Tom Sandoval: Scandoval, Career, and Legal Fallout

There’s a strange kind of fame that comes from a single, devastating betrayal — and Tom Sandoval now wears it like a second skin. The Vanderpump Rules star went from reality TV fixture to tabloid lightning rod in March 2023, when his months-long affair with Raquel Leviss shattered his nine-year relationship with Ariana Madix, triggering lawsuits, public humiliations, and a controversial America’s Got Talent performance.

Full name: Thomas Anthony Sandoval ·
Born: July 7, 1983 (St. Louis, Missouri) ·
Known for: Vanderpump Rules cast member, musician, restaurateur ·
Scandal broke: March 2023 (affair with Raquel Leviss) ·
Net worth (estimated): $2 million (as of 2025) ·
Legal action: Sandoval sued ex Ariana Madix for accessing his phone (2023)

Seven key facts, one pattern: Sandoval’s public record is defined by a single scandal that cascaded into legal entanglements and career pivots.

What happened with Tom Sandoval?

The Scandoval affair timeline

• Sandoval and Raquel Leviss carried on a months-long affair while Sandoval was still in a relationship with Ariana Madix, as confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter.
• The scandal broke in March 2023 when Madix discovered the affair, reportedly via a video on Sandoval’s phone, per Variety.

Fallout with Ariana Madix

• The nine-year relationship ended abruptly, and Madix subsequently removed Sandoval from their shared residence and business ventures, as covered by the Los Angeles Times.
• Sandoval admitted to the affair publicly, though he later characterized the timeline differently in interviews.

Public reactions and media coverage

• Dubbed “Scandoval” by fans and media, the story dominated reality TV coverage throughout 2023, with Variety calling it “one of the biggest reality TV scandals in years.”
• The Vanderpump Rules season 10 reunion devoted significant airtime to the fallout.

What did Tom Sandoval do to Ariana Madix?

Admission of infidelity

• Sandoval admitted to the affair with Raquel Leviss, which ended his long-term relationship with Madix, per The Hollywood Reporter.
• Madix discovered the affair when she found a video on Sandoval’s phone, as detailed in court filings covered by PEOPLE.

Phone access lawsuit

• Sandoval filed a civil suit against Madix in July 2024, alleging invasion of privacy and unauthorized access to his phone, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
• He claimed Madix accessed his phone without permission and allegedly shared explicit videos with third parties, as reported by PEOPLE.
• Sandoval later retracted the complaint, saying, “In no way am I suing Ariana,” in a statement to PEOPLE. He also removed attorney Matt Geragos from his legal team.

Impact on shared business and residence

• Madix removed Sandoval from their shared home and from their joint business ventures after the affair came to light, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

The implication: Sandoval’s lawsuit against Madix was short-lived and publicly reversed, but its existence — and the retraction — reveal a pattern of legal maneuvering that has become central to his post-scandal identity.

What did Simon Cowell say about Tom Sandoval?

Simon Cowell’s critical comments

• During Sandoval’s performance of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” on America’s Got Talent in summer 2023, judge Simon Cowell publicly called the rendition “karaoke,” as reported by PEOPLE.
• Cowell’s critique was widely shared across social media and became a secondary story within the Scandoval narrative.

The Weeknd cover performance on AGT

• Sandoval performed on America’s Got Talent in an attempt to showcase his musical career, which includes his band The Most Extras.
• The performance received mixed reactions, with Cowell’s “karaoke” remark dominating the coverage.

Sandoval’s response

• Sandoval later defended his performance in interviews, stating that he believed it was a strong showing despite Cowell’s criticism.

The catch: Cowell’s verdict reinforced Sandoval’s shift from reality star to public punchline.

What is Tom Sandoval suing Ariana for?

Lawsuit details

• Sandoval filed a civil suit against Ariana Madix in Los Angeles in July 2024, alleging invasion of privacy and unauthorized access to his phone, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
• He claimed Madix accessed explicit videos on his phone and shared them with third parties without permission, per PEOPLE.

Ariana Madix’s countersuit

• Madix’s attorney Jordan Susman said the case against Madix was “without merit” and expected it to be dismissed completely, as quoted by PEOPLE.
• Madix filed a countersuit alleging invasion of privacy, details of which remain under seal.

Current legal status

• Sandoval retracted the complaint in July 2024, with the Los Angeles Times reporting that he was “reversing course” on the lawsuit.
• Sandoval said he “should’ve done more of my due diligence” before filing, per PEOPLE.
• The case is effectively closed, though Rachel Leviss’s separate lawsuit against both Sandoval and Madix is set for trial on November 3, 2025, as reported by Collider.

The pattern: Sandoval’s legal strategy has been erratic — filing, retracting, and publicly walking back claims — which suggests a defensive posture rather than a calculated legal offensive.

Is Tom Sandoval still friends with anybody from Vanderpump Rules?

Remaining friendships

• Sandoval lost most of his friendships within the Vanderpump Rules cast after the Scandoval revelation, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
• Jax Taylor, a former cast member, publicly stated he remains a friend of Sandoval.

Cast member reactions

• Most cast members distanced themselves from Sandoval, with several publicly criticizing his actions on social media and in interviews.
• The season 10 reunion featured confrontations between Sandoval and former friends.

Jax Taylor’s comments

• Jax Taylor has been one of the few Vanderpump Rules alums to maintain a public friendship with Sandoval, stating in interviews that he believes in second chances.

What this means: Sandoval’s social circle has shrunk dramatically — and the few remaining ties, like Jax Taylor, are themselves polarizing figures within the Bravo universe.

Timeline

• 2013: Vanderpump Rules premieres; Sandoval introduced as main cast member (The Hollywood Reporter)
• Early 2023: Ariana Madix discovers Sandoval’s affair with Raquel Leviss
• March 2023: Scandal publicly breaks; media dubs it “Scandoval”
• Summer 2023: Sandoval performs The Weeknd cover on AGT; Simon Cowell criticizes
• 2023: Sandoval files lawsuit against Madix for accessing his phone
• 2024: Sandoval releases music with band The Most Extras; lawsuits continue

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Sandoval had an affair with Raquel Leviss (confirmed by both parties, per The Hollywood Reporter)
• Simon Cowell publicly criticized Sandoval’s AGT performance as “karaoke” (PEOPLE)
• Sandoval filed and then retracted a lawsuit against Ariana Madix in 2023-2024 (Los Angeles Times)

What’s unclear

• Whether Ariana Madix has forgiven Sandoval (no public statement)
• Current status of friendships with most Vanderpump Rules cast members beyond Jax Taylor
• Exact financial net worth (estimates only, as of 2025)

Key quotes

“In no way am I suing Ariana.”

— Tom Sandoval, in a statement to PEOPLE

“[Sandoval’s performance was] karaoke.”

— Simon Cowell (PEOPLE)

“[The case against Madix] was without merit and we expect it to be dismissed completely.”

— Jordan Susman, attorney for Ariana Madix (PEOPLE)

“I should’ve done more of my due diligence.”

— Tom Sandoval, on the lawsuit he filed against Madix (PEOPLE)

Summary

For Tom Sandoval, the choice is clear: continue defending a narrative that has already been written by court filings and public opinion, or find a way to rebuild a public persona that exists outside the shadow of Scandoval. For reality TV fans, the implication is equally stark: the next chapter won’t be written on screen — it’ll be decided in a Los Angeles courtroom.

For a detailed breakdown of the affair and its legal aftermath, see the Scandoval timeline and lawsuit.

Frequently asked questions