‘Real Housewives’ Star Lisa Barlow Sued by ‘Longtime Friend’ Alleging $400K in Unpaid Loans to Vida Tequila

Lisa Barlow At The Latinx House Sponsored by The Center for Cultural Power, the Women’s Foundation of California. (Photo: Danny Moloshok/Invision for The Latinx House/AP Images)

“The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Lisa Barlow is reportedly being sued by a former friend who alleges over $400,000 in unpaid loans made to Barlow’s companies.

On Thursday, TMZ reported that Bart Carlson is filing a lawsuit against Barlow and her companies, Vida Tequila and Marketing Luxe. Carlson claims he loaned the reality star $410,842.36 between 2010 and 2018 to help get her up-and-coming brands off the ground. Due to his “longtime friendship” with Barlow, Carlson alleges that he never formalized a repayment plan in writing.

Carlson says that compensation never came. Now, over 14 years after the first loans were allegedly made, the businessman is seeking damages in court.

Shortly after the news broke, Barlow issued a statement to TMZ clarifying her connection to Carlson and denying the claims:

“Bart Carlson was once a business partner in a restaurant in Park City and, I thought, a friend. 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 — a self-described “serial entrepreneur” — founded Vida Tequila in 2007, nearly a decade before the celebrity-backed agave spirits craze took hold of America. In 2008, she followed up with Luxe Marketing, a company that primarily specializes in events organizing and wellness products. Unmentioned in the suit is Fresh Wolf, a grooming line Barlow launched alongside her two sons.

Though Vida Tequila has never self-published sales figures, third-party estimates peg its annual revenue between $3.5 million and $5 million. Lisa co-owns the spirits brand alongside her husband, John Barlow, with whom she also launched Blue Jay Hard Seltzers in 2022.

(Photo: Vida Tequila)

Join the Whiskey Raiders Bottle of the Month Club, where you will receive hard-to-find bottles curated by Whiskey Raiders staff with a 90+ rating on whiskeyraiders.com plus live virtual tastings. Sign up here!