It was the Bravo fiasco that made headlines and catapulted Vanderpump Rules into the ratings stratosphere. “Scandoval,” the bombshell scandal that revealed Tom Sandoval cheated on his longtime girlfriend and fellow cast member, Ariana Madix, with former castmate, Rachel “Raquel” Leviss, hit in March 2023. And while the players involved have no doubt profited financially from their heightened infamy, the drama has also created a sticky real estate situation. As Sandoval and Madix continue to battle it out for their $2 million home in Valley Village, California, we’ve put together a primer on everything you need to know to follow along.
In Happier Times
After several years as a couple, Sandoval and Madix purchased a $2 million home in Valley Village back in 2019, Bravo reported at the time. It was a suburban migration that followed then fellow cast members Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright, who had also set up shop in the Valley. Wrapped in white board-and-batten siding, the 4,453-square-foot home featured black window frames and palm trees dotting its picturesque exterior. The kitchen, which could be seen in several celebratory photos the couple shared to social media at the time, was anchored by a large stone island and boasted white cabinetry as well as a subway tile backsplash. The purchase was a major move for Madix, who frequently commented on how it was a true measure of adulthood for her.
The Post-Scandoval Fallout
After Sandoval’s affair with Leviss was made public, it appeared that Madix was moving out of the home. In May 2023, she posted a photograph of herself on social media that showed her hauling boxes as she left the residence, alongside the caption “ready to dip out.” However, fans soon learned that moment was in fact a paid stunt for financial services company SoFi.
In reality the duo is still cohabiting. Naturally, this has made for plenty of conflict—including Sandoval claiming that Madix didn’t pay any bills for around eight months after the affair came to light. With Madix sleeping in the primary suite and Sandoval in a different bedroom, the couple rarely come in contact with each other. In fact, communication solely takes place through Sandoval’s assistant. In the season 11 premiere episode, Tom’s assistant mentioned to Madix that Sandoval was hoping to host a party. He invited her to the fête and alternatively suggested getting her a hotel room for the night. Madix was having none of it and mentioned that if people got too noisy at the soirée, she’d call the cops.
Sandoval wanted to buy Madix out
In the season 11 premiere, Madix shared that Sandoval hoped to buy her out of the property. Calling it “psychotic,” Madix shared that she had rejected the offer and felt that she shouldn’t have to be the one to move. Threatening legal action, she subsequently filed a lawsuit early last month, asking a judge to intervene and order the sale of the house, Vulture reported.
The Long Arm of the Law
Madix has stated that she wants the property to be sold and the proceeds split between the two of them, per Vulture. She has asked the court to order a partition by sale, which occurs when a property cannot be divided equitably between owners.
“You can’t sell the house unless both people agree to sell the house, but Sandoval wants to buy me out and stay there,” Madix shared on the show. “And I’m not going to pack up my clothes and hitchhike down the road because Tom [Sandoval] offered me a measly sum of money. The fact of that matter is he broke the home. He doesn’t get to do that and, I don’t know, keep it.”