‘RHOSLC’ Lisa Barlow Sued By Longtime Pal Over Alleged $400,000 Debt

Lisa Barlow may need to keep her friends even closer as a longtime pal just turned into an enemy.

The “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star was recently named alongside two of her businesses in a $400,000 lawsuit. An old friend of the Bravolebrity claims she owes him a significant amount after years of borrowing money from him.

This is not the first time Lisa Barlow has made waves over money matters, as she once angered her castmates with a bold statement about her wealth.

Barlow, alongside two of her businesses — Vida Tequila and Luxe Marketing — got called out by a man named Bart Carlson in a lengthy complaint. The plaintiff, who claims to be a longtime friend of the defendant, alleges he loaned her money for years.

The debt started in May 2010, when Barlow allegedly told him her businesses were financially unstable and needed money to cover expenses. Carlson claims he gave her the required cash without specifying a period for repayment, given their longtime friendship.

However, the TV personality allegedly abused his trust by collecting $410,842.36 from May 2010 to February 2018 while repeatedly refusing to cover her debt. Carlson claims that whenever he asked for his money, Barlow used her financial struggles to dodge him.

According to documents obtained by TMZ, she allegedly claimed there was no way she or her companies could repay him. Hence, Carlson wants a judge to step in and order Barlow to cough up the amount he alleges is rightfully his.

After news of the lawsuit broke, Barlow released a statement of her innocence to the news outlet. She acknowledged her longtime relationship with Carlson, noting they were once business partners working in a restaurant in Park City.

The Bravo star confessed that she thought she and Carlson were friends; however, she felt betrayed by his decision to exploit her with a false narrative. In her words:

“I am deeply saddened that he has decided nine years after our restaurant business ceased to claim that I owe him money. To be very clear, the claim that I owe Bart or his company money is untrue.”

“I pay my bills and obligations, and I always have. In addition, Bart has no interest in Luxe Marketing or Vida Tequila and did not invest in either business,” Barlow continued, adding:

“I look forward to the truth coming out, and I intend to hold Bart fully accountable for any damage this personal attack may cause me or my businesses.”

Given the latter’s history of flaunting her wealth, Carlson’s claims about Barlow’s financial troubles may surprise fans. She once declared she was “f—king richer” than her castmates during season 2 of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.”

Naturally, her words earned her heated feelings from her co-stars, forcing Barlow to explain the intention behind her words. During the “RHOSLC After Show,” the 49-year-old, per Life & Style, said:

“The whole point of saying that is I don’t need to be here. I have a good life. I worked really hard for my life. I can leave here, and I can never be a part of this again, and I’m good. I’m done.”

She continued: “It wasn’t to insult anyone. I went on an apology tour the next day. I mean, I don’t regret saying that. I’ve worked hard, and at this point, I’d had enough. I literally hit my boiling point. I was like; I’m done. And if that offended anyone, whatever. I said what I said.”

According to sources, Barlow’s estimated net worth was $5 million in 2023. She garnered this amount thanks to her businesses, including the clothing brand EMBELLISH, which she launched in 2003.

The same year, she and her husband, John Barlow, started their spirits brand Vida Tequila. They launched the project two years later, selling Blanco tequila for $59.99, Reposado tequila for $64.99, and Añejo tequila for $74.99.

The couple’s alcohol business once made waves on “RHOSLC” season 3 when castmate Meredith Marks questioned the 49-year-old for using a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the brand.

However, Barlow claimed that raising money for her business did not mean she and her husband were broke. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a billionaire; you raise money for your business. It’s normal in business,” she argued.

In February, Barlow raved about her excitement for the fifth season of “RHOSLC” in an exclusive interview withThe Blast. She noted the new show would feature more emotions as the “relationships within the core four” castmates had changed.

“The one thing that I love about our show and our cast and crew, everybody’s still so vulnerable and so open and learning so much about each other, so I think there’s still a lot of resolve that needs to happen,” she explained.

As for what fans could expect, Barlow believed season 5 would be the “best season ever,” adding: “The bar is so high now, but I think we’re gonna keep pushing it higher and higher. I think this is gonna be another epic season.”