James Kennedy is a British reality television star, model, influencer, and disc jockey known for “Vanderpump Rules”, “Overserved with Lisa Vanderpump”, “Bravo After Hours with Carrie Keagan”, and “The Playboy Morning Show”. He’s also known as a singer, songwriter, and producer for club anthems “Get Loose”, “Feeling You”, and “Jungle of Light”.
James Kennedy's Appearance (Height, Hair, Eyes & More)
| Height | 5 ft 10 in 1.78 m |
|---|---|
| Weight | 150 pounds 68 kg |
| Hair Color | Light Brown |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Body Type | Slim |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Facts About James Kennedy
| Nationality | British |
|---|---|
| Estimate Net Worth | $4 million |
| Religion | Christian |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Birthplace | London, England, United Kingdom |
| Birthday | January 24, 1992 |
James Kennedy's Net Worth
As of May 2022, James Kennedy’s net worth is $4 million. His careers as a reality television star and disc jockey are his primary source of income. The Hollywood Reporter listed his Vanderpump Rules salary (1) as $25,000 per episode. Before getting a contract renewal and salary upgrade, James made $15,000 per episode. He appeared in a total of 62 episodes.
Most of Kennedy’s income comes from his DJ gigs and live performances. He reportedly charges $15,000 to $30,000 per concert appearance, depending on the event and hours required for his service. James’ wealth also increases from working as an electronic music producer, which brings in a steady income from music royalties.
James Kennedy’s growing net worth includes his modeling and influencer works. He has partnered with brands such as Ashoc Energy and SnackPop (2). As a celebrity, his paid public appearances, which range from $10,000 to $30,000, play a crucial part in his notable net worth.
James Kennedy's Early Life
James Georgiou, famously known as James Kennedy, is 30 years old. He was born on January 24, 1992. James was born and raised in London, England, by his parents Andros and Jacqueline Georgiou. His parents divorced after James turned eighteen years old because of Andros’ business and financial problems (3).
James’ family relocated to Ibiza, Spain, when he was fourteen years old before eventually settling down in Los Angeles, California, United States of America. Kennedy’s mother, Jacqueline Georgiou, a Brooklyn-born former actress and model, is known for appearing in the Showtime television show “Ray Donovan” and the horror-thriller hit “The Purge: Anarchy”. James attributed his struggle with alcoholism to his mother. He recalled constantly witnessing his mother drinking, which led to his grandmother being instrumental in raising him. Jacqueline’s habit and Andros’ business and financial problems brought conflict and tension in the household, which ended in fights, and pushed James to move out of the house when he turned eighteen years old. After divorcing Andros, Jacqueline continued living in Los Angeles, California, while Andros moved back to London, United Kingdom.
James Kennedy’s father, Andros, was childhood friends with legendary singer George Michael. The pair grew up together in London, England, where they started their careers as buskers on the London Underground. Andros quit amateur singing and decided to manage WHAM!, George Michael’s musical duo act with Andrew Ridgeley. After WHAM! disbanded, Andros continued serving as George Michael’s manager. In 1986, he established Hardback Records to continue his love for singing and act as manager and producer for artists in its roster. Georgiou later served as managing director of Michael’s own record company, Aegean Records, in the 1990s. He helped Aegean Records become an early adopter of digital music distribution. Michael and Greorgiou’s lives were so intertwined that Georgiou made Michael be James’ godfather (4). George and Andros fell out of each other’s favor after Andros gave a copy of George Michael’s mother’s photograph to Hello! Magazine. The very private Michael found the betrayal very upsetting. The pair reunited during a lunch meeting and again fell out after Andros insulted George’s friend, Spice Girl’s Gerri Halliwell. They never rekindled their friendship until Michael’s death on Christmas Day, 2016.
Andros Georgiou encouraged James Kennedy to pursue a career in music. He exposed James early by bringing James into his music studios and various concerts. Kennedy discovered Electronic Dance Music (EDM) when his family moved to Ibiza, Spain, which started his love affair with the genre and the basis of his music.
