From the Kardashians to Bachelorette scandals, reality television has become a massive part of pop culture. Since it’s popularization in the early aughts, reality TV as gone from the classic dating show format and the wildest game shows to simply throwing a bunch of strangers in a house and hoping they get along— but it’s always better when they don’t. Today, reality television stars are some of the richest celebrities, from Kylie Jenner topping the Forbes list with her billion dollar company and Kim Kardashian‘s decade-long reign as a pop culture icon to Cardi B becoming the biggest start in the world (following a stint on Love & Hip Hop.)
Once upon a time, reality television stars were considered D-listers and not “real celebrities” but today, they belong on the A-list, and we’re not mad about it at all. A lot of these stars have done the hard work of transitioning from television to finding other careers. While some have gone onto become entrepreneurs, authors, talk show hosts, designers, and fully-fledged actors, others are still rocking the reality television game. It’s all about the money, honey. We decided to put on our detective hats on and find out what the most seminal reality stars are up to today.
Tiffany Pollard (Flavor of Love)
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw2h9TmhR-e/”]
Arguably one of the most iconic reality stars, Tiffany Pollard knows where she’s needed.
You might know her as New York, the explosive contestant from VH1’s 2006 dating show Flavor of Love but she prefers if you called her the HBIC (Head B*tch In Charge). At just 23, Pollard clashed with every other contestant and really made an impression on viewers. 13 years, later, she’s become a fundamental part of other reality television shows. From her own show, I Love New York, that ran for two seasons, to her 2016 appearance on Celebrity Big Brother UK, where she placed in the top four, Pollard has stuck to her strengths.
Snooki (Jersey Shore)
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzvdpd2lTn-/”]
Snooki was Jersey Shore’s breakout star, and now she’s branching out.
Jersey Shore star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi might have had a reputation for being a bit of a drunk mess, but it was impossible to have a dull moment with her around. Jersey Shore aired its last episode in 2012 and since then, Jersey Shore: Family Reunion has brought our favorite guidos back to the small screen. But in that time Snooki has been hard at work. She’s had a stint on Dancing With The Stars, acting gigs on Supernatural and Cake Boss, and has even co-hosted MTV’s How Far Is Tattoo Far?
Lauren Conrad (Laguna Beach)
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/ByDlzH9HM6p/”]
From Laguna Beach to The Hills, Lauren decided to leave television for greener pastures.
As one of the most successful reality stars from The Hills (not counting Kristin Cavallari), Lauren Conrad was arguably the most famous of the Laguna Beach clan back in the early 2000s, and she remains the most recognizable to this day, thanks to her various fashion lines, book series, and business ventures. When she’s not raising her son with husband William Tell, LC is busy overseeing fashion empires LC Lauren Conrad and Paper Crown, writing book series like L.A. Candy and The Fame Game, and keeping her blog up and running. Basically, Conrad is just the former-reality-star-turned-renaissance-woman that we all aspire to be.
NeNe Leakes (The Real Housewives of Atlanta)
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzt6dG5gxTB/”]
This Atlanta housewife decided she was destined for bigger and better things.
When NeNe Leakes became one of the breakout reality stars of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, she took her success and ran with it. But things haven’t been so easy. After being the main support system for her husband who was diagnosed with cancer (eventually beating it in May 2019), NeNe got into acting, fashion, and writing her own book. From roles on Glee and The New Normal to stints in reality TV with The Celebrity Apprentice and Dancing With The Stars. NeNe also made her Broadway debut staring in productions of Cinderella and Chicago. Between all of her acting gigs, she also managed to launch her own clothing line, star on Fashion Police, and co-write with Denene Millner the book Never Make The Same Mistake Twice.
Speidi (The Hills)
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/ByoE6nyFw9h/”]
This couple went from always on-and-off to the steadiest reality stars of all time.
Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt always had a tumultuous relationship on The Hills, but their never-quit attitudes have taken them far. Still together today, they’ve come together to build a family and an everlasting career as a unit. After the show, they admitted to blowing through almost $10 million, which led them to make every television appearance that landed in their lap. Making a move to London meant appearing on Celebrity Big Brother UK and I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, but much like their reality TV peers, they’ve made a comeback with The Hills: New Beginnings— the long-awaited reunion series on MTV.
Flavor Flav (Flavor of Love)
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BwGwl0aB0kj/”]
Known for the biggest chain in the biz, Flav tried to do something with his namesake.
Instantly recognizable for his giant clock chains, Flavor Flav was there at the advent of reality television. But after the final season of Flavor of Love aired in 2008, he set his sights on becoming a restaurateur. Opening Flav’s Fried Chicken in Clinton, Iowa, things went south quickly, and he shut down the operation after only 13 weeks. But according to Vegas Eater, Flav decided to try again with Flavor Flav House of Flavor and Flavor Flav’s Chicken & Ribs in 2012. He even tried another location in Las Vegas at the end of 2018. All closed soon after. Right now, it seems like he’s laying low.
Nick Lachey (Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica)
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/ByqbpoUFCJi/”]
Reality television might have broken his marriage, but better things were around the corner for Nick.
