Real Housewives’ biggest financial scandals: Erika Jayne’s embezzlement shocker, Jen Shah’s telemarketing scam, Teresa Giudice’s bankruptcy fraud and more

Jul 21 , 2021

Erika Jayne, Jen Shah, Teresa Giudice and Karen Huger: four Real Housewives from across the US who face accusations of, and have even done jail time for, financial wrongdoing. Photos: @theprettymess; @teresagiudice; @officialkarenhuger/ Instagram, @RyneGregory/ Twitter

Kyle Richards, Lisa Rinna and the rest of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast were rocked by Jayne and Girardi’s divorce and embezzlement accusations

Jen Shah faces charges of fraud and money laundering, while Joe Giudice is serving a 40-month sentence for fraud after ex-wife Teresa completed her sentence

One of the things we love most about The Real Housewives franchise is the drama! But in some cases, we got a lot more drama than we anticipated. While we tune in for the show’s dinner party showdown, it’s often the off-camera court appearances that are most gripping.

So what are some of the biggest financial scandals the housewives have faced, and who ended up doing time in jail?

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: Erika Jayne and Tom Girardi embezzling funds?

Erika Jayne and Tom Girardi are accused of embezzling money from a plane crash settlement fund. Photo: @tigandcheryltruestory/Instagram

Season 11 of the show saw the likes of Kyle Richards, Lisa Rinna and the other wives shocked to learn that Erika was divorcing Tom after 22 years. But a month after she filed for divorce – on the day of the US presidential election, no less – came the bigger news that the couple were being sued.

A lawsuit had been filed accusing them of embezzling money. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the embezzlement was allegedly from a fund for families of 2018 Lion Air flight 610 crash victims. Erika maintains that she had no idea about her lawyer spouse’s financials, but others have speculated that the divorce may even be a cover to save the California couple’s assets.

In the meantime, Erika, 50, has demanded financial support and accused Tom, 82, of cheating on her. Tom has been diagnosed with late-onset Alzheimer’s and placed under a conservatorship, with his brother at the helm.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City: Jen Shah’s telemarketing scam?

Jen Shah is accused of a long-running scam involving telemarketing. Photo: @therealjenshah/Instagram

The series may be only be in its first season, but there’s already plenty of drama from this Utah-based cast – including Jen Shah and her assistant Stuart Smith.