Jax Taylor

Jax Taylor
Born	Jason Michael Cauchi 7/11/1979
Nationality	American
Occupation	Television personality, actor, model, business owner
Known for	Vanderpump Rules, The Valley
Children	1

Jason Michael Cauchi (born July 11, 1979), known professionally as Jax Taylor, is an American television personality, model, actor, and business owner. He rose to prominence as a series regular on the Bravo reality television series Vanderpump Rules, on which he appeared for eight seasons from 2013 to 2020. Taylor became one of the most recognizable and polarizing figures in reality television during his tenure on the show, which chronicled the personal and professional lives of staff members at the West Hollywood restaurant SUR, owned by Lisa Vanderpump. Following his departure from Vanderpump Rules, Taylor returned to Bravo as a cast member on the spin-off series The Valley, which premiered in 2024. Prior to his career in television, Taylor served in the United States Navy and worked as a model in cities including Miami and New York. His personal life, including his marriage to and subsequent separation from fellow reality television personality Brittany Cartwright, has been a recurring subject of tabloid and entertainment media coverage. In March 2026, the couple finalized their custody agreement for their son, Cruz, nearly two years after their separation.

Early Life

Jason Michael Cauchi was born on July 11, 1979. Before entering the entertainment industry, Taylor served in the United States Navy. Details of his naval service, including the duration and specifics of his assignments, have been referenced on Vanderpump Rules and in interviews, though comprehensive records of his service period have not been widely documented in published sources.

Following his time in the Navy, Taylor transitioned into modeling. He relocated to cities with established modeling industries, including Miami and later New York, where he pursued work in the fashion and commercial modeling sectors. Taylor's modeling career included editorial and commercial work, and he maintained a professional modeling portfolio throughout his early career.

Taylor's early life and pre-fame career were later explored in various retrospectives tied to Vanderpump Rules. People magazine featured Taylor in a segment about the cast members' lives before they became television stars, detailing his journey from the Navy and modeling into the Los Angeles restaurant and nightlife scene that would eventually lead to his casting on the series.

Career

Modeling

Before his television career, Taylor worked professionally as a model. His modeling work included commercial campaigns and editorial shoots in several major U.S. markets. During and after his time on Vanderpump Rules, Taylor continued to pursue modeling opportunities. In a notable return to the profession, he appeared in an advertising campaign for Jack Victor, a menswear brand, with the images featured in Nordstrom marketing materials. Bravo highlighted this return to modeling as part of a lookbook feature on the Vanderpump Rules cast.

Vanderpump Rules (2013–2020)

Taylor was cast as a series regular on Vanderpump Rules, which premiered on Bravo on January 7, 2013. The reality series was a spin-off of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and focused on the personal and professional lives of employees at SUR Restaurant, a West Hollywood establishment owned by Lisa Vanderpump and her husband Ken Todd. Taylor appeared on the show for eight seasons, becoming one of its central and most discussed cast members.

Throughout his time on Vanderpump Rules, Taylor was frequently characterized in entertainment media as the show's primary antagonist or "villain," a label that was explored in depth in a 2016 interview with Complex. In a wide-ranging profile for Mel Magazine, Taylor was described as "reality TV's most notorious bad boy," with the piece examining his on-screen persona, his relationships with other cast members, and his willingness to embrace the role of provocateur on the series.

Taylor's storylines on the series included romantic relationships, interpersonal conflicts with fellow cast members, and personal milestones. His relationship with Brittany Cartwright, whom he began dating during the show's run, became a major narrative arc across multiple seasons. Their relationship led to the Bravo special Vanderpump Rules: Jax and Brittany Take Kentucky, which documented the couple's visit to Cartwright's hometown in Kentucky and aired as a limited series on Bravo.

Taylor's engagement to Cartwright was announced in 2018 and covered extensively in entertainment media. The couple married in June 2019, an event that was also filmed for and featured on Vanderpump Rules.

Taylor departed Vanderpump Rules after the show's eighth season in 2020. His exit from the series was widely covered in entertainment news.