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James has two younger brothers, Harry and Dylan Georgiou. Harry finished his college degree in San Diego and recently moved to Los Angeles, California, to determine his next career move. Dylan Georgiou is still attending Beverly Hills High School.
James Kennedy's Education
James Kennedy attended a local private school while living in London, United Kingdom. He continued his education at Beverly Hills High School when his family moved to Los Angeles. Kennedy admits that he didn’t excel academically. His interests skewed to music and performance art. Predicting his future in acting and music production, James decided to skip attending college and went for auditions and event disk jockeying.
James Kennedy's Girlfriend and Family Life
James Kennedy is currently in a relationship with Ally Lewber after meeting in January 2022. The pair officially debuted as a couple when Kennedy walked the red carpet (5) with entertainment journalist Lewber at the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 22, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. James expressed excitement over his budding serious relationship with Ally, who also works as a front desk receptionist for Soho House in West Hollywood.
Before dating Ally Lewber, James Kennedy was in a long-term relationship with fellow Vanderpump Rules co-star Raquel Leviss. The former couple became “Instagram official” a couple of months after meeting at a New Year’s Eve party in 2015. Raquel and James lived together in a two-bedroom West Hollywood apartment with their adopted Goldendoodle Graham Cracker.
Kennedy proposed to Leviss in May 2021 in Palm Springs, California. The Coachella-themed party (6), called “Rachella”, was organized by James with the help of Pump Rules cast member Tom Sandoval. The engagement party racked up a $25,000 bill and was captured on camera for a Vanderpump Rules season nine episode. This event was followed by a formal engagement party with friends and family in Santa Ynez Valley, California.
James and Raquel announced their separation and the end of their engagement on December 5, 2021. This joint Instagram announcement followed their Vanderpump Rules season nine reunion special break-up shocker. They maintained that the split was amicable and that they would remain friends. Leviss later revealed that her decision to break off the engagement stemmed from existing relationship problems that she and Kennedy were not addressing. She highlighted Kennedy’s anger issues, lack of support for her, and her family’s dislike of him. Raquel reasoned that she couldn’t see a future with James after a major Thanksgiving dinner altercation between him and her father, which started in a heated argument over a pair of hiking boots that her father bought, and James lost.
Before dating Raquel Leviss, James Kennedy was in relationships with Vanderpump Rules co-stars Lala Kent and Kristen Doute. Kennedy dated Doute upon joining the show as a recurring character in season two. The pair had a tumultuous relationship that involved cheating and physical violence (7). James’ mother, Jacqueline, did not like Kristen for her son, and she made it known to him. After dating Kristen Doute, James Kennedy dated cast member Lala Kent. He described their relationship as casual, and they did musical collaborations together. After their split, the former couple became best friends and has since teamed up on various musical projects.
James Kennedy's Career
James Kennedy has always known that he would be working in entertainment. With his parent’s musical, acting and modeling backgrounds, he’s equipped with the talent and proper connections. After deciding to pass on the opportunity to go to college, he decided to try his hand at acting and DJing.
Securing an acting career proved to be challenging for James. Living in Los Angeles, he went to various acting auditions with no luck. He hired acting and movement coaches, but these decisions couldn’t secure him acting roles. A chance dinner meeting between Lisa Vanderpump and his parents, Andros and Jacqueline, proved his breakthrough. As a club scene staple in London from the 1980s to the 1990s, Andros knew Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurateur, husband Ken (8) . His parents asked Lisa if she could give James a spot in her new West Hollywood bar during dinner.
Lisa Vanderpump hired James Kennedy as a busboy in SUR Restaurant & Lounge. James proved to be good at his job and popular among the female SURvers. He started as a recurring character on Vanderpump Rules, which films in the West Hollywood restaurant and features his fellow SURvers. While working in SUR, James was also trying his hand at music production. Lisa Vanderpump saw his potential and decided to give him a chance to DJ in her other establishments. During the show’s fourth season premiere, Kennedy became a resident DJ in Lisa Vanderpump’s club, PUMP, and a mainstay in Vanderpump Rules.
