You remember the black eyeliner. You definitely remember the single mascara tear that launched a thousand memes. Back in 2006, Lauren Conrad was the undisputed queen of MTV’s "The Hills," a girl perpetually caught in the middle of drama she seemed to want to escape. But then, she actually did escape. And part of that exit strategy—the most grounded part, honestly—was a guy named William Tell.
Most people see him as the "lawyer husband" who occasionally pops up in a blurry Instagram photo on LC’s feed. But the story of William Tell and Lauren Conrad is way weirder and more "small world" than the tabloids ever really captured. It isn't just a reality star marrying a professional. It's two Southern California kids whose paths crossed for a decade before they even had a first date.
The Blind Date That Took 10 Years to Happen
If you’re a millennial who grew up on pop-punk, the name William Tell might sound familiar for reasons that have nothing to do with fashion. Long before he was an entertainment lawyer, he was the rhythm guitarist for Something Corporate. Think "I Woke Up in a Car" and piano-heavy emo anthems.
Here’s the kicker: Lauren was a fan.
Basically, she was 16 years old, sitting on the side of the stage at one of his concerts, watching him play. She was just another girl in the crowd (or, well, on the stage-side) in Orange County. They didn't exchange numbers. They didn't have a "meet-cute" moment where he handed her a guitar pick. They just existed in the same orbit for ten years until a friend finally set them up on a blind date on Valentine’s Day in 2012.
Talk about playing the long game.
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By the time they actually sat down for dinner, the dynamic had flipped. She was the one with the massive clothing lines and the household name. He was the one transitioning. He’d realized that while music was fun, being a 30-year-old touring musician wasn't his long-term play. He was halfway through law school at USC Gould School of Law when they started dating.
Why He Won't Watch "The Hills"
There is something deeply funny about the fact that William Tell refuses to watch his wife’s old show. Most people would be tempted to binge-watch their partner’s "villain era" or see what all the fuss was about. Not William.
Lauren once told a story about them being in a hotel room where he started flipping through channels and accidentally landed on an episode of "The Hills." It was a scene of Lauren at a club, probably yelling over loud music about Jason or Heidi. He saw it, said "Nope," and immediately changed the channel.
That’s probably why they work.
In the high-gloss world of lifestyle influencers, William Tell is the anchor. He isn't looking for his own spin-off. He isn't trying to be an "Instagram Husband" who spends his Saturdays taking 400 photos of her holding a latte. He’s busy being a partner at a law firm and raising two boys.
The Quiet Life in Santa Barbara
They got married in 2014 at a boutique winery in Santa Ynez. It was very "Lauren Conrad"—muted tones, Paper Crown dresses, and nine bridesmaids. But since then, they’ve largely disappeared from the paparazzi circuit.
They have two sons now: Liam James, born in 2017, and Charlie Wolf, who followed in 2019. If you follow Lauren, you know she’s incredibly protective of them. You’ll see the back of their heads or a candid shot of them gardening, but you aren't getting a "Keeping Up" style look into their daily chores.
A Quick Timeline of the Tell-Conrad Era:
- 2002: Lauren sits on stage at a Something Corporate show (age 16).
- 2012: The Valentine's Day blind date.
- 2013: They get engaged (he picked the ring himself, no help).
- 2014: The Santa Ynez wedding.
- 2017: Liam is born.
- 2019: Charlie joins the crew.
Honestly, it’s refreshing. In an era where every celebrity relationship feels like a PR stunt or a way to sell a joint vitamins line, these two just... exist. He’s a former rockstar turned lawyer. She’s a former reality star turned mogul.
What This Relationship Teaches Us About Privacy
The biggest takeaway from the William Tell and Lauren Conrad saga is how to pivot. Lauren could have stayed in the reality loop forever. She could have married a "type"—another famous person or someone looking for the spotlight.
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Instead, she chose someone who had already lived a "first life" in the public eye and decided he was over it. William’s transition from Something Corporate to USC Law is a masterclass in knowing when to leave the party.
If you're looking to replicate that kind of stability in a high-pressure environment, the blueprint is right here. Keep your private life off the screen. Don't let your partner become your "content." And maybe, just maybe, don't watch the old tapes of who you used to be.
If you want to dive deeper into how Lauren built her empire post-MTV, you should look into the way she structured her partnership with Kohl's. It’s one of the longest-running celebrity collaborations for a reason. Or, if you’re feeling nostalgic, go back and listen to Something Corporate’s "North" album. You can practically hear the early 2000s in William’s guitar riffs.