Before Nick Lachey did his time on reality TV, he was the heartthrob in boy-band 98 Degrees. In 2003, he ended up starring in MTV reality show, Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica with his new wife, Jessica Simpson, which ended with the demise of their marriage. According to Ranker, the tabloids went insane, and Nick was left to pick up the pieces once the spotlight waned. Today, he’s happily married and has a family with actress, Vanessa Lachey. He’s also found his knack with hosting, being at the helm of shows like The Sing-Off and Big Morning Buzz.
Jessica Simpson (Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica)
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BzvFhKdADCR/”]
She lost a lot because of reality televisionm but she’s also gained so much more.
Not unlike her ex-husband Nick Lachey, Jessica Simpson has moved onto greener pastures. With two kids, Maxwell and Ace, the former reality star now has a clothing and shoe line. She also had a short-lived edible beauty line in the early aughts. She also made a huge announcement on Instagram in July 2019. “I have been waiting for so long to share some exciting news,” Simpson writes. “I will be releasing my first book on February 4th with @harpercollinsus.” According to Us Weekly, the book will dish on ex Nick Lachey.
Ashlee Simpson (The Ashlee Simpson Show)
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BttnR7IhLUX/”]
She married Diana Rosss’ son and now they’re sharing everything on E!
Jessica Simpson’s little sister had her own reality television moment with The Ashlee Simpson Show. After the show fizzled out, she tried her hand at a pop career (just like older sister, Jessica) and while “Pieces of Me” was a hit, but disappeared from the limelight soon after. Today, she and her family are reality stars, sharing her life with Evan Ross and her children on E!’s Ashlee+Evan.
Xzibit (Pimp My Ride)
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BzMWFqUgCSh/”]
This rapper-cum-reality star has gone on to find a steady job.
Xzibit is one of the most iconic West Coast rappers, but in 2004, Pimp My Ride made the hip-hop star a reality television stalwart. Since the end of the incredible show (we loved seeing disco balls in tiny cars) Xzibit has released a steady stream of music. In a 2018 interview on The Breakfast Club, he admitted that becoming one of many reality stars and being on the show might have ruined his career in music, but he seems to be doing pretty well for himself as a producer with the occasional acting gig.
Ashton Kutcher (Punk’d)
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BGc043anJ-C/”]
This is simply the most unexpected career trajectory of them all.
Ashton Kutcher took pranking people to the next level with Punk’d and managed to have a pretty steady acting career after the show. From That ’70s Show to starring in a slew of rom-coms, it seemed that Kutcher had found his calling— that is, until he switched gears. After marrying sweetheart in 2015, Mila Kunis, Kutcher has become a tech venture capitalist with A-Grade Investments.
Sharon Osbourne (The Osbournes)
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BytREWeAJxw/”]
This potty-mouthed family from across the pond created a slew of stars.
The Osbournes saw Ozzy Osbourne and his family trade in colorful language on some of the most intense reality television aired. His wife, Sharon Osbourne, became famous for her maternal power and has since taken that energy to another type of television. From being a co-host on the headline-grabbing talk show The Talk to being a judge on talent show X Factor, Sharon has found a way to give great advice, while being a boss with her music agency, Sharon Osbourne Management.
Ted Allen (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy)
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BpTOvA0gvHd/”]
From the original Fab 5, Allen has gone on to become a food icon.
Before Antoni Porowski, there was Ted Allen, the original food expert from the mid-aughts hit Queer Eye For The Straight Guy. The culinary expert is now a familiar face on The Food Network, mostly as the host of Chopped and Chopped Junior. Not only does he get to throw himself into his passion on TV, but he’s also released some books, including The Food You Want to Eat.
Bam Margera (Viva La Bam)
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzb3cbUhXYG/”]
Life took a left turn for Bam, but he’s gone back to his roots.
Bam had a bit of a tough run after leaving television. Starring on both Jackass and reality show Viva La Bam , Bam was a skateboarding prodigy before he found fame, but wealth and celebrity took him to some dark places. Following the death of his best friend Ryan Dunn in 2011, Bam decided to get sober and has since returned to doing what he’s always loved: skateboarding.
Christian Siriano (Project Runway)
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/ByQZjIznTab/”]
He’s gone from Project Runway to designing dresses for the biggest stars in the world.
According to Insider, Christian Siriano made history when he became the youngest winner of Project Runway at the age of 19. He won a slew of challenges and was even praised by fashion connoisseur Victoria Beckham. But after the show, things just got better. Today he’s one of Hollywood go-to designers, creating looks for Billy Porter, Janelle Monae, and most famously for Michelle Obama.
Nicole Richie (The Simple Life)
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BzMcNGoHXDS/”]
One of the first reality stars has gone on to have an incredible career.
The Simple Life saw Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie act like rich, spoiled brats, but it changed reality television forever— and for the better. The daughter of Lionel Richie may have had some party years, becoming the face of the 2000s brat-pack, but since then, Nicole has completely settled down. Today she’s married to Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden and has her own high-fashion jewelry line, House of Harlow, as well as a TV role on Great News.
