Scott Disick is complicated. If you've followed the sprawling E! cinematic universe for the last decade, you know him as "The Lord," the guy with the cane, the flashy cars, and the turbulent relationship with Kourtney Kardashian. But in 2019, we got something different. We got Flip It Like Disick.
It wasn't just a vanity project. Well, maybe a little. But mostly, it was a real attempt to pivot a brand from "professional party boy" to "high-end real estate mogul."
The show followed Scott and his team—including former pop star turned interior designer Willa Ford—as they tackled luxury home renovations in the hyper-competitive Los Angeles market. If you were expecting Keeping Up With The Kardashians with a hammer, you were probably surprised. It was actually about the grit of the job. It was about the stress of a $100,000 mistake.
The Reality of High-Stakes House Flipping
High-end real estate isn't like the stuff you see on HGTV where a couple buys a bungalow for $50k and paints the shutters blue. It’s a bloodbath. When you’re dealing with the zip codes Scott plays in—Hidden Hills, Malibu, Calabasas—the margins are massive, but the risks are even bigger.
The core of Flip It Like Disick was Scott’s personal investment. He wasn't just a face on the poster; he was the one sweating the details on a multimillion-dollar property.
Honestly, the most interesting part of the show wasn't the marble countertops or the custom infinity pools. It was the dynamic of the team. You had Willa Ford, who many people remember from the early 2000s hit "I Wanna Be Bad," but who has since built a legitimate, respected interior design firm. Then there was Benny Luciano, Scott’s best friend and a seasoned contractor who often acted as the voice of reason when Scott’s "Lord" impulses got too expensive.
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Miki Moor was the realtor, the one who had to actually sell these dreams. It’s one thing to build a house; it’s another to convince a billionaire to buy it.
Why the Show Felt Different
Most Kardashian-adjacent media is polished. It’s curated. Flip It Like Disick felt a bit more raw because real estate is inherently messy. You can't "script" a structural issue or a permit delay from the city of Los Angeles. Those things cost real money and cause real grey hairs.
We saw Scott grappling with his legacy. He’s always been the "tag-along" in the eyes of some critics, and this show was his way of saying he has a craft. He has an eye for design that is actually quite sophisticated. He leans toward a clean, masculine, mid-century modern aesthetic that feels very "old Hollywood" meets "minimalist future."
The Jed Smith Project
The crown jewel of the first season was the Jed Smith property. This wasn't a quick fix. It was a massive undertaking that tested the team's patience and Scott's bank account. They were trying to turn a dated property into a contemporary masterpiece.
What really stood out was the attention to the "landscape architecture." Scott is obsessed with how a house sits on its land. Most flippers focus on the kitchen and the primary suite. Scott was focused on the driveway. He was obsessed with the privacy hedges. He understood that in LA, you aren't just selling a house; you're selling a fortress of solitude.
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Can You Actually Flip Homes Like Scott?
People watch these shows and think they can quit their 9-to-5 and start swinging a sledgehammer. Take a breath.
The reality of flipping at this level requires a massive amount of liquid capital. Scott had the advantage of a built-in platform and deep pockets, but even he felt the pressure. If a house sits on the market for six months in Hidden Hills, the carrying costs—taxes, insurance, interest—can eat your profit alive.
One thing the show got right was showing the importance of a "crew." You are only as good as your contractor. If your contractor flakes, you’re losing thousands of dollars every single day.
The Business Lessons Nobody Talks About
- The "Disick" Tax: Being famous helps you get meetings, but it also means people might overcharge you because they think you’re loaded. Scott had to negotiate just like anyone else.
- Niche over Broad: Scott didn't try to flip "regular" houses. He stayed in the luxury niche he knew. He knew what wealthy buyers wanted because he is one.
- Design as an Asset: In a market like LA, "good enough" isn't enough. You need a "wow" factor. For Scott, that was often custom wood paneling or insanely expensive lighting fixtures.
The show only ran for one season, which led to a lot of rumors. Was it a flop? Not necessarily. The ratings were decent, and the projects were completed. In the world of reality TV, sometimes one season is all you need to establish a new brand identity. Scott proved he could do it. He proved he wasn't just a character on someone else's show.
What Really Happened After the Cameras Stopped Rolling
Since the show aired, Scott has continued his real estate ventures, though more quietly. The Jed Smith house eventually sold, though for less than the original ambitious asking price—a common reality in the luxury market.
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Real estate isn't always a straight line up. Sometimes you break even. Sometimes you lose a little but gain the experience for the next big win.
The legacy of Flip It Like Disick is that it humanized a guy who had spent a decade being the "villain" or the "comic relief." It showed a man trying to build something for his kids. It showed that even if you have all the money in the world, the City Planning Department doesn't care who you are. They'll still make you wait six months for a pool permit.
Actionable Insights for Aspiring Flippers
If you’re looking to get into the game, don't start with a mansion.
- Start with the "Worst House on the Best Street": This is a cliché for a reason. You can change the floors, but you can't change the neighborhood.
- Build Your "Benny": Find a contractor you trust before you buy the house. Most people do it the other way around and get burned.
- Budget 20% More Than You Think: Whatever your "worst-case scenario" budget is, add 20%. There will be mold. There will be bad wiring. There will be a leak.
- Understand Your Market: If you’re in a family-friendly suburb, don't build a "bachelor pad" with a glass garage. Build what the buyers in that specific area are looking for.
Scott Disick’s foray into renovation might have looked like just another show, but for those paying attention, it was a masterclass in brand repositioning. It’s hard to change how the world sees you. Using a sledgehammer to do it is a bold choice, but for a while there, it actually worked.
Whether we see a second season or not, the "Lord" has definitely left his mark on the Southern California skyline. And honestly? The houses looked pretty great.
To get started in your own real estate journey, your next move should be researching your local zoning laws and permit costs. Knowing what you can’t do is just as important as knowing what you want to do. Before buying property, attend three local auctions just to watch how the pros bid. Experience is the only teacher that doesn't lie in this business.