False Things About Flip Or Flop You Can Stop Believing
HGTV's Flip or Flop has been such a huge success. And it's no surprise considering that anyone who is a fan of reality TV knows the network has produced many successful home renovation shows. From the empire that Fixer Upper has started (hello, adorable home decor line at Target!) to launching the celebrity of Jonathan and Drew Scott, HGTV knows how to churn out shows and TV personalities that will be hits. Since Flip or Flop's premiere, its stars Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead have also become celebrities in the world of home design, real estate, and reality TV.
El Moussa and Anstead started the show as husband and wife, working their magic to flip houses and turn a profit, but, through the series' time on television, viewers have seen the power couple split up, get divorced, and even start new relationships. But even though the series definitely shows plenty of drama, intrigue, and the highs and lows of flipping houses, there are still some things that need clearing up. Here are the false things you should stop believing about Flip or Flop.
Flip or Flop's Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead have always been successful
If you've seen just one episode of Flip or Flop, you know that, at first glance, Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead have it all. Even when the pair went through their divorce and when they took on a property that was a lot more work than they initially thought it would be, El Moussa and Anstead tend to come out on top. However, that wasn't always the case for the former couple. In fact, in an interview with The Orange County Register in 2013 just before Flip or Flop premiered, the then-married celebs opened up about how they got to be where they were, and it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows.
According to the publication, the couple lost almost everything when the real estate crash happened. While they once had nice cars and a huge house, they'd had to downgrade, but they were able to bounce back and start making money again when they started flipping houses. So, while El Moussa and Anstead may be successful and well-off now, they weren't always so lucky.
Flip or Flop doesn't mean much to Tarek El Moussa
While Flip or Flop is definitely a big part of both Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead's lives, some fans might assume that El Moussa is only in it for the cash or clout, but that's far from true. In fact, El Moussa kind of owes the show his life. In a video exclusive for HGTV, El Moussa revealed, "So, the craziest thing... TV might've saved my life."
Specifically, in 2013, a nurse in Texas named Ryan Read sent an email to El Moussa after she noticed he had a lump on his throat that she thought he needed to get checked out. Shortly after, El Moussa went to the doctor and discovered he had stage-three thyroid cancer. He underwent treatment, getting his thyroid and several lymph nodes removed, as shared by Chasing the Cure.
In 2019, El Moussa revealed he was cancer-free with a heartfelt Instagram post. "I'm [cancer-free] and I'm healthier than ever!!!!" he exclaimed on his page. "This makes me so happy not for me but for my babies. I have to be healthy and alive for them!!" The show definitely changed El Moussa's life, and he's clearly thankful.
Flip or Flop's stars sweat the competition
Since Flip or Flop is just one of HGTV's many shows that feature a house being turned upside down and made into a gorgeous home, it's no surprise that many viewers might assume Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead get competitive with the other HGTV shows. However, that couldn't be further from the truth.
In fact, to show just how silly that rumor was, Anstead took to her Instagram page to address a specific news story that ran in a tabloid in 2018. The article claimed that there was "war" between Anstead and Fixer Upper's Joanna Gaines. "What a load of Bulls**t," Anstead wrote plainly. Anstead continued, "I have always been a huge supporter of female entrepreneurs... #girlboss is my motto. Nothing but respect for [Joanna Gaines]." Clearly, there's nothing but good vibes between Anstead and Gaines and that were no real feelings of competition.
Flip or Flop is Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead's only source of income
While many reality television stars definitely rely on paychecks from their shows, Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead have various streams of income other than Flip or Flop. However, it's first important to note that even at the start of the show in 2013, the celebs still had their own money that they were putting into the properties shown on the series. According to The Orange County Register, while "the El Moussas were paid $10,000 per episode," they didn't use that money to buy the houses that they flipped. Instead, they put in their own money they had earned from previous investments.
