Simon Van Kempen Through the Years: RHONY's Fashion Icon Now

Remember when The Real Housewives of New York first hit the scene? Simon Van Kempen was right there in 2008, navigating the high-stakes world of Manhattan society alongside his wife Alex McCord—and he wasn’t about to fade into the background.

Back then, Simon was in his 40s and had perfected the art of the power move. He was the guy working the fashion shows, dominating the step-and-repeat lines, and absolutely refusing to back down from the original heavyweights like Bethenny Frankel, Ramona Singer, Jill Zarin, and Luann de Lesseps. While some reality TV husbands play it safe, Simon was all in—making sure he had a seat at the table and wasn’t afraid to speak his mind. That confidence and style made him a memorable part of RHONY’s golden era, even if his role was always just slightly off-camera.

Fast forward to now, and Simon Van Kempen is in his 60s. The question everyone’s asking: how has time treated the man who once owned Manhattan’s social circuit? It’s one of those reality TV rabbit holes that hits different—we spent so much time watching these figures navigate wealth, status, and drama that seeing them age out of that spotlight feels almost surreal. The guy who was checking designer invitations in 2008 is now navigating a completely different chapter.

Whether you loved Simon and Alex’s dynamic or found them polarizing, there’s something undeniably fascinating about seeing where reality TV’s supporting players end up. It’s a reminder that RHONY wasn’t just about the headlines—it was built on a whole ecosystem of personalities, and Simon was absolutely part of what made those early seasons pop. Time moves differently for everyone, but in the world of reality television, it feels like yesterday.