Vicki Gunvalson: The OG of the OC Who Built an Empire Beyond Reality TV
When The Real Housewives of Orange County premiered in 2006, nobody knew it would become a cultural phenomenon. And nobody knew that Vicki Gunvalson, the loud, lovable, and fiercely ambitious insurance executive from Coto de Caza, would become the blueprint for reality television stardom. Twenty years later, the “OG of the OC” is still here. She has survived divorces, scandals, a demotion, and a return to full-time housewife status. But through it all, Gunvalson has built something far more substantial than a reality TV career. She has built a business empire.
Quick Facts
Early Life
Vicki Gunvalson was born Victoria L. Steinmetz on March 27, 1962, in Mount Prospect, Illinois. She was one of five children. Her father owned a construction company, and her mother was a housewife.
At the age of five, Gunvalson underwent surgery to remove a benign inner-ear tumor called cholesteatoma. The surgery cost her 50 percent of her hearing in her right ear. By the time she was 25, she had undergone five further surgeries and had completely lost hearing in her right ear. When she was 32, the tumor grew back, wrapped around her facial nerve, pierced through her skull, and crept toward the right side of her brain. She recovered from one last risky surgery, but her hearing in her right ear never returned.
At 21, Gunvalson married her first husband, Michael J. Wolfsmith. They had two children together. The couple divorced when she was 29, and she began working part-time at her father’s construction company. After her father’s death from Alzheimer’s disease in 1991, she joined the health insurance business.
Career
Building Coto Insurance
Gunvalson’s career in insurance began in 1991. After obtaining her insurance license in California, she founded Coto Insurance and Financial Services in 1994, the same year she married her second husband, Donn Gunvalson. The company specializes in life insurance, asset protection, and retirement income planning. It remains the foundation of her wealth today.
Gunvalson started the business from a home office and expanded it into a full-fledged agency over the years. She has helped more than 7,000 clients throughout her career. Her son, Michael Wolfsmith, works alongside her at Coto Insurance.
The Real Housewives of Orange County
Gunvalson is one of the original cast members of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Orange County, which premiered in 2006. She appeared as a full-time cast member for the first thirteen seasons. In Season 14, she was demoted to a “friend of the Housewives” role before departing the franchise entirely in January 2020.
She later returned in a guest capacity during Season 17 and Season 18. In November 2025, it was announced that she would return as a full-time cast member for the show’s 20th season. The milestone season premiered on July 9, 2026.
RHOC Salary
Gunvalson’s salary from RHOC grew dramatically over the years. She was paid “nothing, zero” for her first season. For Season 2, she believes she was paid $5,000 for the entire season. By Season 11 or 12, she started making seven figures. By Season 13 in 2018, her salary was over $1 million. Some reports estimated she earned approximately $500,000 per season during her peak.
Speaking about her experience on the show, Gunvalson has called signing onto The Real Housewives “a deal with the devil.”
Other Television Appearances
In June 2022, Gunvalson starred in the second season of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, a Peacock spin-off featuring various women from the Real Housewives franchise. She also appears in The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th.
Podcasts
Gunvalson has expanded into podcasting. In 2020, she hosted a podcast titled Whoop It Up with Vicki. In 2025, she began co-hosting My Friend, My Soulmate, My Podcast with Christian Gray Snow through the Hurrdat Media Network.
Real Estate and Other Ventures
Beyond insurance and television, Gunvalson is a real estate owner and investor. In 2025, she purchased a property in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, which she renovated and plans to rent out. She also splits her time between Orange County, La Quinta, and Puerto Vallarta with her boyfriend.
Major Achievements
- Founder and CEO of Coto Insurance: Built a successful insurance agency from the ground up, serving more than 7,000 clients over 30 years.
- Original cast member of RHOC: One of the longest-serving Housewives in Bravo history, appearing in 17 of the show’s 20 seasons.
- Seven-figure salary: Became one of Bravo’s highest-paid Housewives, earning over $1 million per season at her peak.
- Podcast host: Launched two podcasts, including My Friend, My Soulmate, and My Podcast.
- Return to RHOC: Made a full-time return for the show’s 20th season in 2026.
Business Ventures
Gunvalson’s primary business venture is Coto Insurance and Financial Services, which she founded in 1994 and continues to run as president and CEO. The company provides insurance, asset protection, and retirement income planning.
She has also built a significant real estate portfolio, including properties in California and Mexico. Her podcasting ventures and speaking engagements provide additional income streams. Her speaking fees are estimated between $30,000 and $50,000 for live events.
