Kyle Richards, star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, has always been open about the ups and downs of her life, but in a recent interview on Bravo’s Hot Mic Podcast, she revealed some new insights into how fame and fortune impacted her nearly 30-year marriage to Mauricio Umansky.
The Early Days of Their Relationship
Before the glamour of RHOBH and Mauricio’s rise in the real estate world, Kyle and Mauricio had humble beginnings. As Kyle Richards shared, “We started out with nothing.” At that point, they were living in a small two-bedroom apartment with three kids. Despite the challenges, those years were some of the best of her life, and she was happy to live in any situation as long as they were together.
However, as Kyle’s career grew with the success of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Mauricio’s real estate firm, The Agency, began to thrive, things inevitably changed. What started as a small family with a tight-knit bond soon found themselves navigating a more public life.
Fame and Fortune: A Double-Edged Sword
Kyle Richards was quick to clarify that fame and RHOBH itself were not directly responsible for the couple’s eventual separation. “We did the show together for many years, and we were fine through it,” Kyle affirmed. Still, she did acknowledge that the attention that came with fame and the newfound wealth it brought for Mauricio created strain in their relationship.
“It opens up a whole other world,” Kyle explained. “You’re traveling, you’re going places, he’s getting attention that he didn’t get before, there’s more people looking at him all of a sudden, he’s a rich man… it’s a very different situation.” She also pointed out that Mauricio’s appeal wasn’t just about the material success, but the fact that he was a great husband and father—a combination that, over time, became even more attractive to others.
While fame and attention were undoubtedly factors in their changing dynamic, Kyle rejected the notion of a “reality show curse” often placed on couples in the spotlight. Unlike some of her castmates, she and Mauricio didn’t enter their marriage with cracks in their relationship. Kyle emphasized that they always leaned on each other during tough times, even as their world became increasingly public.
The Struggle to Maintain Balance
As both of their careers progressed, the couple found themselves balancing work, fame, and family, which began to put a strain on their marriage. Kyle was often traveling and working, while Mauricio’s growing business required him to attend events and trips. With these commitments, the time they had together began to dwindle.
“It’s just everything’s different now,” Kyle said, reflecting on how their lifestyle shifted over time. The couple, once inseparable and involved in each other’s work, found it increasingly difficult to balance their personal and professional lives.
Even as Kyle wanted to attend events with Mauricio, she found that RHOBH fans and photographers often made it difficult to just be a wife attending her husband’s work function. “There were little things like that,” she explained. “Just not making our marriage a priority because there were so many things going on.”
Kyle’s fear of losing what they had in the early years of their relationship also played a part in the changes. “Honestly, it was just a fear of mine,” she confessed. She was afraid that the growing public attention and the pressures of their individual careers could eventually drive a wedge between them.
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