Jen Shah Net Worth

Jen Shah Net Worth

Have you ever wondered what the net worth of Jen Shah is?

From her snappy one-liners on reality TV to a 6.5-year prison sentence, Jennifer (Jen) Shah has been gathering quite the attention on social media lately.

Amidst charges of fraud and rumors about fake wealth, many viewers of The Real Housewives franchise wonder what kind of money Jen Shah actually made over the years.

As of May 2023, Jen Shah has a net worth of approximately $3 million. In this article, we’ll dive into her career, assets, and controversies.

Early Life

Jennifer Shah was born on October 4, 1973, to Charlene Lui and Sione Kaisa Lui.

Although she’s of Tongan and Hawaiian descent, Shah was born and raised in Salt Lake City with five siblings.

She attended the University of Utah, where she met her husband. Even though Jen Shah grew up in a Mormon family, she converted to Islam after getting married.

However, Shah’s fan base doesn’t know much about her childhood and early life.

TV Career

Jen Shah rose to fame when The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City premiered on November 11, 2020.

Shah was the first Polynesian woman to star in a reality TV show.

It’s also worth noting that when The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (RHOSLC) first came out, it was considered the most diverse installment in the history of Bravo TV’s Real Housewives franchise.

The other original cast members that co-starred with Jen Shah are:

  • Whitney Rose
  • Meredith Marks
  • Lisa Barlow
  • Mary Cosby
  • Heather Gay

So far, Jen Shah has appeared in 55 episodes. However, it’s not clear if she’ll have any involvement with the reality TV show in the near future.

Regardless, the star signed a contract with the CGEM Talent agency in November 2022.

Entrepreneurship

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Source: CNN

Aside from being a reality TV star, Jen Shah has a passion for entrepreneurship. She allegedly owns three companies: JXA Fashion, Real Shah Lashes, and Shah Beauty.

However, it doesn’t seem like any of these companies became a hit with Shah’s fan base.

After all, JXA Fashion LLC has a little over 1K followers on Instagram, while Jen Shah’s main account has 233K followers.

Mental Health Struggles

One of the personal issues that Jen Shah addressed on RHOSLC is mental health.

Back in 2020, she opened up to the audience about her struggles with anxiety and depression. She said that she felt things started going south after her father’s death.

Initially, she feared that being medicated would be perceived as a sign of weakness. She was also concerned about how her kids might react to the whole issue.

However, Jen Shah found that her mental state affected her marriage negatively. In fact, she thought that her relationship with her husband had “hit rock bottom” without medication.

After a family intervention, the reality star finally decided to get the help she desperately needed.

Controversies

The drama and controversy in Jen Shah’s life extend beyond just the reality TV show.

Verbal Abuse Allegations

There’s some controversy over how the star treats her employees.

It all started when a leaked audio recording exposed Shah while she was berating Koa Johnson, a former designer/stylist.

Then, Johnson came forward and talked about how he struggled during his time working for Shah, from delays to lack of recognition.

Johnson even expressed how disappointed he was since he initially felt that he and Jen Shah had a close and brotherly relationship. After all, they both are of Polynesian descent.

In March 2021, it came as a shock to RHOSLC’s fans that Shah was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. However, she wasn’t the only one dragged into legal drama. Her assistant, Stuart Smith, joined her.

Authorities believed Shah was involved in a telemarketing scheme that targeted senior citizens nationwide.

Interestingly, Jen’s arrest was filmed since the RHOSLC crew was at the house at the time, and the cameras were rolling.

Initially, the reality TV star pleaded not guilty. However, last July, she changed her plea.

In court, Shah expressed her regret for what she had done to the victims and said that she wanted to take “full responsibility” for her actions. As part of her plea deal, Jen Shah agreed to give up a sum of $6.5 million and pay restitution.

That said, Shah was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison last January. When she’s done with the sentence, she’s supposed to undergo a mental health program and remain on supervised release for five years.

After the prison sentencing, Shah refused to do a 1:1 interview with Andy Cohen, a host and executive producer on one of Bravo’s talk shows.

In her response on Instagram, the RHOSLC star made it clear that she turned down the offer for fear that the interview might end up being a misrepresentation of her story.

Jen Shah Net Worth 2023

As of May 2023, Jen Shah has a net worth of approximately $3 million. This estimated net worth comes from Shah’s earnings on the reality TV show and her business ventures.

Plus, there are rumors that Shah boasted about her wealth even before she got the role on RHOSLC, claiming to spend $50K every month.

TV Earnings

Jen Shah’s net worth isn’t that surprising when you consider that she made around 50-100K for every episode of RHOSLC.

Keep in mind that Shah starred in three seasons of the reality TV show, so the salary quickly adds up.

If you’re interested in seeing how Jen Shah’s net worth compares to other Real Housewives stars, you might want to check out the kind of money that Ashley Darby and Dolores Catania make.

Fake Assets

It’s also worth noting that some people believe Shah owns a 9,420-square-foot mansion in Park City with five bedrooms, six bathrooms, and a gourmet kitchen. The reality TV star even referred to the property as the “Shah Ski Chalet.”

Yet, it seems like Shah doesn’t even own the mansion. Instead, it probably was a rental all along.

After the arrest, the news about the mansion made some of RHOSLC’s fans angry. After all, they felt like Jen Shah and Stuart Smith fed their lavish lifestyle with the money they made from the telemarketing scheme.

Legal trouble aside, some fans of The Real Housewives franchise find the whole concept of a star renting her TV house shameful.

That said, it’s not clear if Shah actually owns other properties.

However, the stylist Koa Johnson believed that a lot of Shah’s jewelry, luxury fashion items, and cars were rented or borrowed. In fact, the police found 30 fake designer bags in her home.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Jen Shah still married?

Yes, the RHOSLC star has been married to coach Sharrieff Shah since 1994.
Before being a football coach at the University of Utah, Jen Shah’s husband was an NFL Player Association agent and a sideline reporter.

He also has a law degree and practiced law for a while.

Together, Jen and Sharrieff Shah have two sons, Omar and Sharrieff Jr.

Where will Jen Shah serve her prison sentence?

It’s not clear yet where the reality TV star will serve her 6.5-year prison sentence.
However, Shah’s lawyers put in a request back in December 2022, hoping to get her sentenced to a minimum security federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas.

Is Jen Shah politically active?

Yes, Shah used her fame to share her political views. In fact, one of her Instagram posts, in particular, gained some attention.

In the photo, she was wearing a dress made of Joe Biden’s campaign signs, and the caption encouraged people to vote.

Key Takeaways

Honesty Is the Best Policy

Many of Shah’s fans now believe her lavish lifestyle was nothing more than a front.

All in all, faking wealth is one way to lose credibility and people’s compassion when the facade finally falls.

There’s No Shame in Seeking Help

One of Jen Shah’s issues was her fear of seeking help for her mental health struggles.

However, her story teaches us that getting medication for anxiety or depression is never something to be ashamed of.

Accountability Is the First Step Towards Redemption

Although Shah denied the charges initially, she finally stepped up, apologized for her actions, and was willing to take responsibility.

Hopefully, this step sets her on the right path!