Jax Taylor isn't exactly the kind of guy you'd expect to find at a church social in the Midwest. But that’s exactly where he started. If you've spent the last decade watching him burn bridges on Vanderpump Rules or try to reinvent himself on The Valley, you probably associate him with the neon lights of West Hollywood or the suburban sprawl of Los Angeles.
So, where is Jax Taylor from originally?
He’s a Michigan boy. Specifically, he’s from Shelby Township, a suburban spot about 30 miles north of Detroit. It’s a place known for being a relatively quiet, conservative, and upper-middle-class area. Honestly, it’s the last place you’d expect to produce reality TV’s most notorious "bad boy."
The Michigan Roots and the Man Before "Jax"
Before he was the guy getting forehead vein-poppingly angry at SUR, he was Jason Michael Cauchi. Born on July 11, 1979, he grew up in a traditional Catholic household. His parents, Ronald and Marie Cauchi, raised him alongside his sister, Jenny Lynn.
Life in Shelby Township was, by Jax’s own account, pretty "Leave It to Beaver." He attended Eisenhower High School, graduating in 1998. It’s funny because if you listen to him talk about it now, he describes his neighborhood like something out of American Pie—doors left unlocked, kids running around, and a general sense that nothing could ever go wrong.
But Jason was already showing signs of the Jax we know. He’s admitted to forging his mom’s signature on tests and faking report cards. He even allegedly tried to hit on his bus driver when he was twelve. The "mischievous" streak started early.
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The Military Stint You Probably Forgot
After high school, he didn't exactly have a straight shot to stardom. He briefly attended Michigan State University and a community college, but the academic life didn't stick. He dropped out.
Feeling a bit aimless, he did something that surprises most fans: he joined the U.S. Navy. He was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, but the military life was short-lived. He served for about six months before receiving a discharge. While it wasn’t a career, Jax often credits that time with instilling some level of discipline, even if that discipline didn't always show up during a 2:00 AM shift at a West Hollywood bar.
From Michigan to the Modeling World
The transition from Jason Cauchi to Jax Taylor didn't happen overnight. After the Navy, he headed to New York City and then Miami to pursue modeling. This is where the lore starts to get a little murky—mostly because Jax is, well, Jax.
He famously claimed he shared an apartment with a young Channing Tatum during his early modeling days in New York. Whether that’s 100% true or just "Jax-truth" (where the facts are a little flexible) depends on who you ask. Tom Sandoval once called him out on it, saying it was a total fabrication. Still, Jax did find real success. He appeared in campaigns for major brands like:
- Target and Macy’s
- Skechers and Taco Bell
- Abercrombie & Fitch
- GQ Japan and Cosmopolitan
He was even the cover model for the original Assassin’s Creed video game. Seriously. If you look at the box art, that’s him.
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The Name Change
By the time he hit Los Angeles around 2010, Jason Cauchi was gone. He officially started going by Jax Taylor. Why? Mostly because the industry was already flooded with "Jasons," and he wanted something that sounded more like a leading man. It worked. He started landing uncredited background roles on shows like Dexter and Desperate Housewives before Lisa Vanderpump changed his life forever.
Why His Hometown Still Matters Today
Even though he's spent the last 15 years in California, Jax’s Michigan roots popped up in some pretty heavy ways during his time on Bravo. The most significant—and heartbreaking—connection was his relationship with his father, Ronald.
When Ronald passed away from cancer in 2017, it triggered a massive shift in Jax’s life. It led to his "redemption" arc, his marriage to Brittany Cartwright, and eventually, a deep estrangement from his mother, Marie. He blamed her for not being transparent about the severity of his father’s illness. That rift was so deep she didn't even attend his wedding at the Kentucky Castle.
Michigan represents a version of Jax that was "untouched" by the reality TV machine, but it’s also the source of much of the internal baggage he’s still unpacking today.
Shelby Township vs. Studio City: A World Apart
If you visit Shelby Township today, you’ll find a community that’s much more developed than when Jax was a kid. It’s lost some of that "farm land" feel and turned into a bustling suburb. It’s a far cry from his current life in Studio City, where he recently opened his own sports bar, Jax’s Studio City.
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Living in a $6,000-a-month townhouse next door to Tom Schwartz is a long way from the Michigan public school system. But as we saw in the recent season of The Valley, you can take the guy out of the Midwest, but the Michigan rage? That might be a bit harder to leave behind.
He recently revealed a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and PTSD after checking into an inpatient facility. In a weird way, he’s been talking more about his upbringing lately than ever before, trying to figure out why he reacts the way he does. His sister, Jenny, has even joined him on his podcast to dissect their childhood, pointing out that Jax was the "first-born grandchild" and often shielded from accountability.
What’s Next for the Shelby Township Native?
Jax is currently navigating a messy divorce from Brittany Cartwright while trying to stay sober and manage his mental health. He’s still a fixture of the "Valley Village" scene, but the persona he built—the one that started in a quiet Michigan town—is clearly undergoing some maintenance.
If you’re looking to follow his journey or understand how his background shaped him, the best move is to check out his podcast, When Reality Hits. He’s surprisingly candid there about the "Jason" years. Also, keep an eye on his sister Jenny’s social media; she’s often the only one willing to tell the actual truth about their life back in Michigan without the reality TV gloss.