Three years after the massive global hit phenomenon Bling Empire. The first eight episodes of season 1 debuted on January 15, 2021, chronicling the excessive, exorbitant, and extravagant lifestyles of several young, affluent Asian-Americans hobnobbing in Los Angeles. In May 2022, Netflix released the show's second season.
Bling Empire s a rich tradition of reality TV documentaries that allow viewers to indulge in the most lavish lifestyles by living vicariously through a distinct cast of characters with expensive tastes and disposable income.
Updated on May 26th, 2022, by Lynn Gibbs: Netflix's Bing Empire showed the wealthy and carefree lives of a privileged group of friends living around Los Angeles. As self-made millionaires and heirs to family fortunes, this group of friends make other reality TV show characters look less- than. If viewers love watching groups of friends, fabulous wealth, and undeniable drama, they'll love these similar tv shows.
#RichKids Of Beverly Hills (2014-2016)
Available For Streaming On Fubo
One materialistic reality TV series cut from the same cloth as Bling Empire includes #RichKids of Beverly Hills, E! Network's more youthful answer to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Just as it sounds, #RichKids tracks the excessive trends of a group of single, twenty-something socialites living their best lives in the upscale parts of the City of Angels. The overprivileged young adults are led by millionaire Chinese-American Dorothy Wang and her best friend Morgan Stewart. Funny enough, Dorothy becomes a Bling Empire newcomer in season 2.
Secret Lives Of The Super Rich (2013-2017)
Available For Streaming On Peacock and DirecTV
Secret Lives of the Super Rich is unlike any reality show on this list, but Bling Empire fans would still find the series interesting. With seven seasons to its name, the series is hosted by Robert Frank as he takes viewers through the lavish homes of some of America's elite.
From mega-mansions to outrageous penthouses, viewers are introduced to the wealthy celebs and business people who live or own these homes. Although the show doesn't have the same kind of friend or family aspect, it's still focused on the lives of the wealthy.
Family Karma (2020-)
Available For Streaming On Fubo, Peacock, Bravo, DirecTV, and Sling
In the summer of 2021, Bravo released Family Karma, detailing the everyday lives of a core group of Indian-American friends and families. Unlike Bling Empire, Family Karma is based in Miami, Florida, which adds a new change of scenery.
With main characters like Brian Benni, Amrit Kapai, and Anisha Ramakrishna, Family Karma is one of the better, underrated Bravo reality shows. Whenever friends and family combine, it's an iconic show for Bravo.
The Simple Life (2003-2007)
Available For Purchase on Apple TV, Google Play, and Amazon
A strong case can be made that Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie are responsible for the current reality TV craze focusing on the ultra-rich. The opulent hotel heiress and her mega-rich best friend starred in The Simple Life from 2003 to 2007.
But, rather than focus on their extreme wealth, the show flips the script and attempts to humble the two stars by making them live modestly, accept internships, and work for the first time in their lives. The show started the trend that informs the rest of this list.
My Unorthodox Life (2021-)
Available For Streaming On Netflix
In 2021, Netflix released a reality series on the Haart family — Viewers learned more about Julia Haart as the matriarch and about her unconventional background as an Unorthodoxed Jewish woman who left her community for a new life in the Big Apple.
With four children, viewers learned how the Haarts got their money and continue to dance on the thin line between modern-day life and their religion. Netflix recently announced that a season 2 of the series will be coming out this summer.
Keeping Up With The Kardashians (2006-2021)
Available For Streaming On Hulu, Peacock, and DirecTV
One year before The Simple Life ended its run on E!, the network launched its flagship reality TV program Keeping up With the Kardashians. With 20 seasons and 280+ episodes, the show turned the rich Kardashian family into household-name superstars.
With family and relationship drama at its core, the show also highlights the glitz and glamour of the Kardashian sisters and the stylish fashion trends that they set for the public to follow. After decades on the air, had its good seasons and bad. Another follow-up would be the Kardashians' new show on Hulu — The Kardashians.
Selling Sunset (2019-)
Available For streaming On Netflix
A reality TV series sure to appeal to Bling Empire fans is Selling Sunset, Netflix's glitzy real-estate exhibition. The dramatic and informational show just had its fifth season
Selling Sunset traces the demanding work of The Oppenheim Group, an upscale property brokerage firm operating in the wealthiest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Aside from founding brothers Brett and Jason Oppenheim, Selling Sunset revolves around various real-estate agents—both likable characters and not—such as Chrishell Stause and Mary Fitzgerald and the high-end buyers.
Summer House (2017-)
Available For Streaming On Peacock, Bravo, Fubo, and DirecTV
While Bling Empire focuses on Asian-American socialites, Summer House concerns ultra-rich American East Coasters who vacation in a sprawling Sag Harbor mansion from June to September.
The series invites nine friends of extreme wealth to live together for three months in the same house, attempting to maintain an air of professionalism during the week before indulging in drunken debauchery on the weekend. Summer House is filled with drama-filled quotes that will make any Bling Empire fan tune in episode after episode.
Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills (2010-)
Available For Streaming On Peacock, Bravo, DirecTV, and Fubo
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is bound to fill the void left in those who finish Bling Empire in a blink. The fifth official spinoff series highlights the materialistic profligacy of 90210's richest luminaries.
With over 225 episodes produced in 12 seasons, the show also underscores the catty infighting of the various Housewives as they vie for top-tier status amongst one another. This group of new and old friends rivals Bling Empire's in that there are riches, drama, and broken friendships.
Singapore Social (2019)
Available For Streaming On Netflix
Much of Bling Empire's appeal comes from witnessing the rich culture and traditions of various Asian-American populations. For a similar vibe, tune in to the Netflix Original series Singapore Social.
With eight episodes, Singapore Social follows several rich young Singaporeans as they navigate their personal and professional lives, various romances, and parental pressures to succeed while living in one of the most elegant and extravagant countries on the planet. The show has drawn direct comparisons to Crazy Rich Asians.
House Of Ho (2020)
Available For Streaming On HBO Max
Released on HBO Max in 2020, House of Ho is another reality-TV series centered on an extremely wealthy Asian family unit. This one concerns The Ho family, a well-off Vietnamese couple doing it big in southern America.
With seven episodes, House of Ho introduces Binh Ho and his wife Hue, their children Judy, Lesley, and Washington, cousin Sammy, and Aunt Tina, as they lead a lavish lifestyle in Houston, Texas. Judy and Lesley Ho have also recently appeared on the talk show The Real.
Shahs Of Sunset (2012-2021)
Available For Streaming On Bravo, Peacock, Fubo, and DirecTV
Created by Ryan Seacrest, Bravo's Shahs of Sunset is one of the longest-running reality series on the list. The show highlights a garish collection of young Persian-American friends living it up in glitzy Beverly Hills.
Beyond the veneer of wealth and materialism, the show emphasizes the struggle between upscale modernity and long-held Middle Eastern traditions that the stars of the show attempt to balance in their daily lives. Compared to other reality TV shows, those on are BFF goals (but they also become each other's worse enemies).
Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous (1984-1995)
Predating the rest of the list by at least two decades is Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous, the pioneering docies hosted by Robin Leach that peered behind the curtain and into the lives of the wealthiest public figures in America.
Lasting 68 episodes over 13 seasons, the show is responsible for creating the current subgenre of reality TV that focuses on celebrity and extreme wealth. It's not the earliest reality TV show but it became such a pop-cultural mainstay that it inspired two spinoff series, a board game, a slot machine game, and famous songs by Good Charlotte and Kool G Rap.
