Lisa Vanderpump Pulled In $250,000 On Cameo During Pandemic Lockdown, Donated Proceeds To Vanderpump Dogs
Aug. 25 2021, Published 5:03 p.m. ET
The physical devastation, emotional toll and financial ruin caused by the first several months of the coronavirus pandemic spared no one.
And when push came to shove – and it did – people all over the world were forced to find creative ways to make ends meet.
Just because she has money and fame, Lisa Vanderpump was no different.
When government-imposed shutdowns swept across the country (California's seemed to last ages), the 60-year-old restauranteur and reality television star knew she needed to find a way to keep her dog rescue center – Vanderpump Dogs – up and running.
So she got on Cameo – the website that allows users to purchase personalized videos (think birthday shoutouts, congratulatory messages, etc.) – and got to work.
"It was difficult to keep the foundation going through the pandemic, but even when we asked for dollar donations, that really helped because some of these dogs are very troubled dogs and can be very expensive," Lisa told Breaking Celebrity News. "So when we put things out on social media, it really does tug at people's heartstrings."
Vanderpump went on to tell us that she managed to pull in a whopping $250,000 just from filming personalized videos, adding that every dime of it went to the pups.
"Personally, I managed to raise a quarter of a million dollars on Cameo," she said. "I did Cameo any time I was sitting down, so thank you to all the people that ordered messages because 100 percent of the money went straight to the dogs. I kept very busy doing that!"
"They are your best friends, they really are," said the multiple-dog owner. "They're great companions, and hopefully the people that adopted dogs during the pandemic – the dogs were saving them as much as they saved the dogs. And hopefully they appreciate them and treat them with the love and respect that they deserve."
Though she said her newest reality TV venture – Vanderpump Dogs – was "very well-received" after its debut on streaming platform Peacock, Lisa said she's not sure what its future holds.
"I don't know if we're doing anymore yet," she explained. "I've been so busy doing Vanderpump Rules. I mean, I haven't stopped filming since November! I've done four shows: I did Pooch Perfect, I did Overserved [with Lisa Vanderpump], I did Vanderpump Dogs and then Vanderpump Rules. So it's been a lot. Plus, I'm writing a book, which I still haven't finished. And I'm doing a new restaurant."