Lauri Waring Peterson Net Worth

Dr. Dorothy Yost 17 Jun 2025

What is Lauri Waring Peterson's net worth?

Lauri Waring Peterson is an American reality television star who has a net worth of $20 million. The vast majority of her wealth is attributable to her husband since 2007, real estate developer George Peterson.

Lauri Waring Peterson rose to prominence as one of the original cast members on Bravo's reality television series "The Real Housewives of Orange County," which premiered in 2006 as the first installment in the now-expansive "Real Housewives" franchise.

During her time on the show (seasons 1-4, with a guest appearance in season 8), viewers followed her journey as a recently divorced single mother struggling financially who later found love with wealthy developer George Peterson, whom she married in 2007. Her storylines often centered around her relationship with her troubled daughter Ashley and her adjustment to a new lifestyle.

After leaving the main cast in 2008, Peterson cited her daughter's personal struggles as a primary reason for stepping back from the spotlight. Her brief return in season 8 created controversy when she made allegations about fellow cast member Vicki Gunvalson.

Beyond television, Peterson has maintained a relatively low public profile compared to other Housewives alumni, occasionally appearing in reunion specials and retrospectives. Her contribution to the franchise remains significant as one of the original women who helped establish the template for what would become a global reality TV phenomenon.

Early Life and Marriage to Phillip Waring

Lauri was born on October 28, 1960, in Idaho. She had two children with Phillip Waring: a son named Josh – born in 1988 – and a daughter named Sophie – born in 1997. She also has a daughter named Ashley from another relationship.

Lauri and Phillip divorced in 2006. She was reportedly left "destitute" from the divorce.

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Real Housewives

Lauri was an original cast member on "The Real Housewives of Orange County" – the very first installment of the "Real Housewives" reality empire. When the first season of the series started, she was in the process of finalizing her divorce from Phillip.

Lauri and her children had to downsize to a much more modest home, and she was forced to take a job at an insurance agency that was owned by her "RHOC" co-star, Vicki Gunvalson.

By the second season of the show, she had found love with a wealthy land developer named George Peterson.

In September 2007, George and Lauri married. Believe it or not, it was the first major reality wedding ceremony that was documented and televised. Reality marriages are now a mainstay of the genre.

She subsequently became stepmother to his four children from a previous relationship.

(Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

Josh Waring's Legal Troubles

In 2016, Lauri's son Josh was arrested on charges that he allegedly stole a car and shot someone. He faced life in prison but accepted a plea deal, serving several years in prison. While in prison, he was brutally attacked by a fellow inmate. He was released in 2020.

In 2015, George and Lauri adopted Josh's daughter, Kennedy Waring, while he was struggling with addiction and legal troubles.

Real Estate

George and Lauri's primary home is a 3,500-square-foot mansion in San Juan Capistrano, California. George purchased the home in 2004 for $2.85 million. Today, the home is likely worth $4-5 million.