Max Boyens is an American reality television personality known for appearing in the eighth season of “Vanderpump Rules.”
Max Boyens's Net Worth
As of July 2022, Max Boyens’s net worth is $300,000. His career as a reality TV star and entrepreneur is his primary source of income. While starring in the reality series, he worked as the general manager of TomTom Restaurant & Bar, a West Hollywood watering hole co-owned by Vanderpump Rules boss Lisa Vanderpump, with co-stars Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz. Max currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of UNA MÁS Cocktails.
Boyens appeared in 24 episodes (1) in the eighth season of Vanderpump Rules. Max enjoyed adequate screen time as one of the newly introduced cast members. He reportedly earned $25,000 per episode before he was ceremoniously let go from the hit show. Due to his firing, Boyens couldn’t parlay his celebrity status into business opportunities to increase his net worth.
Before his television debut on Pump Rules, Max Boyens worked as the operations manager of Tao Group, a hospitality-focused conglomerate that runs a portfolio of nightclubs, restaurants, and lounges.
Max Boyens's Early Life
Max Boyens is 29 years old. He has not revealed his actual birthday except that he was born in 1992. Max was born in San Diego, California but raised for a few years in Hawaii by his unnamed biracial mother. It is not clear if his parents are still married or already separated. He is of African-American, Greek, and Italian descent (2).
Boyens is very close to his Italian father, Charlie Boyens. He describes him as the Selfie King and the funniest guy he knows, often posting throwback photos with Charlie on his Instagram page. Max credits his father for his outgoing nature and love for adventure. He shared that he surfs almost every day because he loves being outside. He finds the ocean his haven to relax and be one with nature.
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Max Boyens confessed that his African-American grandfather helped raise him in San Diego, California. He maintained that his pro-boxer turned police officer grandpa instilled in him the importance of having a close-knit family (3). Boyens claims he’s still close to his family, who have been his steady support system during the Covid-19 pandemic and firing from Vanderpump Rules.
Max Boyens's Education
Max Boyens spent most of his educational years in San Diego, California. He has not disclosed which local high school or college he attended though his LinkedIn page states that he attended Allied Real Estate School in 2018 (4). It’s unclear if he finished the course or only took a short degree.
Max Boyens's Girlfriend and Family Life
Max Boyens is currently single. He describes his social life as being “wildly active” and has been vocal about not dating an employee who works underneath him. Max fell for TomTom Restaurant & Bar hostess Dayna Kathan (5) despite this rule. The pair dated during much of the eighth season of Vanderpump Rules. It is unclear what went wrong in Kathan and Boyens’ short-lived relationship, but Dayna later confessed that it was hard for her to see Max at work every day.
Before dating Dayna Kathan, Boyens had a quick affair with Vanderpump Rules star Scheana Shay (6). The duo dated after Boyens was hired to manage TomTom but broke up a few months later. Max found himself in a love triangle with Shay and co-star Brett Caprioni after Scheana started flaunting her past relationship with Brett to Max. Caprioni apologized to Boyens and admitted that he and Shay dated before his hiring as SUR’s newest waiter. Max felt Scheana was bringing unnecessary drama to make their relationship more dramatic. Despite their break-up, the former couple remains friends and is still in contact.
Max Boyens's Career
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Max Boyens currently works as the consultant, mixologist, and Chief Financial Officer of UNA MÁS Cocktail (7), mixology, menu, and bar design firm that specializes in preparing and renovating restaurants, bars, and lounges. Boyens and his team are behind the successful launching of popular bars like Beauty & Essex, The Bazaar by José Andrés, and TAO Los Angeles. The firm also helps with hiring, payroll, and tip-out structure management.
Before starting UNA MÁS Cocktails, Max was already working in the hospitality industry when he got offered to be TomTom Restaurant & Bar’s general manager in 2018. TomTom, a swanky West Hollywood bar, is co-owned by Lisa Vanderpump, her husband Ken Todd, and Pump Rules dynamic duo Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz.
