RHOBH: A Deep Dive Into Dorit And PK Kemsley's Financial Troubles
Mo' money mo' problems? Husband and wife duo Dorit and Paul "PK" Kemsley burst onto the Bravo scene in 2016 when Dorit joined Season 7 of the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." The couple quickly captured the interest of many Bravo fans as they gave viewers a glimpse into their ultra-lavish lifestyle. "I believe in excess of everything, except moderation," Dorit famously declared in her Season 8 tagline. Alas, some might argue that the high-rolling lifestyle the Kemsleys have grown accustomed to hasn't been without its problems.
In 2019, rumors started swirling that the couple's financial affairs were somewhat precarious — including whispers of mounting debt and multiple lawsuits. Dorit, however, was adamant that all was fine at the Kemsley household. "Everything is perfect. There is no money issue," she declared to TooFab in October 2019. So, what's the real story? Let's take a walk down memory lane to uncover the truth behind the Kemsley's financial woes — shall we?
'PK' Kemsley owed a lot of money
In 2019, the public learned that Paul "PK" Kemsley was embroiled in a nasty lawsuit that dated back years. Documents from The Blast revealed that Nicos Kirzis claimed PK defaulted on a $1.2 million loan issued in 2011, with a repayment deadline set for 2013. PK countered, asserting that his 2013 bankruptcy filing in the United Kingdom absolved him of the debt. Kirzis argued that he wasn't acknowledged as a creditor in that bankruptcy declaration. In 2016, a New York judge agreed, and Kemsley was ordered to pay the $1.2 million to Kirzis in addition to interest and other associated costs. When all was said and done, the grand total of his debt was a whopping $1,235,573.66.
But by 2019, Kemsley had only paid Kirzis $250,000. In turn, a judge ordered PK to appear at a hearing in June 2019 and disclose all of his finances to the court. At one point, the couple's bank account was frozen. Dorit, however, told host Andy Cohen during an episode of "Watch What Happens Live" that she voluntarily froze the bank account. The suit was eventually settled in October 2019 for an unknown amount.
PK also ran into some financial trouble with the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas when he racked up a gambling debt to the tune of $3.6 million. After missing a scheduled payment, the casino opted to take him to court, per documents obtained by The Blast. By May 2019, however, the lawsuit had been settled. "I'm delighted to be putting these various issues that are over twelve years old to bed," PK told Page Six.
Dorit Kemsley was sued for unpaid debts
Alas, Dorit Kemsley has dealt with some financial problems of her own. In August 2018, the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star was sued by her former Beverly Beach business partner, Ryan Horne. According to documents obtained by TMZ, Horne alleged that he loaned the couple $205,000 in seed money to start a swimwear line but was never paid back. Meanwhile, Dorit countersued, claiming that Horne was nothing more than a mere vendor for the line. In the end, both parties dropped their lawsuits against one another. "We always knew that it was going to be resolved and get resolved, and it was a matter of time and justice and so for us, it was very freeing. Of course, very happy that it's behind us and not in front of us, and we're able to just be done with it," Dorit later told Us Weekly.
Alas, in 2023, Dorit was hit with even more financial troubles. According to documents obtained by Radar, a private duty nurse named Natalie Vanderstay filed a lawsuit against Dorit for $8,600, citing unpaid labor. "I provided medical services for [Dorit]. [She] had plastic surgery and hired my services for day and overnight care; to monitor and assess her pain, administration of medications and treatments (as directed per her physician's orders). As well as address all her medical needs and concerns." In the end, the judge sided with Vanderstay, and Dorit was ordered to pay $8,675. As Dorit would say, those are the chicest financial troubles we've ever seen!