Vicki Gunvalson Reflects on Her Journey with The Real Housewives

A Deal with the Devil

Vicki Gunvalson from RHOC describes her decision to join The Real Housewives as "a deal with the devil." As one of the original cast members of "The Real Housewives of Orange County," which launched the entire franchise, she reflects on her experience during the early days of the show, which debuted in 2006. This was shared in Vice TV's docuseries, Dark Side of Reality TV, that aired on October 28. At 62, Vicki expressed, "I definitely feel like it's a deal with the devil." She reminisced about her first season, revealing that she earned "nothing, zero" since neither the network nor the viewers had any idea what The Real Housewives would evolve into. "In Season 2, I think I made $5,000 for the entire season," Vicki continued. "It wasn't much, and I didn't even have a lawyer review my contract. I was completely clueless about the whole process."

Gretchen Rossi, Lynne Curtin, Tamra Barney, Vicki Gunvalson at the TV GUIDE Magazine's Hot List Party, SLS Hotel, Los Angeles, CA

Rise to Fame and Wealth

As the franchise expanded, leading to new editions in cities like New York City, Atlanta, Beverly Hills, and New Jersey, Vicki's earnings also increased significantly. By the time she reached season 13 of RHOC in 2018, her salary had surpassed $1 million. "My last full-time season, the pay was substantial—seven figures. I never imagined I would earn that much," Vicki shared. However, the success came with its challenges. Viewers witnessed the decline of her marriage to Donn Gunvalson unfold on screen. She filed for divorce in 2010, which was finalized in 2014. "People often ask if I regret being on the show, and when I reflect on my relationships, I would say yes," she confessed. "With Donn, the show definitely affected our relationship. Being on television added immense pressure to our marriage. I believe we could have made it if I hadn’t been on the show, and that’s something I regret."

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Vicki Gunvalson

Heartbreaking Moments on Camera

Another painful moment occurred during season 10 when Vicki received the heartbreaking news of her mother Joanne Steinmetz's passing. The cameras were rolling as she learned about it from her daughter Briana Culberson over the phone, leading her to collapse in sorrow. "I was really hurt that production knew for an hour and didn’t inform me. They crossed a line, and I think they should have pulled me aside to say, 'Your mom has passed. Speak to your daughter off-camera,'" she expressed to Vice TV. "If I were a producer, that’s how I would have handled it." "Let me have my moment to scream and cry in private," she added. "It was incredibly traumatic. I will never forgive Bravo for that."

Vicki has her reservations, yet she remains a part of RHOC, taking on the role of a "friend" in season 14 and appearing as a guest in seasons 17 and 18, which is currently airing. At last year's BravoCon in Las Vegas, a grand event celebrating all things Bravo, she received The Wifetime Achievement Award from Andy Cohen. The Dark Side of Reality TV featuring The Real Housewives will be broadcast on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on Vice. Former Real Housewives stars Cynthia Bailey and Aviva Drescher are also involved in the series. You can catch The Real Housewives of Orange County on Thursdays on Bravo, with episodes available the following day on Peacock.

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