Max continued serving as TomTom’s general manager despite firing from Vanderpump Rules over resurfacing racist tweets (8). However, in May 2021, Boyens’ representative confirmed that he resigned from his position following a row with TomTom boss, Lisa Vanderpump. The alleged ruckus stemmed from Vanderpump’s refusal to provide health insurance for her employees and renegotiate a new salary package for him. Boyens was said to be furious at the lack of value placed on his years of service to Vanderpump and her businesses and decided to leave to focus on his budding business, UNA MÁS Cocktails.
Max Boyens started his career selling women’s shoes for Nordstrom Fashion Valley. From August 2012 to January 2017, he was the bar manager for San Diego dive bar Brooklyn Girl. In January 2017, Max moved to Los Angeles, California, to work as a sales representative for FEAT Socks. He worked for FEAT Socks for four months before moving on to work for TAO Group as their operations manager.
Vanderpump Rules Storyline for Max Boyens
After working for TAO Group for one year and a half, Max Boyens got offered the role of general manager of TomTom Restaurant & Bar. He got introduced as one of the new cast members on the eighth season of Vanderpump Rules. The reality television show, which airs on the Bravo Network, also added hostess Dayna Kathan and SURver Brett Caprioni. The show followed the lives of Lisa Vanderpump’s TomTom and SUR Restaurant & Lounge employees as they navigated through their personal lives and aspiring Hollywood careers.
As general manager of TomTom, Max oversaw the day-to-day activities and operation of the restaurant. His experience as a veteran manager and mixologist ensured the restaurant’s food and cocktail menus were up to date. Boyens was very good at his job that he became a close friend of TomTom co-owners Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval. The duo describes Max as “the glue that holds it all together.”
During his one-season stint on Vanderpump Rules, much of Max Boyens’ storyline focused on his relationships with co-workers Dayna Kathan and Scheana Shay. Despite his rule of not dating colleagues, Boyens dated Shay upon his hiring in the restaurant. During their time together, he was involved in a love triangle with Scheana and co-star Brett Caprioni. It was a fleeting fling, and soon, the pair broke up.
After dating Shay, Max moved on to date TomTom hostess Dayna Kathan. The former couple had a short-lived relationship, and it’s unclear why they split up. Dayna admitted that it was hard for her to see Max at work every day. Kathan asked for a transfer to SUR Restaurant & Lounge, which Lisa Vanderpump obliged.
In January 2020, racist tweets from Boyens and co-star Brett Caprioni resurfaced. The tweets, written in his teens, featured Max using the N-word and disparaging comments towards the LGBT community, Asians, and African-Americans. Lisa Vanderpump suspended Max for two weeks and launched a thorough inquiry. After completing the investigation, Vanderpump decided to let Boyens back to the restaurant, citing that she believes Max doesn’t share the same sentiments anymore (9).
Six months after the tweets resurfaced, the Bravo network and production company, Evolution Media, announced that Boyens, co-stars Brett Caprioni, Stassi Schroeder, and Kristen Doute would not be returning to the reality series. The firings came after fan outrage over Schroeder and Doute’s racist treatment of co-star Faith Stowers and Max and Brett’s racist tweets from the past. The old tweets exposure came at a time when racism and racial injustice were at the height of everyone’s attention in the wake of the death of George Floyd in police custody.
Following the scandal, Max Boyens apologized for his behavior through a lengthy statement on Instagram. He took full responsibility for his actions and reflected on his experience with having a biracial mother and black grandfather. He maintained that he doesn’t condone hate, racism, and judgment of other people based on their skin color. Lisa Vanderpump, on her part, expressed sadness over her employees’ lack of judgment. She highlighted that she “loves and adores” all her employees, and she hopes that the scandal can serve as a learning experience for everyone to be kinder and compassionate (10).