In November 2014, James Kennedy released his EP album titled “Blitz”. This album was followed by the release of his first hit song, “Feeling You”, in 2016. Many featured artist works followed, and he opened for famous DJs Datsik and Steve Aoki. Kennedy released his first full-length album, “See You Next Thursday”, where the self-proclaimed “White Kanye” served as the singer, songwriter, and producer. “See You Next Thursday” contained the song “Shake That” (9), which featured Pump Rules co-star Scheana Shay. James co-produced the song with Scheana’s husband, Michael Shay.
James struggled with his rise to fame. His behavior change manifested in alcohol and substance abuse, and anger issues cost him significant professional and personal relationships. In 2019, he decided to quit drinking and focus on his career and relationship with Raquel Leviss. By June 2021, Kennedy announced that he would be two years sober. Raquel called his road to sobriety “California Sober” (10) because while James quit drinking, he still smokes marijuana.
James Kennedy is still thriving in his music, hosting, and reality television show careers. He has successfully established himself as one of the most popular EDM DJs. He maintains that his ultimate career goal is to go on tour worldwide, play in festivals, and host various events and parties.
DJing Career
James Kennedy guest DJs around the country. On February 4, 2023, he DJed at Platform in Des Moises, IA. He also worked at a club in Lyndhurst, NJ on January 14, 2023. Of course, he is still DJing at SUR Lounge.
He recently DJed at Imagine Festival in September of 2022, which he said was a dream come true.
Gigs like this pay well and they also help him expand his reach and interact with his fanbase.
He recently released his first new song of 2023 on February 22nd: Dance with the Groove.
Vanderpump Rules Storyline for James Kennedy
James Kennedy appeared in the second season of Vanderpump Rules as a recurring guest star when he was hired as SUR’s Restaurant & Lounge’s new barback. The Andy Cohen produced reality television series, which airs on the Bravo network, followed the lives of SUR’s employees as they dealt with the ups and downs of balancing their aspiring showbiz careers and personal relationships.
James’ airtime on the TV show increased because of his relationship with series regular Kristen Doute. Before dating Kristen, he closely collaborated with fellow SUR employee Tom Sandoval on several music tracks that Sandoval wrote. The two stopped their collaboration when they realized their creative differences. Their relationship was further complicated when Kristen started obsessing over her ex-boyfriend Tom after he moved on to dating fellow SURver Ariana Madix. Like a proper boyfriend, James supported Kristen as she struggled to get over Tom. Doute and Kennedy’s volatile relationship and penchant for public fights meant James became part of the show’s major storylines. By the fourth season, James has been named a series regular.
When Kristen and James called it quits, James had already launched his music career. He moved on to dating co-star Lala Kent. The two had an easy relationship, often collaborating musically. Lala helped James deal with the end of his parents’ relationship. When James and Lala broke up, they decided to remain friends.
Andros and Jacqueline’s divorce signaled a new chapter in James. He had difficulty dealing with his parents’ split, drinking more, and starting fights with other Vanderpump Rules cast members. He believes that they are conspiring against him, and the mastermind is co-star Jax Taylor. James revealed to Taylor’s fiancée, Brittany Cartwright, that Jax has been cheating on her with fellow SURver Faith Stowers to get back to Taylor. Kennedy then proceeded to fight with ex-girlfriend and best friend Lala Kent and body-shame cast member Katie Maloney-Schwartz which resulted in his firing from SUR (11). His mother, Jacqueline Georgiou, begged Lisa Vanderpump to rehire her son to save James’ livelihood and career. Lisa relented and gave James a second chance, but not without the condition that he must stop feuding with his workmates.
