How did Lisa Vanderpump meet Ken Todd? 'Vanderpump Villa' star insists 'they shared an instant connection'

Ken Todd and 'Vanderpump Villa' star Lisa Vanderpump got to know each other through her brother Mark Vanderpump, who was employed at a London nightclub
PUBLISHED APR 1, 2024
Ken Todd initially got to know 'Vanderpump Villa's Lisa Vanderpump through her brother Mark Vanderpump (YouTube/@Bravo)
Ken Todd initially got to know 'Vanderpump Villa's Lisa Vanderpump through her brother Mark Vanderpump (YouTube/@Bravo)

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA: Lisa Vanderpump and her husband, Ken Todd, have been married for over forty years. The couple met at a nightclub in London when she was 21, and he was 37, and they married just a few months later.

Ken has remained by his wife's side through all the highs and lows, many of which viewers of 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' and 'Vanderpump Rules' have witnessed. Ken has appeared in her previous series, as have their beloved dogs, so viewers anticipate seeing them on 'Vanderpump Villa'.

Ken Todd met 'Vanderpump Villa' star Lisa Vanderpump through her brother, Mark Vanderpump (X/Markvanderpump/YouTube/TheInsider)
Ken Todd met 'Vanderpump Villa' star Lisa Vanderpump through her brother, Mark Vanderpump (X/Markvanderpump/YouTube/TheInsider)

According to Bustle, the couple met on August 28, 1982. Lisa, then a 20-year-old actress, lived in her own London flat.

Ken, however, was the 37-year-old owner of Corks, a tavern nestled in Kensington, where the duo initially crossed paths. According to Bravo TV, Lisa met Ken through her brother, Mark Vanderpump who works at Ken's London pub.

When Lisa picked up her brother from work one evening, she found herself stepping in to assist at the club's entrance due to the absence of one of the bar managers. It was then that Ken stepped through the door. It was then that Ken stepped through the door "I just looked at him, and there was an instant connection," Lisa told The Daily Dish.

Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd sued for not paying a $490K settlement to a former employee (Instagram/@lisavanderpump)
'Vanderpump Villa' star Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd first met in 1982 (Instagram/@lisavanderpump)

When did 'Vanderpump Villa' star Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd get married?

In her appearance on Stassi Schroeder's podcast 'Straight Up with Stassi,' Lisa described their relationship as a whirlwind. "We got engaged after six weeks, and we were married within three months," she said.

In 2018, Pandora, the couple's daughter, shared flashback wedding images on Instagram, showing Lisa wearing a flower crown and veil, dressed in a white gown adorned with ample frills. Ken and Lisa celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in August 2022. Lisa posted a video of the festivities on Instagram.

Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd were hit with 2 lawsuits in 2020 (Instagram/@lisavanderpump)
'Vanderpump Villa' star Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd got engaged 6 weeks into dating (Instagram/@lisavanderpump)

How many children do Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd have?

The couple has two adult children: Pandora Vanderpump Sabo and Max Todd. Additionally, Ken has a child, Warren Todd, from a previous relationship before marrying Lisa.

Pandora and her husband, Jason Sabo, welcomed a son named Theodore in November 2021, making Ken and Lisa first-time grandparents.

'Vanderpump Villa' star Lisa Vanderpump and husband Ken Todd are parents to Pandora Vanderpump Sabo and Max Todd (Instagram/lisavanderpump)
'Vanderpump Villa' star Lisa Vanderpump and husband Ken Todd are parents to Pandora Vanderpump Sabo and Max Todd (Instagram/@lisavanderpump)

How many businesses do Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd own?

During their marriage, Ken and Lisa founded multiple restaurants and a charitable organization. It seems that couples who work together in business also succeed together in their personal lives.

Lisa and Ken run SUR and Pump in Los Angeles, together with TomTom. They also created Vanderpump à Paris, a new Paris-themed restaurant in Las Vegas that connects the already-existing Vanderpump Cocktail Garden.

Pump, Lisa, and Ken's popular restaurant, permanently closed its doors in July 2023. In a February 2024 episode of their reality program, Lisa revealed that Ken's desire to retire influenced their choice to stop the firm.

"After 10 years, we've decided to close Pump. It's bittersweet, but the rent's going up, and it's going to be exponentially more expensive, and Ken's looking to retire," she remarked on season 11 of 'Vanderpump Rules'. "If we take it on for another ten years, that means Ken will still be stomping the pavements of West Hollywood when he'll be in his 80s."

In 2020, a class action complaint alleged that Lisa and Ken failed to pay salaries or provide lunch breaks to restaurant employees. Former employee Adam Pierce Antoine filed a class action complaint against the couple, alleging them of breaking California labor regulations. The couple ultimately decided to settle for $250,000.

In addition to their multiple restaurants and pubs, the pair co-founded a non-profit dog rescue charity. According to the Vanderpump Dog Foundation's website, the organization has both immediate and long-term aims, including low-cost spaying and neutering for rescue pet owners and an end to dog maltreatment globally.

Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd were accused of breaking several California labor laws in 2020 (Instagram/@lisavanderpump)
Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd were accused of breaking several California labor laws in 2020 (Instagram/@lisavanderpump)

Season one of 'Vanderpump Villa' starts on Monday, April 1.  

RELATED TOPICS VANDERPUMP RULES (2013)

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Netflix is rebooting 'Star Search' with a live, interactive format and a trio of A-listers joining the judges' table for the iconic talent show's return
5 hours ago
'The Masked Singer' deviated from its two-seasons-per-year format in 2025 when it skipped the fall season
22 hours ago
Peacock launched 'The Traitors' official podcast with Boston Rob and Bob the Drag Queen to unpack every betrayal, banishment, and twist
1 day ago
Old accusations resurface in the ‘Sister Wives 1-on-1’ trailer, proving the Browns’ emotional breakup is far from truly settled.
1 day ago
A subtle moment on 'Uncloaked' has sparked fresh theories about the identity of the 'Secret Traitor' hiding beneath the 'Red Cloak'
2 days ago
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 18 launches with a high-stakes design challenge, a show-stealing guest judge, and fierce first impressions from 14 queens.
4 days ago
Netflix lifts the veil on Palm Beach’s most exclusive circles as ‘Members Only’ reveals the rules, rivalries, and secrets of elite society.
7 days ago
'The Road' on CBS featured 12 new voices judged by country music stars Keith Urban and Blake Shelton
Dec 22, 2025
Celeb guests include Singer Zac Brown and YouTuber MrBeast, with Jeff Probst returning as the host
Dec 18, 2025
Season 49 of the survival reality show concluded with Savannah Louie winning the competition
Dec 18, 2025