In a continuous effort to exhibit his remorse and change of heart, Max pledged all of his Cameo profits to benefit organizations like Reclaim the Block, Black Lives Matter, and The Minnesota Freedom Fund. Boyens continued to receive hateful comments on social media, including his Vanderpump Rules co-star Lala Kent, who described his old tweets as “truly disgusting.” These onslaughts of harassment made him suicidal (11), citing that he felt hopeless and alone amidst the controversy. He credited The Toms for helping him through the lowest point of his life by being his best friend.
Despite his firing from the reality TV series, Max Boyens continued his role as general manager of TomTom Restaurant & Lounge. Vanderpump and The Toms planned to reopen the bar in late 2021 after Covid-19 prevented the store from continuing its operations. In May 2021, a spokesperson for Boyens confirmed that Max resigned (12) from his position at TomTom. The resignation followed after an intense fight with his bosses Lisa Vanderpump and her husband, Ken Todd, over Vanderpump’s refusal to provide healthcare for her employees, as well as turning down Boyens’ appeal for a salary raise. Max was angry at the lack of importance Vanderpump and her husband gave to his years of service.
Max Boyens' Appearance (Height, Hair, Eyes & More)
| Height | 5 ft 11 in 1.80 m |
|---|---|
| Weight | 172 pounds 78 kg |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Body Type | Slim |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Facts About Max Boyens
| Nationality | American |
|---|---|
| Estimate Net Worth | $300,000 |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Zodiac Sign | Unknown |
| Birthplace | San Diego, California, USA |
| Birthday | 1992 |
References
- Vanderpump Rules Official IMDb Page, retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2343157/?ref_=ttep_ep_tt
- Molly Harmon, Exclusive: Max Boyens Opens Up About Biracial Family, The ‘VPR’ Cast And TomTom, retrieved from https://www.thethings.com/exclusive-max-boyens-opens-up-about-biracial-family-the-vpr-cast-and-tomtom/
- Danilo Castro, Max Boyens: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, retrieved from https://heavy.com/entertainment/2020/01/max-boyens/
- Max Boyens Official LinkedIn Page, retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-boyens-396aa3132
- Lindsay Cronin, Former ‘Pump Rules’ Star Max Boyens Talks Dayna Kathan Relationship, TomTom Rumor, retrieved from https://theblast.com/150735/former-pump-rules-star-max-boyens-talks-dayna-kathan-relationshi/
- Lindsay Denninger, TomTom Manager Max Is New On Vanderpump Rules & He Seems Like Trouble, retrieved from https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/01/9032518/who-is-max-from-vanderpump-rules-season-8
- UNA MÁS Cocktail Official Website, retrieved from https://unamascocktails.com/
- Ashley Boucher, New Vanderpump Rules Star Max Boyens Used the N-Word Multiple Times in Resurfaced Racist Tweets, retrieved from https://people.com/tv/vanderpump-rules-max-boyens-racist-tweets/
- Chelsea Hirsch, Why Lisa Vanderpump Didn’t Fire Max Boyens, Brett Caprioni Over Resurfaced Racist Tweets, retrieved from https://pagesix.com/2020/06/03/why-lisa-vanderpump-didnt-fire-max-boyens-brett-caprioni-for-resurfaced-racist-tweets/
- Lisa Respers France, Lisa Vanderpump speaks out on ‘Vanderpump Rules’ stars being fired over racist claims, retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/11/entertainment/lisa-vanderpump-stassi-kristen-racism/index.html
- Lindsay Cronin, Max Boyens Admits Having Suicidal Thoughts After Vanderpump Rules Firing, Plus How Lisa Vanderpump and Lala Kent Reacted, retrieved from https://realityblurb.com/2021/05/08/max-boyens-admits-having-suicidal-thoughts-after-vanderpump-rules-firing-plus-how-lisa-vanderpump-and-lala-kent-reacted/
- Nicole Chenoweth, ‘MESSY’ Lisa Vanderpump staffer Max Boyens ‘QUITS’ and Pump Rules star called ‘cheap’ by workers after TomTom’s delayed’ opening, retrieved from https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/2816856/lisa-vanderpump-rules-max-boyens-quit-cheap-tomtom-reopening/