Vicki Gunvalson

**Victoria "Vicki" Gunvalson** (nee Steinmetz; born March 27, 1962) is an American reality television star. She is best known for being a cast member on The Real Housewives of Orange County.

## Early Life

She was born in Chicago, Illinois to parents William and Joanne Steinmetz, and has five siblings: Kathy, Kim, Lisa and Billy.

Gunvalson attended William Fremd High School and then Harper College.

Her father died in 1991 from Alzheimer's Disease and her mother died in 2015 from unknown causes. Vicki found out about her mother's death during an episode of The Real Housewives and the aftermath was also shown.

## Career

After her first divorce, she started working part-time at her father's construction company but after his death she decided to join the health insurance business. She then founded Coto Insurance and Financial Services, after obtaining her insurance license in California.

She been involved in other businesses but none as successful as Coto Insurance.

### The Real Housewives

In 2006, she began appearing on The Real Housewives of Orange County (abbreviated RHOC) as one of the main cast members. She starred in Season 1-13 before being demoted to a "Friend of the Housewives" in Season 14. Shortly after this, it was announced Vicki had quit the show.

From being on the show, she earned the nickname "The OG of the OC".

### RHOC Quotes

* Season 1 - "I don't wanna get old"
* Season 2 - "Here's to not being fake"
* Season 3 - "Everything's got to be huge, large and grand"
* Season 4 - "I want the power and the money, and I want them both"
* Season 5 - "I love my family, I love my work, I love my life"
* Season 6 - "I make my own money and I make my own rules"
* Season 7 - "My tank is full and I'm driving into my future"
* Season 8 - "I'm my own boss and it's time for a raise"
* Season 9 - "I make my own rules, so don't expect me to follow yours"
* Season 10 - "I'm the OG of the OC; everyone else is just a copy"
* Season 11 - "Before you judge me, you better be perfect"
* Season 12 - "I go big or go home... and I am not going home"
* Season 13 - "The fun bus is leaving and, this time, I'm in the driver's seat"

## Personal Life

She married her first husband, Michael J. Wolfsmith in 1982 and together they had two children: Michael Wolfsmith (born January 4, 1986) and Briana Culberson (nee Wolfsmith; born April 8, 1987). The couple divorced in 1991 and Vicki moved to California with her children. Michael Sr. was not involved much in his children's life after this and it has been mentioned that he was an alcoholic.

She married her second husband, Donn Gunvalson in 1994 but after 16 years of marriage the couple divorced in 2014. He brought up her two children as his own and still has a close relationship with them both.

Gunvalson was then in a long-term relationship with Brooks Ayers until they broke up in 2015. It has been reported that she was having an emotional affair with him during her marriage to Donn. During their relationship, Brooks was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma but it was later revealed he had forged fake hospital documents and many believe he had faked the whole thing. Brooks apologised but still maintains he did have cancer.

She is now engaged to Steve Lodge whom she has been in a relationship with since 2016. The two were meant to get married in 2020 but had to call it off due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Gunvalson has two grandsons from Briana: Troy Culberson and Owen Culberson.

## Relationships

### Husbands and Partners

* Michael J. Wolfsmith (Ex-husband; 1982-1991)
* Donn Gunvalson (Ex-husband; 1994-2014)
* Brooks Ayers (Ex-boyfriend; 2011-2015)
* Steve Lodge (Fiance; 2016-present)

### Children

* Michael Wolfsmith
* Briana Culberson

### Grandchildren

* Troy Culberson
* Owen Culberson

### Parents

* William Steinmetz
* Joanne Steinmetz

### Siblings

* Kathy Moloney
* Kim Steinmetz
* Lisa Bussenger
* Billy Steinmetz