Business Ventures

During his time on Vanderpump Rules, Taylor pursued several entrepreneurial ventures that received media attention. He launched a shoe line, which was covered by Bustle, with one article comparing the venture to Rob Kardashian's sock line. Taylor reportedly landed a clothing line partnership as a result of his fashion choices on the show, which was also documented by Bustle.

Additionally, Taylor developed a workout application, which was revealed during a Vanderpump Rules "Secrets Revealed" special episode. The app's announcement was part of a broader segment highlighting lesser-known activities and projects undertaken by the show's cast members.

Health and Fitness

Taylor's physical appearance and fitness regimen attracted media attention throughout his career. Men's Health published a feature examining his weight loss transformation, detailing changes in his physique during his time on Vanderpump Rules. Taylor has been open about his use of cosmetic procedures, including receiving Botox injections on live television, an appearance documented by Us Magazine.

The Valley (2024–2025)

Following his departure from Vanderpump Rules, Taylor returned to Bravo television as a cast member on The Valley, a spin-off series that premiered in 2024. The show followed Taylor and other Vanderpump Rules alumni as they navigated life in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, focusing on their transitions into new life stages including marriage, parenthood, and homeownership. Taylor appeared on the series alongside Cartwright, with their relationship and eventual separation forming a significant portion of the show's narrative content.

Taylor's exit from The Valley was later confirmed, and in February 2026, he announced that he had moved out of his townhouse, characterizing the transition as a "new chapter" in his life.

Post-Television Career

Following his departures from both Vanderpump Rules and The Valley, Taylor has remained a subject of entertainment media coverage. In March 2026, former Vanderpump Rules co-stars Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz shared updates on Taylor's life, providing rare insights into his activities and friendships following his exit from reality television.

Personal Life

Taylor's relationship with Brittany Cartwright was a central element of his public persona throughout his time on Vanderpump Rules and The Valley. The couple became engaged in 2018 and married in June 2019 in a ceremony that was filmed for Vanderpump Rules. They have one son, Cruz.

The couple's separation, which occurred in approximately 2024, was documented during their time on The Valley and became a subject of extensive media coverage. The split led to a protracted process regarding custody and divorce arrangements. In January 2026, Cartwright shared a co-parenting update, describing herself as "thriving" as a single mother while noting the evolving dynamics of her co-parenting relationship with Taylor.

In March 2026, nearly two years after the couple's split, Taylor and Cartwright finalized their custody agreement for their son Cruz, who was four years old at the time. The agreement included a provision requiring both parents to remain sober while caring for their son. Page Six reported that the agreement came after a lengthy negotiation process spanning approximately two years.

In February 2026, Golnesa Gharachedaghi, known as "GG" from Shahs of Sunset, made public claims about Taylor's conduct following his split from Cartwright, though the specifics of these claims were part of broader inter-reality-star commentary covered by entertainment media.

Acting Career

In addition to his reality television appearances, Taylor has pursued acting work. His acting credits are documented in his filmography on the Internet Movie Database. While his primary public profile has been built through unscripted television, Taylor has listed actor among his professional titles throughout his career.

Legacy

Jax Taylor's role on Vanderpump Rules positioned him as one of the defining personalities of mid-2010s reality television. The series, which ran for multiple seasons on Bravo, became a cultural touchstone in the genre, and Taylor's status as the show's self-described antagonist contributed to the program's narrative tension and viewer engagement. His willingness to be characterized as the "villain" of the show was explored in multiple media profiles, including in-depth interviews with Complex and Mel Magazine, where he discussed his on-screen persona and its relationship to his off-screen identity.

Taylor's transition from Vanderpump Rules to The Valley reflected a broader trend in reality television, where established personalities from hit shows are given spin-off vehicles that document later life stages. His arc—from bartender at SUR to married father navigating suburban life—mirrored the aging trajectory of reality television audiences and the genre's evolution toward documenting mid-life transitions rather than exclusively youthful social dynamics.

The public nature of Taylor and Cartwright's relationship, marriage, and separation also contributed to ongoing discussions about the personal costs and dynamics of sustained reality television exposure. Their custody agreement, finalized in 2026 with specific provisions around sobriety, was covered by major entertainment outlets including People, E! News, and Page Six, reflecting the continued public interest in Taylor's personal life well after his departure from regular television appearances.