Kim Richards has faced her fair share of ups and downs over the years.
Kim, who is the sister of Kathy Hilton and Kyle Richards, got her start as a child actress. In 2010, Kim joined The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alongside Kyle. While on the show, Kim opened up about her struggles with substance abuse and seeking out sobriety.
“When I first started the season, I was still not drinking and you could see my confidence level. And then you could see just from my behavior when I lost my confidence and started drinking,” Kim said to Andy Cohen during the RHOBH season 2 reunion in February 2012. “I could not watch the show when I saw that behavior coming out of myself because I was so ashamed of what I’d done.”
After a series of personal struggles — which included multiple arrests — Kim exited RHOBH as a main cast member. However, she has appeared off and on since season 6.
Keep scrolling to look back on Kim’s ups and downs over the years:
Multiple Divorces
Kim married first husband, Monty Brinson, in 1985. The following year, the pair welcomed daughter Brooke Ashley. In 1988, Kim and Brinson amicably split.
Shortly after her divorce from Brinson, Kim moved on with Gregg Davis, and the pair wed that same year. The twosome share daughter Whitney and son Chad, whom they welcomed in 1990 and 1991, respectively. Kim and Davis divorced in 1991.
Fiance’s Murder
Following her split from Davis, Kim began dating John J. Collett in 1991. They got engaged a few months later. In October 1991, Collett was murdered outside a deli in Northridge, California. At the time of his death, Kim was on the phone with him. Two years later, In June 1993, a man named Marva DeCarlo Johnson was found guilty of Collet’s murder and was sentenced to 30-years-to-life in prison, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Dog Drama
Kim had a variety of issues with her pitbull Kingsley. In 2015, Kim was sued after the dog allegedly attacked her then-neighbor. She was ordered to pay $266,000 in damages three years later. Kim’s former assistant also sought legal action against her former boss after the dog allegedly attacked her. Kim and the assistant settled the suit.
During season 5 of RHOBH, Kim and Kyle were at odds over Kingsley after the dog allegedly bit Kyle’s daughter Alexia, which resulted in a hospital visit.
“Kim, my daughter almost lost her hand. It infected the bone!” Kyle said to Kim in an episode. “Why do you think she was at Cedars Sinai for five days? How do you think I feel? Do you know that Alexia had an IV with a bag for three weeks?”
Kim addressed Alexia’s incident in a 2014 statement.
“Alexia has been away from college for months and hasn’t seen Kingsley in a long time. Kingsley is used to the home being full of children and since the kids have gone away, the house has become quiet,” she wrote at the time. “While the two have been very close and friendly in the past, the dog has become very protective of me in the meantime. When guests are over Kingsley stays in my bedroom and has been given access to a special fenced-in area in my backyard. Anyone entering the house is made aware that the dog should not be bothered.”
Drug Use
Kim admitted to using drugs during a tumultuous April 2015 interview on the Dr. Phil Show. After walking off stage in the middle of the sit down, cameras caught an exchange between Kim and her son, Chad. Chad accused his mom of not being sober to which she stated she was “not drinking every day.”
“I live with you. I’m not saying you’re drinking, but you’re taking pills,” he said. You do this every once in a while, you smoke pot.”
She admitted to doing it “every once in a while.”
Drunken Arrest
In April 2015, Kim was arrested at the Beverly Hills Hotel after allegedly having “too much to drink and was disturbing some of the other patrons,” per a police report obtained by Us at the time. Kim spent the night in jail and was released the next morning on bail of $20,000.
Kim was charged with public intoxication, trespassing, resisting arrest and battery on a police officer. She pleaded no contest and was later sentenced to 52 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and 30 days of community labor.
Shoplifting Arrest
Months after her public intoxication arrest, Kim found herself in trouble with the authorities again. In August 2015, she was arrested after she was caught stealing from a Target store in San Fernando Valley, California. Law enforcement told Us at the time that Kim spent the night in jail and was released the following day on $5,000 bail. She pleaded no contest to one count of petty theft.
Seeking Sobriety
As Kim struggled personally, she attempted to get clean multiple times. Even after multiple relapses, Kim expressed how much being sober meant to her.
“I love sobriety,” she said in a July 2015 interview with Entertainment Tonight. “I’ve always loved sobriety, and relapsing was very hard for me. It was not easy. I have to say, don’t take this wrong, but I really wanted to go to treatment because I needed a break from what I was going through at home.”
Mental Health Struggle
In September 2024, Kim made headlines again after she was reportedly placed on a 5150 psychiatric hold and taken to a hospital following “incoherent” behavior. TMZ reported that Kim was later released and Kyle offered to take her sister into her home.
While Kim did not publicly speak out about the alleged incident, Kathy gave Us an update on how her sister was doing.
“Kim and I have never had issues or anything,” Hilton exclusively told Us in October 2024. “She is going through a tough time and she’s doing better now.”
