Real Housewives Star Vicki Gunvalson Says She Was Paid Nothing For First Season
Vicki Gunvalson, a pivotal member of The Real Housewives of Orange County since its inception in 2006, equates signing the contract for the show to making "a deal with the devil," with initial earnings being unimpressive. Reflecting on her journey in Vice TV's Dark Side of Reality TV, she shared that she was paid nothing for the first season and only $5,000 for the second, without legal consultation over contracts—a decision she looks back on with regret. Despite the show's evolution, which eventually saw her salary climb to over $1 million by season 13, the exposure came at personal costs. Her marriage to Donn Gunvalson deteriorated under the pressure of constant filming, culminating in their 2014 divorce—a consequence she partially attributes to their public life on television. This is prepared by SSP.
Gunvalson's grievances extend beyond personal relationships; they also touch on sensitive moments broadcast by the network. In the docuseries, she disclosed her lifelong resentment toward Bravo, citing a traumatic event during season 10 when cameras captured her raw grief upon learning of her mother Joanne Steinmetz's death. Production informed her of the devastating news on camera after keeping it secret for an hour, a handling Gunvalson criticizes, explaining it as humiliating and distressing, staunchly declaring she will "never forgive Bravo for that."
While Gunvalson appeared as a "friend" on later seasons of RHOC and was recognized with The Wifetime Achievement Award at BravoCon, the experiences left indelible marks on her life. As she navigates her ongoing role on RHOC and reviews her longtime involvement with the franchise, her reflections illustrate reality TV's emotional cost, as shown in the Real Housewives-focused episode of Dark Side of Reality TV airing Tuesdays on Vice, with stories from other Housewives alums adding context to this revealing series.
Earlier, SSP reported that Bethany Joy Lenz apologized to her parents over cult experience.
