Tom Sandovalโwhat a character, right? The Vanderpump Rules OG has really stirred the pot over the past year, earning himself quite the reputation as a reality TV villain.
But let’s take a better look. Who is Tom Sandoval beyond the drama? Where’s he from? And, seriously, how old is he?
If you’re itching to watch Vanderpump Rules, just head over to Peacock or the Bravo app.
So, stick around and keep scrolling. You’re about to learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Tom Sandovalโhis real age included.
When Was Tom Sandoval Born?
It’s kinda funny, but Tom’s age is a bit of a mystery in the Bravoverse. We know his birthday is July 7, but the exact year? That’s where things get fuzzy.
Tom himself said, “I’m a 39-year-old boy,” during Season 10 on a roller skating date with Ariana Madix. But then, the producers had to chime in with a “Fact Check: Tom is 40” text on the screen.
For his 2023 birthday, his good buddy Tom Schwartz got him a cake that said, โHappy 40th Birthday, AGAIN.โ
So, was Tom Sandoval born in 1982 or 1983? Only he knows for sure.
According to his IMDb page, Tom is 5 feet and 11 inches tall.
During a game ofย Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenย in 2019, it was revealed that his then-girlfriendย Ariana Madixย told producers thatย Tom wears heel inserts in his shoes to make him appear tallerย โ a fact which Tom Schwartz confirmed live on-air.
Family
Tom Sandoval’s parents are Anthony Sandoval and Terri Green. According to Tom, they split up when he was a kid. He also has a brother named Brian Sandoval.
Terri made an appearance in Season 4 of Vanderpump Rules. She had dinner at SUR with Tom, Ariana Madix, and Mike Shay.
“I’ve spent a lot of time with Tom’s mom. She’s really smart, strong, and fun to be around,” Ariana said in Episode 9. Tom shared his love for the woman who raised him, adding, “My mom has always been a real badass. My toughness, a bit of my cockiness, and my perseverance come from her.” He mentioned his mom is a firefighter who once kicked down a door in flip flops.
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Tom also gave a shoutout to his awesome mom in a 2015 Instagram post celebrating her retirement. He pointed out that she was the first woman to be awarded “Firefighter of the Year” in St. Louis County in 1997 and also received a “heroism award” from Fire House Magazine.
He was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri.
According to his mom, Terri, Tom showed his star power early on. When he was in third grade, he told her he wanted to enter a talent contest.
“He goes, ‘I’m going to dance and lip-sync and stuff.’ There were 25 acts: 24 acts were girls, and then Tom. He freaking stole the show and took first place,” she shared.
What Does He Do for A Living?
Tom started his career as a model, but his resume is quite diverse. He’s been an actor, musician, and bartender (first at Villa Blanca, then at SUR). He’s also a bar owner.
These days, he keeps busy managing his Los Angeles restaurants โ TomTom and Schwartz & Sandy’s โ and performing with his band, Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras.
What Is His Band Called?
Tom’s band is called Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras. It features Tom and six other members. If you’ve been a VPR fan for a while, you know that being “extra” is a big part of Tom’s personality. In Season 8, he even threw an extra-themed birthday party, encouraging his friends to show up as the most intense versions of themselves.
“To me, being extra means your most extroverted self. You know? Like, your personality, your look, but on steroids,” he explained in Episode 12 while shopping for pants to go with his birthday stilts. “Loud. Flamboyant. Effervescent.”
Modeling Part of Career
Tom started his career as a model, which is how he met Jax Taylor.
But despite the perceived glamour, he didn’t really enjoy his time in the industry.
โI dealt with so much f-cking harassment and so much creepiness,โ Tom shared on a January 2019 episode of the “Everything Iconic with Danny Pellegrino” podcast. โIn my experience, 15 f-cking years of experience, in every major market โ Chicago, LA, New York, Miami โ at 10 agencies across the U.S., [female models] were always paid more, treated far better. If they were young, they had a parent with them. They make more, theyโre treated better, theyโre put way more on a pedestal. And I donโt disagree with that.โ
Tom Sandoval Movies and TV Shows
Tom has acted in several horror movies over the years, including Playing With Fire, Alien Presence, and The Pit and the Pendulum. You might also spot him on HBO’s The Other Two and in old episodes of The Hills.