Not only do El Moussa and Anstead make their own money from real estate and flipping ventures, but Anstead also has her own separate show on HGTV, Christina on the Coast. From that, she earns $50,000 per episode, according to Country Living. El Moussa is also venturing out on his own. His show Flipping 101 premieres on HGTV in 2020.
Flip or Flop's Christina Anstead and Tarek El Moussa had a perfect relationship
A lot of the charm on the earlier seasons of Flip or Flop came from the fact that Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead were married, and their flirty, witty banter was super relatable to a lot of couples out there. Who could forget their adventure in trying to catch a chicken that was on a property they had purchased? The two seemed to have a great, almost perfect relationship.
However, that wasn't the case. In January 2017, El Moussa filed for divorce from Anstead, as reported by People. Previously, the couple had publicly announced they had separated, following an incident in which the police were called to their home (via People).
At the time, the couple released a statement to People that clarified what had happened and that they were on the same page when it came to their children. "Like many couples, we have had challenges in our marriage," they said in the statement, noting, "We are committed to our kids and being the best parents we can be." El Moussa and Anstead might have been a cute couple, but their relationship was far from perfect.
A lot of Flip or Flop is staged
While Americans seem to have a huge infatuation with reality television, that doesn't mean they aren't aware that large parts of most reality shows are staged. For example, it's pretty common knowledge that Keeping Up With the Kardashians has a lot of staged, not-so-real moments, as noted by The Cut. But as far as Flip or Flop is concerned, the show is just about as real as can be. Well, as far as the real-estate aspect goes.
According to a thread posted to TalkIrvine.com, Tarek El Moussa himself set the record straight regarding the dramatics seen on the show. When a fan asked if the auctions that are seen on the show are actually real, El Moussa answered, "Real estate auctions where we buy are real," adding, "I must have cashiers checks to buy cash (I lost a 20k check once that was a nightmare)!!" So even though it might seem a bit dramatic, all those auctions where El Moussa and Anstead buy properties sight unseen are totally real!
Flipping houses is just a way to make money for Flip or Flop's stars
As Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead told The Orange County Register at the start of their careers with HGTV, flipping houses helped the family stay afloat in the midst of the real estate crash. However, that doesn't mean that the two are only in it for the money. Of course, per The Orange County Register, the couple made $10,000 per episode at the start of Flip or Flop, so the money wasn't bad.
However, flipping homes isn't just about the money for either El Moussa or Anstead. El Moussa has a passion for real estate, as he told HGTV he was so excited about his show Flipping 101. "My passion for real estate has led me to flip hundreds of homes over the years and I've been incredibly lucky as an entrepreneur to build a successful empire in this industry," he said. Both Flip or Flip stars are passionate about what they do, and the money is just a perk.
The profits seen on Flip or Flop are exaggerated
If you've seen an episode of Flip or Flop, you know that the profits Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead earn from some of the properties they flip can be mind-boggling. According to CNBC, the dynamic duo turned profits upwards of $30,000 per flipped home at the start of their careers, which is a lot of money. So much money that some viewers might think all the profits they see on the show are exaggerated. But, according to El Moussa, that simply isn't the case.
In a Q&A on TalkIrvine.com, El Moussa explained that the money you see him and Anstead make on the show is totally real. "I didn't start with a lot of money, I proved myself and grew a business based on my business plan and track record," he explained. "All the profits you see on show are real but I split that with my partner. They don't show that on the show because it's confusing for the audience to understand." It may seem like the pair is making a ton of money, and they are! They just have to split it with their partner first.
Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead got Flip or Flop because they were successful
When you watch an episode of Flip or Flop, it can be pretty intense. Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead take some big risks and gambles, but they typically always come out on top. Or, at least, they don't lose any money. Clearly, the two are incredibly successful at what they do. But that isn't to say they've always been successful, or that that's even why they landed Flip or Flop.
On the contrary, in an interview with The Orange Country Register, Anstead explained that she believed they landed the gig because they had pulled themselves up from nothing. "They liked the fact that we were poor and were trying to make something of ourselves," she told the publication. So HGTV didn't give them their own show because they were the best but rather because they were able to start from the bottom and work their way up — a true underdog story.
