Life after reality TV isn't always a beach. For Kim Richards, though, a beach might actually be the point.
If you've spent any time on Bravo-related TikTok or scrolled through Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fan threads lately, you've likely seen the same question popping up: where is Kim Richards now? After a tumultuous 2024 that saw the former child star hitting some of her lowest public points in years, the "Witch Mountain" actress has effectively vanished from the 90210 zip code.
She isn't just hiding. She's relocated.
The Great Florida Escape
Honestly, the rumors were true. Kim has officially traded the smog of Los Angeles for the humidity of the Sunshine State. In early 2025, she made a rare public appearance at a fan convention where she flat-out told podcast host David Yontef that she flew in from Florida. She’s living there with a close friend, trying to find some semblance of a normal life away from the paparazzi that have haunted her since she was five years old.
It's a big move. Huge. For someone who has spent her entire existence intertwined with the Richards-Hilton dynasty in California, putting three thousand miles between herself and her sisters is a statement.
Kyle Richards, who is currently the last "OG" standing on RHOBH, recently confirmed during a late 2025 reunion special that Kim is "doing better than the last time there was stuff about her in the press." That's a low bar, though.
✨ Don't miss: Old pics of Lady Gaga: Why we’re still obsessed with Stefani Germanotta
What really happened in late 2024
We have to talk about why she left. You can't understand where Kim is now without looking at the "breaking point" that happened in September 2024. It was messy.
Reports surfaced that Kim was placed on a 5150 psychiatric hold after an incident at a Hilton hotel—ironic, considering the family name—where she was found in an "incoherent" state. It didn't stop there. There was a weird, heartbreaking standoff at a home Kyle owns in Encino. Kyle had reportedly tried the "tough love" approach, asking police to help remove Kim from the property in hopes that losing her safety net would force her back into sobriety.
It was a civil matter, the cops said. No crime was committed. But the damage to the sisterly bond was done.
Where is Kim Richards now in her recovery?
Is she sober? That’s the question everyone wants to know, and the answer is usually "it's complicated."
In April 2025, Kim showed up at the Chiller Theatre Expo in New Jersey. She looked healthy. She was smiling, signing autographs for fans of Escape to Witch Mountain and No Deposit, and seemed genuinely happy to be there. This is the "new" Kim: appearing at niche fan conventions across the country rather than filming 14-hour days for Bravo.
🔗 Read more: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes in 2026
Her sisters, Kyle and Kathy Hilton, are reportedly still "bankrolling" much of her life, but they’re doing it from a distance. The 2026 status of the sisters is basically a "guarded peace." They love her, they support her financially, but they aren't necessarily calling her every morning to chat about their day.
Misconceptions about her "Housewives" return
Don't hold your breath for a diamond. Despite the guest appearances in Season 13 and various cameos over the years, Kim is not returning to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills as a full-time cast member.
The show is a trigger. Period.
Kyle has admitted that being on camera was never great for Kim’s mental health. The constant dissection of her life by fans and "friends" like Lisa Rinna (who famously suggested Kim was "near death") took a toll that Kim is still trying to process. Florida offers her anonymity. In a suburb of Florida, she’s just another woman walking her dog, not a reality TV lightning rod.
The family dynamic in 2026
While Kim is in Florida, the rest of the family is dealing with their own chaos. Kyle is still navigating her separation from Mauricio Umansky, and Kathy is busy being, well, Kathy.
💡 You might also like: Addison Rae and The Kid LAROI: What Really Happened
- Relationship with Kyle: They are "not that close" right now, according to Kyle’s 2025 updates. The 5150 incident created a rift that hasn't fully healed.
- Relationship with Kathy: Kathy remains the protector. She’s often the one giving the "she's doing great" updates to the press, acting as a buffer between Kim and the public.
- Acting Projects: There were whispers of Kim returning to the Halloween franchise or taking on small indie roles, but for now, her "work" consists of these fan conventions. They're lucrative, low-stress, and keep her connected to people who actually like her.
Why this move matters
Living in Florida isn't just about the weather. For Kim, it’s about escaping the "Richards Sister" narrative. In LA, she is always the "struggling sister" or the "former child star." In Florida, she gets to hit the reset button.
She still keeps a home in Encino, California—likely the one Kyle owns—but it’s more of a home base for when she has to visit her kids or grandchildren. She isn't "homeless" as some nasty tabloid rumors suggested during her 2024 relapse. She just isn't living the Beverly Hills lifestyle anymore.
Moving Forward: How to support Kim
If you’re a fan of Kim Richards, the best thing you can do is give her space. The pressure of "performing" sobriety for the cameras is what often leads to her downward spirals.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Avoid the rumor mill: If you see a "blind item" about Kim on a gossip site, take it with a grain of salt. Most of the accurate info comes directly from her or Kyle’s official interviews.
- Support her conventions: If she’s appearing at an expo near you, go see her. These events provide her with a stable income and a positive environment that doesn't involve reality TV drama.
- Respect the Florida move: It’s okay for a celebrity to want to be "boring." If she’s quiet on social media, it’s usually a sign that she’s doing the work in private.
Kim Richards is 61 years old now. She’s a grandmother. She’s a survivor of an industry that chews up children and spits them out. Whether she stays in Florida permanently or eventually drifts back to the West Coast, her current priority is clearly peace over fame. And after forty years in the spotlight, she’s probably earned a little bit of quiet.