You probably remember the 2009 White House state dinner. Not for the politics, but for the couple who managed to waltz past the Secret Service without an invitation. Tareq Salahi and his then-wife, Michaele, became the face of "party crashing" overnight. But if you’ve been following the tabloids lately, you know that the "White House Crashers" era is long gone.
Things got messy. Really messy.
When Michaele ran off with Journey guitarist Neal Schon in 2011—leading Tareq to famously report her "kidnapped" before realizing she just didn't want to be married to him anymore—the world watched the fallout in real-time. But that was over a decade ago. Since then, Tareq has quietly (well, as quietly as a former reality star can) rebuilt his life.
Who is Tareq Salahi’s new wife?
The woman who eventually filled that void is Lisa Spoden.
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Honestly, it wasn't a whirlwind romance born out of a reality TV show set. It was actually more of a professional pivot that turned personal. Lisa was originally Tareq’s business partner. They were working together on various ventures after his winery, Oasis Vineyard, hit some pretty rough legal and financial waters.
They officially tied the knot on January 1, 2016.
They didn't go for a massive, 1,800-guest wedding like the one Tareq had with Michaele (which, let's be real, featured a Supreme Court Justice and a 30-minute firework show). Instead, they kept it thematic to their new business. They got married on a cruise ship.
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It makes sense. Together, they run a company called Hotels at Sea, which basically handles luxury charters and floating hotel concepts. If you look at their social media or company bios today, you'll see they’ve leaned heavily into the luxury travel niche.
Life after the "Real Housewives" drama
You’ve gotta wonder what it’s like to marry a guy whose previous marriage ended with a "missing person" report and a national scandal. Lisa seems to have handled it by staying mostly out of the gossip columns. Unlike the high-drama scenes of The Real Housewives of D.C., their relationship appears to be built around business and a shared love for the "luxury" lifestyle that Tareq has always chased.
Lisa Spoden isn't just "the wife," though. She has a serious background—a PhD and years of experience in healthcare and business management. It's a stark contrast to the persona Michaele Salahi projected.
What are they doing now?
Basically, they’ve rebranded.
- Hotels at Sea: This is their primary bread and butter. They consult for cruise lines and manage large-scale maritime projects.
- Polo: Tareq still hasn't given up on the polo circuit. You’ll often see Lisa alongside him at matches, which was always a big part of his social identity in Virginia.
- Media: While they aren't crashing state dinners anymore, Tareq still does the occasional interview to "set the record straight" about the 2009 incident.
The thing about Tareq Salahi's new wife is that she represents the "after" in a very public "before and after" story. While Michaele is still very much in the spotlight as Mrs. Neal Schon, Lisa and Tareq have settled into a world of corporate charters and high-end travel consulting.
The Misconception of the "New" Marriage
People often think Tareq is still single or still reeling from the Journey-induced heartbreak. Not true. He’s been married to Lisa for nearly a decade now.
They've managed to stay under the radar compared to the 2010 era. No Congressional subpoenas. No FBI investigations (at least, none that make the front page). It’s a different kind of life. If you’re looking for the drama of the early 2000s, you won’t find much of it here. They seem focused on the "maritime hotel" business and maintaining a presence in the Virginia social scene without the gatecrashing.
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If you’re trying to keep up with the Salahis in 2026, the best place to look isn’t Bravo—it’s probably a luxury travel trade show or a polo field in Middleburg.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
If you want to see the transition for yourself, you can look up the Hotels at Sea executive page. It’s a fascinating look at how a reality TV "villain" transitioned into a corporate chairman alongside a partner who seems to bring the stability his previous relationship lacked. You can also check out local Virginia polo schedules if you're ever in the area; Tareq is still a fixture there.