Erika Jayne. She’s the ice queen. The "Pretty Mess." The woman who famously spent $40,000 a month on glam while, allegedly, the world around her burned. If you’ve been keeping up with the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, you know her story isn’t just about diamonds and high-fashion music videos anymore. It’s a legal thriller.
For years, we watched her living in a Pasadena palace with Tom Girardi. He was the legendary attorney behind the Erin Brockovich case. Then, everything shattered. Since 2020, Erika has been fighting for her reputation, her bank account, and honestly, her survival in the public eye.
People love to hate her. Or they love to watch her fight. There’s really no in-between when it comes to Erika.
The $25 Million Question and the 2026 Trial
Right now, the biggest cloud over Erika isn't a Bravo script. It's a courtroom. While many thought her legal woes were sunsetting, February 2026 has brought a massive new hurdle. After settlement talks completely collapsed at the end of 2025, Erika is now heading to trial regarding a $25 million lawsuit filed by the trustee overseeing Tom Girardi’s bankruptcy.
The argument is basically this: the trustee claims that money from Tom’s law firm, Girardi Keese, was used to fund Erika’s "lavish lifestyle" and her EJ Global company.
Erika’s defense has always been the same. She didn't know. She’s maintained that she was a wife who trusted her husband with the finances. "I'm not a CPA," she famously barked during a reunion. But the court wants to know if she should have known.
Why the Marco Marco Lawsuit Matters
It's not just the big bankruptcy case. You might remember the drama with the designer Marco Marco. Erika actually faced a default judgment risk in a separate $18 million case recently due to what experts called "clerical errors" by her legal team.
In Season 15 of Erika Housewives of Beverly Hills, we’re seeing her juggle these hits while trying to maintain "Villa Jayne," her scaled-down (but still very chic) home. She’s essentially a professional defendant at this point.
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The "Shrek" Era: Meet John McPhee
Let’s talk about the boyfriend. Finally. After five years of being single and legally tethered to a man who is now serving an 87-month prison sentence, Erika has moved on.
His name is John McPhee. His nickname? Shrek.
Honestly, it’s a weird nickname for a guy dating a Beverly Hills housewife. But McPhee is a retired U.S. Army Special Operations Sergeant Major. He’s a "tough guy" in the most literal sense. He explained recently that the nickname came from his time in the service because he was "like an ogre" moving heavy equipment.
- He’s not a Hollywood guy. He’s private security.
- They went public in July 2025.
- The cast is divided. On Season 15, we're seeing Kyle Richards and Dorit Kemsley being "brutally honest" about the pairing.
It’s a massive shift from Tom Girardi. Tom was 33 years her senior and controlled the room with a velvet glove. McPhee seems to be the muscle and the peace she’s been looking for, though the paparazzi photos of them together reportedly left Erika "disappointed." She likes to control the narrative. This relationship? It’s a bit more "real" than she’s used to.
Career Pivot: DJ Pretty Mess
You can't keep a performer down. Erika knows the "Erika Jayne" pop star persona is expensive to maintain. You need dancers. You need sets. You need a massive budget.
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So, she did what every savvy Housewife does: she pivoted. In late 2025, she officially launched her career as DJ Pretty Mess.
She played her first major gig at Palm Springs Pride in November 2025. It makes sense. It’s a lower overhead. She can still wear the costumes and play her hits like "XXPEN$IVE" and "Painkillr," but she’s behind the decks.
This move follows her "Bet It All on Blonde" Las Vegas residency. That residency was a huge gamble. The 2024 documentary showed her crying, struggling with a $100,000 budget shortfall, and even admitting to suicidal thoughts during her darkest days. She really did bet everything on that stage. It was a commercial success, but the legal bills keep coming. DJing is her way of keeping the lights on at Villa Jayne.
The Reality of Season 15
Watching Erika on the current season of Erika Housewives of Beverly Hills is different. She’s not the "Ice Queen" of Season 7. She’s softer, yet more defensive. She’s playing the role of the neutral friend in the Kyle/Dorit feud, which is a smart strategic move. If you aren't the center of the drama, you don't get the "villain edit."
What We Get Wrong About Erika
Most people think Erika is still sitting on a pile of Tom’s hidden cash. But if you look at the filings, she’s fighting for every dollar. She’s selling her old clothes on resale sites. She’s doing "The Masked Singer" (she was Yorkie, by the way). She’s taking every gig she can get.
Another misconception? That she’s officially divorced. She isn't.
Tom Girardi was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia. He’s under a conservatorship. Erika explained on Watch What Happens Live that getting a divorce from someone who is legally "incompetent" is a nightmare. She has to deal with his conservator, and with his prison sentence now in full swing, it’s low on the priority list for the courts.
What you should do next to stay informed:
- Monitor the February 2026 Trial: This is the "big one." The outcome of the $25 million trustee lawsuit will likely determine if Erika stays in Beverly Hills or faces a total financial reset.
- Watch Season 15 for the McPhee Reveal: Pay attention to how the other women react to "Shrek." It’s the first time we’ve seen Erika’s romantic life outside of Tom, and the power dynamics are shifting.
- Check her "DJ Pretty Mess" Tour Dates: If she’s coming to your city, it’s the best way to see the current version of her brand—stripped back, but still focused on the "Pretty Mess" persona.