Hollywood divorces are rarely simple—but when a staggering $57 billion is at stake, the stakes rise to an entirely different level. Real Housewives of Beverly Hills stars Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky are navigating what could become one of the most high-profile financial splits in Bravo history, with complex legal and emotional entanglements still unresolved more than two years after announcing their separation.
Despite going public with their separation in 2023, the couple has yet to officially file for divorce. Many speculate this delay is a strategic move to manage their considerable shared assets. According to Los Angeles-based attorney and crisis communicator Jamie E. Wright, that kind of timing isn’t uncommon when so much is on the line.
Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky are facing a complex divorce.
“The stakes are sky-high,” Wright told The U.S. Sun. “The launch of The Agency during marriage automatically makes the business property that belongs to both partners under California state law, despite Mauricio’s lead role in its creation.”
Founded in 2011, Mauricio Umansky’s real estate brokerage The Agency has skyrocketed in growth, reportedly generating over $57 billion in sales according to Forbes. While Mauricio is the face of the business, Kyle has hinted at her involvement over the years, even stating on RHOBH that “we started the real estate group” and that she “signed on the paperwork” as the company was forming.
Wright explained that these seemingly minor acknowledgments could carry significant legal weight. “The act of signing initial documents by Kyle Richards might indicate she co-owned part of The Agency or contributed to its development,” she elaborated. “As a public figure, Kyle Richards provides essential marketing value to The Agency, which enhances her potential claim for ownership despite being unpaid.”
However, this divorce is about much more than just a real estate company. The couple, married since 1996, share a reported net worth of at least $100 million—a figure that could swell substantially once the value of The Agency and their other joint assets is fully calculated. Wright emphasized that their legal battle intertwines with every aspect of their high-profile lifestyle.
“This situation spans far beyond deciding who will possess the Aspen residence,” she noted. “The divorce represents a complex matter involving real estate business empires alongside brand equity value and shared ownership of properties together with accumulated revenue from a 14-season recurring role on Bravo’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”
Dividing such an extensive empire isn’t just a matter of crunching financial numbers; it’s also an emotional minefield. “Millions create an environment where emotions become deeply involved,” Wright added, highlighting the tangled feelings at play. “Thus, making the situation increasingly complicated.”
As Kyle Richards and Mauricio have both been linked to new romantic partners—Kyle rumored to be growing close to country singer Morgan Wade, while Mauricio appears to be moving on—the financial negotiations may turn out to be their most prolonged entanglement yet. As Wright succinctly put it, “Both parties must navigate this legal battle like a chess match since a single strategic mistake can result in major financial losses reaching into the tens of millions.”