ›

"When we first started I was doing three days of no carbs and one day of healthy carbs—and that helped kick my body into shape," she said. One of her go-to dinners on a restricted carbs day? "Salmon with lots of grilled vegetables."

What does Katie Maloney do for a living? ›

Born in Utah, Katie Maloney moved to California to explore an acting career. She appeared in TV shows such as Harper's Globe, 2009: A True Story and BlackBoxTV. Maloney rose to stardom after she joined the cast of Bravo's Vanderpump Rules in 2013.

How does Lala Kent make money? ›

Lala basically has passive income down to a science. In addition to her role on VPR, the reality star owns her own beauty brand, Give Them Lala Beauty. (FYI: celebs have beauty brands because they can make a lot of cash from them).

Is Raquel's ring real Vanderpump? ›

Raquel learned that she did have an authentic Tiffany diamond. However, James had chosen the specific setting for the precious gemstone. According to the ex-pat James, the ring is insured.

Who owns SUR with Lisa Vanderpump? ›

How Did Lisa Vanderpump's SUR Restaurant Get Its Sexy, Unique Name? For this venture, Lisa and Ken joined forces Guillermo Zapata and his wife Nathalie Pouille-Zapata (whom fans will recognize from the show) as co-owners of the eatery back in 2005.

Does Raquel have autism? ›

She said that she has been "privately processing" her late autism diagnosis and has accepted it. She is now "filled with more hope and peace than ever before."

Is Scheana Shay's ring real? ›

The couple tied the knot in August 2022. At the alter Brock presented Scheana with a new ring: 4-carat emerald-cut solitaire engagement ring designed by Ring Come True.

Did James really spend $100,000 on Raquel's ring? ›

According to reports, Raquel's round-cut diamond engagement ring costs an estimated $100,000. After five years together, James popped the question at Coachella. The proposal was one that viewers won't soon forget. However, months after the episode aired, the couple announced their split.

How much did James spend on Raquel's ring? ›

“James Kennedy showed a serious sign of commitment as he likely spent $100,000 on Raquel's engagement ring,” Fried, the CEO of The Diamond Pro, told Page Six Style. “Her six-prong solitaire is a quintessential design that will never go out of style,” he continued.

Did Lala Kent work at SUR? ›

She was hired as a hostess at SUR, Vanderpump's trendy West Hollywood restaurant whose employees were the subjects of the series. During her first week on the job, Kent attempted to beg off work to travel abroad with a wealthy guy.

Does Lisa own Villa Blanca? ›

Lisa Vanderpump is shutting down her eatery, Villa Blanca, after 12 years of business.

Do Katie and Tom have a baby? ›

Do Katie Maloney and Tom Schwartz have kids? During their time together, Katie and Tom expressed interest in starting a family but did not have any kids together.

What is Katie Maloney's net worth? ›

What Is Katie Maloney's Net Worth? Katie has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million in 2023, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Was Raquel adopted from Vanderpump Rules? ›

"I was adopted at birth,” she explained. “My biological mom, Susan, gave birth to [my sister] Kate before me.

What did Raquel do to her face? ›

Which Forms of Plastic Surgery Did Raquel Leviss Get? In the November 2021 episode, the California native opened up about why she wanted the cosmetic procedure in the first place. “I got a nose job,” the reality star said. “I've always been a little insecure about my nose.”

Why did Raquel get a nose job? ›

Raquel Leviss

I felt like my nose tip was very bulbous and that it was too big for my face,” she said. “I do have a very petite, tiny face so I wanted a nose that would match those features.” Leviss says she still isn't totally happy with her results and is considering a secondary procedure to straighten the bridge.

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