Recently, Tom added to his reality TV resume by appearing on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. In this show, he tackles “demanding training exercises led by directing staff agents, an elite team of ex-Special Forces operatives.”
Two of his earliest on-screen roles were as the protagonist in the music videos for Bon Jovi’s “Misunderstood” and “All About Lovin’ You.
Net Worth 2024
Tom Sandoval’s net worth is estimated to be around $4 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. In comparison, his ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix’s net worth is estimated to be around $2 million.
Meanwhile, comedian Theo Von’s net worth is also a notable topic of discussion, often compared within celebrity circles.
The two used to share a $2.1 million house together. However, after the Sandoval drama, they continued living together temporarily, but it seems like this will change soon. Ariana is suing Tom to dissolve their co-ownership of the house. โI want things a certain way when I think itโs the right time,โ Ariana told People during the Vanderpump Rules Season 11 premiere event. โSo Iโm ready. I want to own my own home.โ
โIโm just really motivated to be able to get the investment that I made into the house out so that I can make another investment and be able to fully just move on from being tied to that,โ she said.
Salary for Vanderpump Rules
According to Cheat Sheet, Sandoval makes $15,000 per episode on Vanderpump Rules. However, The Hollywood Reporter noted in 2020 that, as a core cast member, he likely earns around $25,000 per episode.
In 2016, Sandoval sued for higher pay, claiming he wasn’t being compensated enough. TMZ reported that he made $38,000 for the first two seasons before negotiating a $15,000 per episode salary for season 3, which remains his rate now.
TMZ also reported that his then-agent, Peter Young, was supposed to receive a 10 percent cut of Sandoval’s earnings but ended up receiving $1,300.
Regarding season 11, there have been discussions about salary adjustments, as mentioned by Executive Producer Alex Baskin. โThis is as hard as itโs ever been because typically, we have a rate card, a tenure card, weโve used in prior seasons. There are all sorts of asks across the board,โ he told The Los Angeles Times.
He also noted that most cast members received pay raises. โTheir point is, rightfully, โYou guys are touting the showโs success. Where is our piece of that?โ Those are tough conversations. I did think that everybody, with the exception of Rachel, who had to make a personal decision, wanted to come back. Everybody did better than what they had previously gotten.โ
Who Is He Dating?
Does Tom Sandoval has a new girlfriend?
After his very public breakup with Ariana, Tom Sandoval mentioned he’s been dating casually but is mainly focusing on himself.
โIโm not getting into anything serious right now. Iโm just kind of really taking some time. I mean, Iโve been pretty much in a committed relationship for 15 years,” he told E! News in September.
But in spite of that he meet up with Victoria Lee Robinson and they started dating and still are on.
Tom Sandoval Affair
In a recent New York Times interview, Tom Sandoval made some highly controversial comments comparing his cheating scandal, often referred to as “Scandoval,” to significant historical events such as the O.J. Simpson trial and the murder of George Floyd.
He stated, โI witnessed the O.J. Simpson thing and George Floyd and all these big things, which is really weird to compare this to that, I think, but do you think in a weird way itโs a little bit the same?โ This comparison drew immediate backlash from fans and fellow reality TV stars who found his remarks insensitive and inappropriateโ.
Sandoval later issued an apology on Instagram, admitting that his comments were “inappropriate and ignorant,” and expressing his embarrassment over the situationโ according to TheWrap.
During the interview, Sandoval also likened himself to other controversial figures, including Danny Masterson, and expressed frustration over his portrayal on the reality show Special Forces, where he felt producers favored Jojo Siwa over him despite his claims to the contraryโ as per the Betches).
The fallout from his comments and the broader scandal has had significant professional repercussions. Brands are hesitant to associate with him, and some opportunities, like a potential stint with Chippendales in Las Vegas, have been put on holdโ.