By the end of season four, James started dating beauty queen Raquel Leviss. The pair had a complicated relationship that involved countless fights and alleged domestic abuse, but Raquel stood by James through his anger management and alcoholism problems. She helped him on his road to sobriety, but rumors of physical and psychological abuse persisted throughout seasons six to nine. Leviss and Kennedy were involved in a scandal when James “bumped” Raquel’s nose, which caused the latter to get a nose job. Leviss later confirmed that the incident happened by accident.
James proposed to Leviss in May 2021 during an elaborate Coachella-themed party. By June 2021, he claimed to be two years sober. Lisa Vanderpump later took Raquel to get her ruined nose job fixed by famous plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Nassif (12). James shared that Raquel’s messed-up nose job is an inconvenience for him. Lisa Vanderpump and fellow cast members thought his controversial opinions were unfair and hurtful to Raquel. The couple announced the end of their short-lived engagement during the show’s season nine reunion special.
On May 12, 2022, Bravo announced the renewal of Vanderpump Rules. It is unclear if James Kennedy will be part of the upcoming tenth season.
James Kennedy Social Media
James Kennedy is also a social media influencer with a large number of followers on different platforms. James a 537,000 followers on Instagram, 151,000 on Twitter, and 65,600 followers on Tiktok. James, as an influencer, uses his platforms to promote his music and Vanderpump Rules. He also features sponsored content like Oreo Snack Pop.
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References
- Mikey O’Connell, Lisa Vanderpump, Inc.: The Art of Leveraging Reality TV and Growing a Modern Hollywood Empire, retrieved from https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/vanderpump-rules-inside-lisa-vanderpump-s-bravo-show-growing-restaurant-empire-1267494/
- Camille Moore, 10 Things You Didn’t Know About James Kennedy, retrieved from https://tvovermind.com/james-kennedy/
- Jocelyn Vena, Did James Kennedy’s Parents Ever Get Divorced?, retrieved from https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/did-bravo-star-james-kennedys-parents-ever-get-divorced
- Lindsay Denninger, James Kennedy Comes From An Impressive Family, retrieved from https://www.bustle.com/articles/131082-is-james-kennedy-rich-the-vanderpump-rules-star-comes-from-an-impressive-family
- Kelly Wynne, Vanderpump Rules’ James Kennedy and New Girlfriend Ally Lewber Make Their Red Carpet Debut, retrieved from https://people.com/tv/iheartradio-music-awards-2022-james-kennedy-girlfriend-ally-lewber-red-carpet-debut/
- Madison Brodsky, James Kennedy Interview: Vanderpump Rules, retrieved from https://screenrant.com/james-kennedy-interview-vanderpump-rules-exclusive/
- Chris Rogers, ‘Vanderpump Rules’: Kristen Doute Defends Her Insane Wedding Brawl With James, retrieved from https://hollywoodlife.com/2015/03/12/kristen-doute-punches-james-vanderpump-rules-star-defends-behavior-interview/
- Madison Medeiros, A Brief History Of James Kennedy & His Family’s Lisa Vanderpump Connection, retrieved from https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/02/223957/james-kennedy-family-parents-vanderpump-rules
- Lauren Weigle, EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW – James Kennedy, ‘Vanderpump Rules’: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, retrieved from https://heavy.com/entertainment/2014/12/james-kennedy-vanderpump-rules-kristen-doute-instagram-djing-photos-pics/
- Jocelyn Vena, Here’s What Raquel Leviss Thinks of James Kennedy Being “California Sober”, retrieved from https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/james-kennedy-is-california-sober-raquel-leviss-reacts
- Michele Corriston, Vanderpump Rules: Lisa Cries as She Fires James Kennedy — ‘He’s a Young DJ Like My Brother Was’, retrieved from https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/vanderpump-rules-lisa-cries-she-030004807.html
- Talia Ergas, Raquel Leviss Has “Come to Terms” with Her New Nose, retrieved from https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/raquel-leviss-come-terms-her-030103334.html