Kim Richards' Road to Recovery: Where is She Now?

Kim Richards — known for her erratic and often unpredictable nature — was a large part of the early success of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Through it all, she’s been open and vulnerable about her struggle with alcoholism, as well as her road to recovery. After her exit from the show, Richards has appeared on the show sporadically, and she’s often invited back for the reunion shows. Still, without seeing her on the show as a main cast member, it’s hard to know what’s been going on in her life since she’s left. So, what has Kim Richards been up to since leaving The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills?

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Sentenced for shoplifting

In 2015, Richards was arrested for stealing around $600 of goods from a Target in San Fernando Valley. She was consequentially sentenced to 36 months of probation, 300 hours of community service and 52 AA meetings. Just months earlier, Richards was charged for battery and resisting arrest at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where she received the exact same sentence. She later admitted to drinking the night of the Beverly Hills hotel incident.

Kim Richards and daughter Brooke Brinson arrive at

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Becoming a grandma

Richards entered a new stage in her life when her daughter Brooke Wiederhorn gave birth to son Hucksley Andrew Wiederhorn in 2016. Becoming a grandmother gave her a renewed sense of self throughout the drama that has surrounded her life. “I'd have to say it's the happiest time in my life, but being a grandmother has definitely brought out the best part of me again ... he's changed my life,” she told Bravo. Despite their differences, her sister Kyle Richards couldn’t help but gush about Kim’s new bundle of joy, telling The Daily Dish, “Kim is so happy. She's loving having a grandson. I still cannot say that. I can't even believe that's coming out of my mouth."

Kim Richards attends Star Magazine's Hollywood Rocks event at 1OAK on April 6, 2017 in West Hollywood, California

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Focused on sobriety

Richards’ recovery has been a long and winding road, but in 2017, she seemed to be in a good place. She stayed on the right track by volunteering with Skydog Ranch, a nonprofit organization that finds permanent homes for wild mustangs from abusive homes. “My recovery has been amazing and I love how I feel. This has been a huge part of it and has helped me a lot," she told E! News about the ranch. "The sanctuary keeps me grounded and keeps me at peace and it's healthy for me. It's been amazing for me and me coming here has really been a major part of keeping me sober."

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Completing community service and attending AA meetings

After being arrested for two separate instances of battery and shoplifting, Richards received the same sentence for both crimes. However, the judge decided that she would only have to meet the requirements once. In December of 2017, she completed 450 hours of community service, and only had one year left of probation. She also proved in court that she had enrolled in Alcoholic Anonymous meetings to address her relapse that contributed to the battery incident at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

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Facing a lawsuit because of her dog Kingsley

Fans of RHOBH know that Richards is fiercely defensive about her dog Kinglsey, insisting that he’s safe to be around despite worrying aggressive behaviour. In 2018, a judge ordered that she pay her neighbour over $266K after Kingsley attacked them, resulting in “grave bodily injuries.” The judge defaulted to acting in the favour of Richards’ neighbour because Richards ignored the lawsuit and didn’t show up to court.

Kim Richards with her ex-boyfriend Wynn Katz

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Taking her six-year relationship public

It’s hard to believe that after being on a show like RHOBH, Richards could keep her six-year relationship private. In August 2018, she went public with her longtime boyfriend, businessman Wynn Katz, by appearing on the reality TV show Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars. “I mean, I think we were kind of stuck and stagnant, and I feel like doing Marriage Boot Camp would push us along, and we were stuck in a few areas,” she told Entertainment Tonight. She later revealed on the show that they had never had sex, and in a shocking revelation, her boyfriend stated that he’s not sexually attracted to her. “What Wynn said, that just made me feel terrible. I don’t see a future with Wynn right now,” she revealed on the show.

Kim Richards with her sisters Kathy Hilton and Kyle Richards

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Mending fences with Kyle Richards

Richards’ 54th birthday celebration brought both Kyle Richards and Kathy Hilton together to party in their sister’s honour. Before the birthday bash, Kyle posted a positive note for her sister Kim saying, “I hope this year is magical and brings you much love, health & happiness. Love you!” Kim Richards spoke to Entertainment Tonight about the status of her relationship with her sisters saying, “I’m good with both my sisters today. I have a great relationship with both of them. Family is important and I just didn’t think there’s a reason for anybody or anything to get in the way of it, so we’re all good.”

Kim Richards walking down the street smiling

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Finally free of probation

After finishing her community service hours and attending AA meetings, Richards became free of probation in 2019 after three long years. Shortly after, the Richards family threw a baby shower for Kim’s oldest child Brooke Wiederhorn, who was expecting her second child. All the women in the Richards’ family seemed to be in attendance, with Kyle Richards and niece Nicky Hilton Rothschild co-hosting the bash. For now, Kim Richards seems to be on a steady path, maintaining her sobriety, focusing on her grandchildren, and keeping things peaceful with her sisters.

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A stay in hospital because of a downward spiral

According to US Weekly sources, Richards' family had been concerned for weeks about her downward spiral in the summer of 2019. It ended in an emergency room stay at UCLA where she left against medical advice. On her hospital stay, an US Weekly source revealed, “She was incoherent, rambling and seemed to be having a serious mental health breakdown of sorts. Doctors did a toxicology screening, but Kim left the E.R.” In the past, Bravo has reportedly footed the bill for Kim's rehab. Andy Cohen spilled in the tell-all book Not All Diamonds and Rose, that Bravo helped her out during her 2011 stint in rehab. “When it was clear that it was a real problem, we wanted to be responsible and we didn’t want to put her in a situation where anything could be exacerbated,” he said.

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A plan for a damaging tell-all memoir

US Weekly broke news that Kim Richards was planning a scandalous tell-all memoir that promised to tell the whole truth about her life and family. Titled The Whole Truth: The Reality of It All, the memoir's description called out Kyle by saying she was treated like a "whipping post as a sister." In February 2020, Kyle told People that she and Kim were in a "good place." It was probably for the best that the book was scrapped by Kim's publisher.