What Happened to Tarek El Moussa?
Tarek El Moussa is a prominent American real estate investor and television personality, best known for his HGTV shows like "Flip or Flop," "Flipping 101," and "The Flipping El Moussas." After a public divorce from his first wife and co-star Christina Haack, he remarried Heather Rae Young in 2021 and continues to expand his real estate empire and television presence, most recently dealing with a home burglary in June 2026.
Quick Answer
Tarek El Moussa continues to be a fixture in real estate and reality television as of June 2026. He stars in HGTV's "The Flipping El Moussas" and "The Flip Off" with his wife, Heather Rae El Moussa, and also runs several real estate businesses. Most recently, in June 2026, his Newport Beach mansion was burglarized while he and his family were on vacation, an incident he and Heather described as feeling "violated" by.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline18 events
Obtains Real Estate License
Tarek El Moussa gets his real estate license at the age of 21, beginning his career in the industry.
Housing Market Crash & Start of Flipping
The 2008 financial crisis impacts his real estate business, leading him and then-wife Christina Haack to begin flipping houses.
Marries Christina Haack
Tarek El Moussa marries Christina Haack, with whom he would later co-star on 'Flip or Flop'.
Flip or Flop Premieres on HGTV
The reality television series 'Flip or Flop', starring Tarek and Christina El Moussa, debuts on HGTV, quickly gaining popularity.
Diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer
A 'Flip or Flop' viewer, a registered nurse, notices a lump on Tarek's neck while watching the show, leading to his diagnosis of stage 2 thyroid cancer. He later also battles testicular cancer.
Separates from Christina Haack
Tarek and Christina El Moussa publicly announce their separation after seven years of marriage.
Divorce from Christina Haack Finalized
His divorce from Christina Haack is finalized, though they continue to film 'Flip or Flop' together.
Meets Heather Rae Young
Tarek El Moussa meets Heather Rae Young, a real estate agent and star of 'Selling Sunset', on his yacht in Newport Beach.
Flipping 101 with Tarek El Moussa Premieres
Tarek launches his solo HGTV show, 'Flipping 101 with Tarek El Moussa', where he mentors new house flippers.
Marries Heather Rae Young
Tarek El Moussa marries Heather Rae Young in Montecito, California, with the wedding featured in a Discovery+ special.
Flip or Flop Concludes
Tarek and Christina announce that 'Flip or Flop' will end after 10 seasons, with the series finale airing in March 2022.
Son Tristan Jay El Moussa Born
Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa welcome their first child together, a son named Tristan Jay El Moussa.
The Flipping El Moussas Premieres
Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa's new HGTV show, 'The Flipping El Moussas', which follows their combined personal and professional lives, debuts.
The Flip Off Premieres
Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa compete against Christina Haack in the new HGTV series 'The Flip Off'.
'The Flipping El Moussas' Reportedly Canceled
Reports emerge that HGTV has canceled 'The Flipping El Moussas' after two seasons, amidst a series of network cancellations.
Tarek Expresses Burnout from Flipping
Tarek El Moussa shares on Instagram that he feels "burned out" by the high-pressure lifestyle of professional home flipping and desires more stable wealth-building.
'The Flip Off' Renewed for Season 2
Heather Rae El Moussa confirms that 'The Flip Off' has been renewed for a second season and that filming has begun.
Newport Beach Home Burglarized
While Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa are on vacation in Los Cabos, Mexico, their Newport Beach mansion is burglarized, with valuable jewelry reported stolen.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Tarek El Moussa's journey in real estate began at a young age, obtaining his license at 21 in 2002. He initially had a lucrative career selling real estate in Orange County, California, but faced significant challenges during the 2008 financial crisis, which led him and his then-wife, Christina Haack, to pivot to house flipping. This new strategy became the foundation for their hit HGTV show, "Flip or Flop," which premiered in 2013 and propelled them to national fame.
During his time on "Flip or Flop," El Moussa faced personal health battles, including a thyroid cancer diagnosis in 2013, which was notably identified by a viewer who noticed a lump on his throat. He later also battled testicular cancer, both of which are now in remission. His marriage to Christina Haack, however, became strained, leading to their separation in 2016 and divorce in 2018. Despite the personal challenges, they continued to co-host "Flip or Flop" until its conclusion in March 2022.
Following his divorce, El Moussa expanded his individual brand, launching "Flipping 101 with Tarek El Moussa" in 2020, where he mentors aspiring house flippers. His personal life also saw a new chapter when he met "Selling Sunset" star Heather Rae Young in July 2019. They married in October 2021, and welcomed their son, Tristan, in January 2023. Together, they launched new HGTV ventures, including "The Flipping El Moussas" in March 2023, which chronicles their combined professional and personal lives.
In 2025, El Moussa also starred in "The Flip Off," a competition series where he and Heather competed against his ex-wife Christina Haack. While "The Flipping El Moussas" was reportedly canceled by HGTV in July 2025 amid network-wide changes, "The Flip Off" was renewed for a second season, with filming underway as of October 2025. El Moussa also revealed in August 2025 that he felt "burned out" by the constant grind of professional house flipping, expressing a desire for more stable, long-term wealth-building strategies. Beyond television, he manages several real estate businesses, including TEM Capital, Tarek Buy's Houses, and Homeschooled by Tarek, and released his book "Flip Your Life" in early 2024.
As of June 2026, Tarek El Moussa remains active in real estate and television. However, he and Heather Rae El Moussa faced a significant personal event when their Newport Beach mansion was burglarized on June 9, 2026, while they were on vacation in Los Cabos, Mexico. High-value jewelry was reportedly stolen, and the couple expressed feeling "violated" and "really sad" about the incident.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Tarek El Moussa made different choices?