Inside RHOBH alum Kim Richards’ major money and legal problems after she was fired from show over sobriety struggles
REAL Housewives Of Beverly Hills alum Kim Richards has struggled with major money and legal problems since she was fired from the series over her sobriety struggles.
After being arrested TWICE in 2015, announced they had let Kim go to focus on getting help for her but have since brought the 56-year-old back as a guest star.
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Kim became tangled up in legal controversy following years of substance abuse issues - which were documented on the early seasons of .
The former child actor displayed erratic behavior on the first two seasons of the reality show and ultimately sought help at rehab in 2012 - just one of multiple times she’d go to a treatment facility.
After slurring her words and other concerning actions, she admitted to during her first interview since the rehab stay later that year: "I'm an alcoholic.”
Despite being open about her drinking struggles, Kim would remain a full-time for the next three years - leading up to her legal run-ins.
In April 2015, was arrested and later charged with trespassing, public intoxication, resisting an officer and battery on a police officer at the legendary Beverly Hills Hotel.
She spent the night in a jail but was released the next morning on a $20,000 bond.
On an episode of the following year, she took full responsibility for her actions leading up to the arrest.
"I drank that night, no excuses. I stopped focusing on myself. I stopped taking the time for me and going to meetings because I was taking care of other people.
“And I stopped taking care of myself,” she told host Bravo boss, Andy.
Just a few months after her Beverly Hills Hotel altercation, Kim was arrested once again in August 2015 for shoplifting at a Los Angeles Target store.
She was arrested and booked at a LA jail but released the following morning on a $5,000 bond.
According to - which obtained pictures of Kim’s stolen merchandise - she grabbed reusable bags and began “loading them up” with items from the DOLLAR section.
Among the products that she took were art supplies, makeup and children’s toys, animal crackers and dozens of other items - which the outlet claimed totaled over $600.
Following her , she was fired by Bravo as a and her stream of revenue immediately halted.
However, her financial issues did not end there as she has faced multiple lawsuits in the years since.
In 2016, she was sued by her former stylist and assistant, Paige Sanderson, after she was allegedly bit by Kim’s dog, Kingsley.
, 52, was also brought into the lawsuit, as the alleged dog bite happened at a home owned by her at the time.
After two years of court battles, both of settled with Paige for an undisclosed sum of money in 2018.
Later in 2018, Kim was ordered to pay $266,000 for a separate attack that occurred in 2015 with her dog, Kingsley.
In court documents first obtained by The Blast, Kim’s former neighbor, Kelly Crossley, was awarded $266,092.39 for damages and $865 for other additional costs after she claimed she was also bit by the pit bull.
Sister Kyle later revealed that Kim was forced to re-home Kingsley following the multiple incidents.
The following year, Kim’s book deal headed south as she was ordered to pay $5,000 for “refusing to pay for services” of ghostwriter Alison Kingsley Baker.
In 2019, Alison claimed she was not paid her agreed-upon ghostwriting fee for Kim’s upcoming novel despite allegedly cashing in her $300,000 book advance.
Kim’s money troubles appear to have continued to present day - as The Sun exclusively revealed she owes over $90K in unpaid state taxes.
The gathered up a tax lien in 2020 for $20,762 - which has remained unpaid, the California tax board confirmed to The Sun.
She also has an outstanding tax lien from 2019 for the amount of $70,02, The Sun also confirmed - making her total of fees owed over $90,000.
Interests and fees will continue to accrue on both state tax liens for as long as it goes untouched.
It was reported in 2015 that Kim temporarily lived with older sister as she was not able to afford a place of her own at the time, before finding a downgraded rental.
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As The Sun reported last week, Kim has since moved to a modest two-bedroom apartment which is a noticeable downgrade from her previous lavish homes.
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The mom-of-four is currently renting a two-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment in the Encino neighborhood of - where her younger sister, Kyle, famously owns the most expensive house in the area.
Kim's rep did not immediately respond to The Sun's request for comment.