The properties bought on Flip or Flop are always ready to be renovated
Every house that Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead purchase on Flip or Flop needs some work — that's just the basic premise of the show. However, not all properties are created equal, and many require quite a bit more work than others. Of course, some houses need total tear-downs, but some present more interesting problems for El Moussa and Anstead.
According to The Orange County Register, there have been instances where the previous residents of the homes aren't quite ready to say goodbye. Specifically, at one property in Anaheim Hills, a family had been evicted from the home, but they didn't leave quietly. They "poured concrete in toilets, smashed out all the windows and took a hammer to the wood floors before they left," according to The Orange County Register. Not all the homes have that much drama to them, but there's no denying the fact that El Moussa and Anstead have had to face a lot of unforeseen issues with the properties.
Flip or Flop stars Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead are only house flippers
Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead are certainly both successful in real estate, as well as home design, but that doesn't mean that's all they're good at. Besides their jobs in real estate, El Moussa and Anstead are parents to two children, Taylor and Brayden, that they welcomed together before their divorce. Both parents are passionate about their kids and regularly post adorable snapshots of them on their social media pages.
In addition to the day-to-day stuff that goes with being working parents, El Moussa and Anstead have also worked on writing and publishing their own book, Flip Your Life, though, according to USA Today, the project was halted. The stars of Flip or Flop have certainly found plenty of success in what they do, but their children and other hobbies also keep them busy. El Moussa and Anstead are both undeniably hardworking, but real estate and flipping houses is far from their only passion.
Working together after the divorce proved complicated for Flip or Flop's stars
Flip or Flop started as a show that was, for the most part, about flipping houses, but it also featured an adorable couple front and center. But that didn't last long. Flip or Flop premiered in 2013, and, in 2016, the stars of the show announced their separation in a statement to People. "We will continue to work through this process civilly and cooperatively, and plan to continue our professional life together," the statement noted. Sure enough, after Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead divorced, the show went on.
While some might assume that working with an ex-spouse would prove too difficult, El Moussa and Anstead have shown that they can make it work. "Christina and I are in a really good place right now," a statement from El Moussa said, as reported by E! News. "We've worked hard to keep our business strong." They might not be together anymore and both El Moussa and Christina Anstead may be in new relationships, but they seem to be happy as work partners.
Flip or Flop's Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead don't want to do any more shows
Having been on reality television since 2013, it would be totally understandable if Tarek El Moussa and Christina Antstead were kind of over being on TV. But, though viewers might assume that neither El Moussa nor Anstead have any interest in being on any more shows, that's far from true.
Instead, both Flip or Flop stars have landed their own shows on HGTV. Antead's show Christina on the Coast premiered on HGTV in 2019, and it even featured her wedding on a special episode. The show highlights Anstead's successful track record of interior design and takes viewers inside her own home, showing details of her personal life, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Additionally, El Moussa has his own show on HGTV, Flipping 101, which premieres in 2020. Tarek's show focuses on the real estate side of things, which is where his passion lies, as he teaches flipping newbies how to make a profit doing what he loves most, as noted by HGTV.
Flip or Flop only receives mediocre ratings
HGTV has so many popular shows with so many charming hosts that it can be hard to stand out from the pack. But even though Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead might not have built an empire quite like Chip and Joanna Gaines (who, come on, must basically own half of Waco, Texas at this point), they are still super successful and popular, and Flip or Flop receives anything but mediocre ratings.
In fact, according to E! News, Season 7 of Flip or Flop had 19 million viewers, which is no small number. Additionally, the Season 8 premiere of Flip or Flop attracted so many viewers that it was actually the second most popular cable program during their time slot, according to RapidTVNews.com. Clearly, Flip or Flop is doing just fine, and El Moussa and Anstead have a lot going for them. Considering the fact that they started out when they were broke, it's inspiring to see how far they've come.