Public Image
Gunvalson is known as the “OG of the OC,” a title she has earned through two decades of reality television. She is recognized for her catchphrase “Whoop it up!” and her dramatic, emotionally charged presence on screen. Viewers have watched her navigate career highs, relationship turmoil, and personal tragedy.
She has also faced significant public scrutiny. Her relationship with Brooks Ayers, who was accused of faking a cancer diagnosis, was a major controversy during Season 10. More recently, she has been involved in a financial elder abuse lawsuit, which she is fighting through a countersuit.
Despite the controversies, Gunvalson has maintained a loyal fan base and remains one of the most recognizable faces in reality television.
Personal Life
Gunvalson was married to her first husband, Michael J. Wolfsmith, from 1982 to 1991. They had two children: Michael Wolfsmith (born 1986) and Briana Culberson (born 1987).
She married her second husband, Donn Gunvalson, in 1994. The couple divorced in 2014. Gunvalson has said she regrets choosing the show over her marriage to Donn.
She later dated Brooks Ayers from 2012 to 2015. She was engaged to Steve Lodge from 2016 to 2021.
Since 2022, Gunvalson has been dating Michael Smith, a businessman and developer from Texas. The couple recently bought a house together in La Quinta, California, and split their time between Orange County, La Quinta, and Puerto Vallarta. Gunvalson has said she is “not needing to get married again.”
Family Rift
Gunvalson’s daughter, Briana Culberson, wants “nothing to do” with The Real Housewives. Briana’s husband, Ryan Culberson, a former Marine who served six tours overseas and suffers from PTSD, was portrayed negatively on the show. When Bravo patriarch Andy Cohen asked Briana to appear on Season 20, she allegedly told him to “please lose my number.”
Gunvalson’s son, Michael, revealed in an RHOC episode that he had not seen his sister in eight years. Gunvalson has said, “It absolutely sucks that my kids live far away.”
Net Worth (Estimated)
Publicly available estimates of Vicki Gunvalson’s net worth are consistently cited at approximately $7 million.
This figure is based on several income streams:
Coto Insurance: Gunvalson has worked in the insurance industry since 1991 and founded Coto Insurance and Financial Services in 1994. The company remains the foundation of her wealth.
Reality Television: Gunvalson was paid “nothing, zero” for her first season of RHOC. By Season 2, she earned $5,000 for the entire season. By Season 13 in 2018, her salary was over $1 million. Some reports estimate she earned approximately $500,000 per season during her peak.
Real Estate: Gunvalson has invested in multiple properties, including a home in Puerto Vallarta that she renovated and plans to rent out.
Podcasts and Speaking Engagements: She co-hosts My Friend, My Soulmate, and My Podcast and commands speaking fees estimated between $30,000 and $50,000 for live events.
It is important to note that net worth figures are estimates based on publicly available information. The $7 million figure is widely cited by multiple sources.
Editor’s Note: Net worth figures are estimates compiled from publicly available sources and may vary depending on methodology. Late Magazine does not have access to private financial records and does not present these figures as confirmed or audited.
Interesting Facts
- Hearing loss: Gunvalson lost all hearing in her right ear after multiple surgeries to remove a benign inner-ear tumor.
- Started from nothing: She was paid nothing for her first season of RHOC and only $5,000 for her second season.
- Catchphrase: She is famous for her catchphrase “Whoop it up!”
- Business-minded: She was once photographed taking a business call while posing with castmates for RHUGT.
- Speaking fees: She commands up to $50,000 for live speaking engagements.
Legacy
Vicki Gunvalson’s legacy is that of a pioneer. She was there at the beginning of the Real Housewives franchise and helped define what a reality television star could be. She proved that a woman could be both a successful business executive and a reality TV personality. Her journey from a $5,000 paycheck to a seven-figure salary is a testament to her resilience and business acumen. As she returns for the 20th season of RHOC, the “OG of the OC” shows no signs of slowing down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Vicki Gunvalson?
Vicki Gunvalson is an American reality television personality and businesswoman. She is best known as an original cast member of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Orange County.
What is Vicki Gunvalson’s net worth?
Publicly available estimates place her net worth at approximately $7 million.
How did Vicki Gunvalson make her money?
She made her money through her insurance company, Coto Insurance and Financial Services, her RHOC salary, real estate investments, podcasting, and speaking engagements.
Is Vicki Gunvalson still on RHOC?
Yes. She returned as a full-time cast member for Season 20, which premiered in July 2026.
Who is Vicki Gunvalson dating?
She has been dating businessman Michael Smith since 2022.
Does Vicki Gunvalson have children?
Yes, she has two children: Michael Wolfsmith and Briana Culberson.
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