Last Updated on September 13, 2024
About Tarek El Moussa
Tarek Gustave El Moussa is an American realtor and reality television personality.
El Moussa is best known for his HGTV show ‘Flip or Flop,’ where he stars alongside his ex-wife Christina Haack-Anstead.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Tarek Gustave El Moussa |
| Popular Name: | Tarek el Moussa |
| Gender: | Male |
| Birth Date: | August 21, 1981 |
| Age: | 41 years |
| Parents: | Nabil Kamel El Moussa and Dominique El Moussa |
| Siblings: | Angelique el Moussa |
| Birth Place: | Long Beach, California |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | Lebanese and Belgian |
| Education: | Unknown |
| Marital Status: | Divorced. Previously married to ‘Flip or Flop’ co-star Christina Haack Anstead (from 2009 until their divorce in 2018). Currently in a relationship with realtor and former Playboy model Heather Rae Young. |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Wife/Spouse: | N/A |
| Children: | Taylor Reese El Moussa and Brayden James El Moussa (from his previous marriage to Christina Haack) |
| Dating: | Heather Rae Young |
| Net Worth: | USD 10 million |
| Source of Wealth: | Reality Television, Real Estate, and Other Ventures |
| Height: | 5′ 10″ (1.78 m) |
| Weight: | 78 kg; In pounds: 171 lbs. |
Early Life and Career Information
Tarek El Moussa was born on August 21, 1981, in Long Beach, California, to Nabil Kamel El Moussa and Dominique El Moussa. El Moussa rose to prominence buying real estate homes at auctions, then renovating the properties and later selling them for a profit.
Tarek’s career as a realtor goes way back. At the tender age of 21 years, he was already a licensed real estate agent. Once he got his real estate license, El Moussa started flipping homes in Orange County, California.
Tarek El Moussa met his future wife, Christina Haack, while working his realtor job. As the chemistry between Tarek and Christina clicked, the duo’s shared business interests also saw them become professional partners. Tarek took care of managing property renovations, with Christina focusing on property design. Their real estate business reportedly boomed until the economic meltdown of 2008.
As part of their austerity measures in the wake of the 2008 Great Recession, Tarek and Christina moved from a luxurious $6,000/month house to a modest $700/month apartment. In 2009, one year after the Great Recession, the couple finally tied the knot.
In 2011, Tarek and Christina recorded on a tape the flipping of a house from start to finish. They later submitted the tape to HGTV. After watching the tape, HGTV executives were impressed by its content and presentation, and considered offering the couple a platform to showcase their real estate prowess.
In 2012, Tarek and Christina were signed to host the ‘Flip or Flop’ reality television show on HGTV. The show basically chronicles the entire process of buying distressed properties, renovating them, and then selling the properties for a profit.
The first episode of ‘Flip or Flop’ was aired on April 16, 2013. Tarek and Christina continued hosting the reality television series even after the couple divorced in 2018.
Banking on their rising popularity, Tarek and Christina founded the real estate company ‘The El Moussa Group.’ The company was based in Orange County, California, an area considered as having one of the highest foreclosure rates in the United States. However, ‘The El Moussa Group’ was dissolved following the divorce and rebranded as ‘Tarek and Associates.’
Tarek El Moussa’s Net Worth
As of 2023, Tarek El Moussa had a net worth of $10 million. El Moussa has earned his millions flipping real estate properties for several years. He is also a popular television figure, thanks to the critical success of the ‘Flip or Flop’ reality show.
In the first few episodes of the show, Tarek and Christina earned a total of $10,000 per episode. That translated to about $130,000 per season. However, by the start of season 3, the couple earned a total of $40,000 per episode, which worked out as around $600,000 per season.
In addition to ‘Flip or Flop,’ Tarek El Moussa has another show on HGTV known as ‘Flipping 101 with Tarek El Moussa.’ The show features El Moussa mentoring budding real estate agents, while also sharing useful tips on how to navigate the often-treacherous industry.
Lessons from Tarek El Moussa
1. Be adaptable to changing financial situations
Following the Great Recession of 2008, Tarek and Christina responded by moving from a high-end house to a modest one. This move spoke volumes about the couple’s financial and business acumen.
2. Have a clear distinction between business and personal interests
When Tarek and his wife Christina divorced in 2018, many would have imagined that the ‘Flip or Flop’ show would also come to an abrupt end. However, the couple continued starring in the series even post their divorce.
3. It’s good to love…but it’s better to know when to let go
After their separation, Tarek reportedly texted his ex-wife Christina and her husband Anstead congratulating them for their new-found love. Unlike many celebrity couples, Tarek and Christina’s divorce was largely amicable and free of drama.
Famous Quotes by Tarek El Moussa
“For most fans, I think it’s more than just a real estate show. We’ve been doing this for so long. People have watched kids born, people have watched us raise kids, they watched us get divorced, they know us. They’ve been following our lives for almost 10 years. They feel like they’re a part of it, which makes sense.”
“I’m so grateful for my life. I’m healthier than I’ve ever been. I survived cancer twice. My divorce almost killed me and for five or six years of my life, I was a really sick guy and today, I’m just grateful to live and be alive and beat cancer and thrive.”
“Obviously, there’s a lot more riding on my skills when I’m the only one there, so it’s just a little bit more pressure.”
“We’ve been spending a lot of time together…and we just have so much fun. After all the hardships that I’ve experienced, and there are so many ups and downs in life, sometimes having fun is like the best medicine.”
Final Word
Taren El Moussa is a real estate agent and television personality who gained widespread recognition appearing in the television series ‘Flip or Flop.’ El Moussa has achieved tremendous success flipping real estate properties along with his ex-wife Christina Haack. He currently enjoys a net worth of $10 million.
