Former 'RHOC' Star Elizabeth Lyn Vargas Mourns Ex-Husband's Death

Vargas praises her ex-husband's current wife for being by his side during his cancer battle.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Former 'Real Housewives of Orange County' star Elizabeth Lyn Vargas has released a statement about the death of her ex-husband, business tycoon Bernt Bodel, who passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 72. Vargas praised Bodel's current wife, Michelle Fox, for being there throughout his fight with the disease, and said that despite their differences, they had 'kind' conversations, knowing their 20-plus years together meant something.

Why it matters

Vargas and Bodel's relationship and its impact on her time on 'RHOC' was a topic of discussion among the cast, making this a notable development for fans of the show. Bodel's passing also marks the end of a chapter for Vargas, who was married to him for over 20 years before their divorce in 2020.

The details

Vargas described Bodel as an 'extraordinarily talented man' who flew airplanes, helicopters, and stunt planes, and played guitar when he wasn't overseeing his business. Bodel was the former CEO of the Seattle-based American Seafoods and was reportedly worth $200 million. He was also featured on the TV series 'Undercover Boss,' where he quietly gave to families in need on a regular basis.

  • Vargas and Bodel married in 2000.
  • Vargas and Bodel divorced in July 2020.
  • Bodel passed away from pancreatic cancer on February 19, 2026.

The players

Elizabeth Lyn Vargas

A former star of the reality TV series 'The Real Housewives of Orange County' and the ex-wife of Bernt Bodel.

Bernt Bodel

A business tycoon who was the former CEO of the Seattle-based American Seafoods and was featured on the TV series 'Undercover Boss.' He was married to Elizabeth Lyn Vargas for over 20 years before their divorce in 2020.

Michelle Fox

Bernt Bodel's current wife, who was by his side during his battle with pancreatic cancer.

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What they’re saying

“I'm deeply grateful to Michelle Fox, Bernt's current wife, for being there for him in his final days.”

— Elizabeth Lyn Vargas, Former 'RHOC' Star (TMZ)

“Despite our differences, Bernt and I regularly had kind conversations, knowing the 20-plus years we were together meant something.”

— Elizabeth Lyn Vargas, Former 'RHOC' Star (TMZ)

The takeaway

Vargas and Bodel's relationship and its impact on her time on 'RHOC' was a topic of discussion among the cast, and Bodel's passing marks the end of a chapter for Vargas, who was married to him for over 20 years before their divorce. Despite their differences, Vargas has expressed gratitude for Bodel's current wife, Michelle Fox, for being by his side during his final days.