Heather Gay's Marital Union

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City's Heather Gay is recognized for her contentious separation from the Mormon faith, a narrative detailed in her 2023 memoir, Bad Mormon, along with her latest publication, Good Time Girl. Throughout Season 1 of the Bravo series, this affluent author characterized herself as "a quintessential descendant of pioneers, a Mormon" who "entered into Mormon aristocracy" upon her union with her former husband, Bill Gay, in the year 2000.

The conjugal pair, who are parents to three daughters, concluded their marriage after an eleven-year duration. At that particular juncture, Heather experienced considerable difficulty in navigating her existence "as an independent entity." Following the legal finalization of their dissolution in 2014, participating in RHOSLC assisted the reality television personality in finding her equilibrium, bolstered by Bill's encouragement. Before long, she found herself embroiled in a significant legal dispute with a fellow cast member. Herein lies a comprehensive overview concerning Heather's cordial divorce settlement, which did not preclude her ex-husband from providing her with financial backing.

Heather Gay's "Mormon Royalty" Ex-Husband Bill Gay III Emerges From A Lineage "Valued in the Billions"

Bill Gay's Kin Inherited A Substantial Share of Business Mogul Howard Hughes' Estate

While discussing her former spouse's "family of considerable affluence" on RHOSLC, Heather disclosed that Bill's paternal grandfather, Frank William Gay, served as the "principal operator and right-hand man" to the billionaire Howard Hughes. Frank subsequently ascended through the ranks of Howard's enterprises, thereby amassing "millions" in his personal wealth.

This arrangement fostered a profound connection between the respective families, resulting in the Gays receiving a considerable legacy from the business magnate, whose net worth stood at an estimated $2.5 million upon his passing in 1976 (equivalent to $55 billion in contemporary currency). "Howard Hughes held a profound affection for Mormons," Heather commented.

Frank's obituary from 2007 clarified that his substantial wealth originated from "managing Hughes' numerous commercial endeavors, rather than from the Hughes estate itself." The precise net worth of his grandson, Bill (christened Frank William "Billy" Gay III), has not been publicly disclosed. Furthermore, not a great deal is known about his professional pursuits, beyond the aspect of his inherited wealth.

However, Bill's uncle, Robert C. Gay, is a recognized figure—having held the position of General Authority Seventy within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 2012 and previously acting as the chief executive officer of the private equity firm, Huntsman Gay Global Capital (HGGC).

Heather Gay's Former Spouse Continues To "Cover Expenses" Post-Separation

Heather Gay Has Accumulated $1.7 Million Since Joining RHOSLC Following Her Divorce

The precise sum Heather received from her divorce settlement with Bill remains undisclosed. Nevertheless, he continues to provide her with financial assistance as a component of their distinctive co-parenting strategy, wherein she holds "sole custody" and is "entirely responsible for the upbringing" of their three daughters: Ashley, Georgia, and Annabelle. Additionally, she has accrued a personal fortune of $1.7 million since her inception into the cast of RHOSLC.

During an interview with the Daily Dish Podcast in 2020, Heather further divulged that Bill was supportive of her decision to leave the Mormon faith. "He was generally supportive. However, he is a devout Mormon, and this represents a significant deviation from his fundamental convictions," she remarked.

The proprietor of The Beauty Lab + Laser added that Bill initially harbored "concerns regarding the potential impact on my role as a mother and our children." Nevertheless, he is "permitting" her to pursue her aspirations beyond the confines of their religious affiliation and "endorses" her and their offspring "financially and emotionally," while perhaps "silently disapproving from a distance," she stated with a touch of humor.

Commenting on the fact that two of her daughters are currently attending university away from home, Heather remarked that "it made the residence feel considerably larger and much more deserted with surprising rapidity." Nevertheless, she relishes the moments spent with Annabelle, likening their dynamic to that of "college roommates." She characterized this phase as "a rather splendid existence. I truly appreciate having only one adult child [at home] presently."

Heather Gay Opted To Divorce Her Ex-Husband Because They Had Become "Incompatible"

Heather Gay Stated That "Divorce Is Not An Option" Within The Mormon Religious Framework

Heather has consistently refrained from speaking negatively about her former husband. She has always emphasized that their separation was amicable. Reflecting on the reasons for their divorce, she stated on RHOSLC: "All the attributes that initially attracted me to marry him vanished once we commenced living life together."

However, this does not imply that the experience was entirely without difficulty for her. In her inaugural book, she confessed that she was apprehended for a DUI offense subsequent to their separation. "I confided this to absolutely no one. Not a single individual," she informed Us Weekly regarding her decision not to disclose this event until the publication of Bad Mormon.

"This will come as a complete astonishment to [my family]," she elaborated. "However, it will likely be anticipated, as we strongly believe that if one deviates from all established regulations, their existence is destined to unravel, and there exists no assurance for them." Heather mentioned on the program that "divorce is not a permissible course of action" within their religious community.

Recounting that particular night of recklessness, Heather reminisced: "While at the establishment, I did not even place an order for a single beverage. I was quite naive and attempting to numb my feelings, which, as it transpired, resulted in a perilous, and in my specific instance, a criminal, combination of circumstances." During her apprehension, she immediately experienced a sensation of being "a flawed individual," referencing the profound guilt associated with departing from the church.

"It felt akin to a grievous stain upon my very being," Heather recollected. "Perhaps I was genuinely a corrupt element. My intention was not to perpetrate egregious acts, yet here I found myself. I earnestly desired to atone for it without delay." Following the release of her candid account, Heather expressed her certainty that "the repercussions [with my family] will likely be even more severe than they are at present."