Who Is Tom Sandoval? All About His Family, Career, and Personal Life
Discover everything there is to know about the former SUR bartender turned TomTom owner.
Oh, Tom Sandoval. While the Vanderpump Rules OG cast member has become a bit of a reality TV villain (to put it nicely) over the course of the last year, there's truly so much to know about the man behind the scandal. Like, where did he come from? And how old is he really?
Keep scrolling to discover everything you've ever wondered about Tom Sandoval — his real age included.
When was Tom Sandoval born?
Funnily enough, Tom's age has been a point of contention in the Bravoverse. While we know he was born July 7, the exact year is up for debate.
"I'm a 39-year-old boy," shared Tom in Season 10 while on a roller skating date with Ariana Madix. Nevertheless, producers clarified his statement. "Fact Check: Tom is 40" read text on the screen.
To celebrate his birthday in 2023, his long-time friend Tom Schwartz got Tom a cake that read “Happy 40th Birthday, AGAIN.”
So, was Tom Sandoval born in 1982 or 1983? That's for him to reveal.
Tom Sandoval's Parents and Brother
Tom's parents are Anthony Sandoval and Terri Green. According to the TomTom owner, they divorced when he was young. He also has a brother, Brian Sandoval.
Terri appeared during Season 4 of Vanderpump Rules, when she sat down for dinner at SUR with Tom, Ariana Madix, and Mike Shay.
"I've spent a lot of time with Tom's mom. She's a really smart, strong, fun lady to be around," shared Ariana in Episode 9. Her then-boyfriend went on to share his love for the woman who raised him.
"My mom has always been a real badass. My toughness, and a little bit of my cockiness, and my perserverance sort of come from my mom," he shared, noting that his mom is a firefighter who once kicked a door down in her flip flops.
Tom also shared a bit of insight into his cool mom in a 2015 Instagram post celebrating her retirement. In the post, he noted that she was the first woman to be awarded "Firefighter of the Year" in St. Louis County, back in 1997. She also received a "heroism award" from Fire House Magazine.
"My Mom: A Hero, an Example, and all around Badass.... I couldn't be more proud!" Tom wrote.
Where is Tom Sandoval from?
Tom Sandoval was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri.
According to Tom's mom, Terri, the Bravolebrity approached her when he was in third grade to share he wanted to be in a talent contest.
"He goes, 'I'm going to dance and lip sync and stuff.' There were 25 acts: 24 acts were girls, and then Tom. He freaking stole the show and took first place," she shared.
What does Tom Sandoval do for a living?
While Tom started his career as a model, he has a long resume featuring multiple titles including actor, musician, bartender (first at Villa Blanca, then at SUR), and even bar owner.
Today, he spends his time watching over his Los Angeles restaurants — TomTom and Schwartz & Sandy's — and performing with his band, Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras.
What is Tom Sandoval's band called?
Tom Sandoval's band, which features the VPR cast member and six other people, is called Tom Sandoval & the Most Extras. As longtime VPR fans know, being "extra" is a huge part of Tom's personality. During Season 8, he even through an extra-themed birthday party, encouraging his friends to show up as the most intense version of themselves.
"To me, being extra means your most extroverted self. You know? Like, your personality, your look, but on steroids," he shared in Episode 12 while shopping for pants to go along with his birthday stilts. "Loud. Flamboyant. Effervescent."
Did Tom Sandoval still work at SUR?
When Vanderpump Rules first aired way back in 2013, Tom was a bartender at SUR — and had been since 2012. Prior to that, he'd worked at Villa Blanca.
While he moved on to new endeavors before the pandemic (and roles, as he now owns his own bars TomTom and Schwartz & Sandy's), the West Hollywood hotspot will always have a place in his heart.
What bars does Tom Sandoval own?
Tom Sandoval co-owns TomTom with Lisa Vanderpump, Ken Todd, and his fellow cast member Tom Schwartz (hence the name). The Toms' second venture, Schwartz & Sandy's, opened in 2022.
“It’s one of those things where we’ve learned a lot,” Sandoval told BravoTV.com in May 2022 ahead of the spot's official launch. “Some of those lessons have been the hard way.”
How tall is Tom Sandoval?
According to his IMDb page, Tom is 5 feet and 11 inches tall.
During a game of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in 2019, it was revealed that his then-girlfriend Ariana Madix told producers that Tom wears heel inserts in his shoes to make him appear taller — a fact which Tom Schwartz confirmed live on-air.
When did Tom Sandoval start modeling?
Tom began his career as a model, which is how he was introduced to Jax Taylor.
Still, despite the perceived glamour, he didn't really love his experience in the industry.
“I dealt with so much f-cking harassment and so much creepiness,” shared Tom on a January 2019 episode of the "Everything Iconic with Danny Pellegrino" podcast. “In my experience, 15 f-cking years of experience, in every major market — Chicago, LA, New York, Miami — at 10 agencies across the U.S., with [female models], they were always paid more, treated far better. If they were young, they had a parent with them. They make more, they’re treated better, they’re put way more on a pedestal. And I don’t disagree with that.”
Who is Tom Sandoval dating?
After his very public breakup with Ariana, Tom said he has been dating casually. However, he's mostly taking time to focus on himself.
“I’m not getting into anything serious right now. I’m just kind of really taking some time. I mean, I’ve been pretty much in a committed relationship for 15 years," he told E! News in September.
Tom Sandoval's Movies and TV Shows
Over the years, Tom has acted in a number of horror movies including Playing With Fire, Alien Presence, and The Pit and the Pendulum. You can also find him on HBO's The Other Two and old episodes of The Hills.
Most recently, Tom expanded his reality TV repertoire on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test, where he takes on "demanding training exercises led by directing staff agents, an elite team of ex-Special Forces operatives."
Two of his earliest on-screen roles were as the protagonist in the videos for Bon Jovi's "Misunderstood" (above) and "All About Lovin' You" (below).
