Kandi Burruss didn’t sugarcoat her assessment of daughter Riley Burruss’ future on Next Gen NYC.
As seen in Season 1, Episode 5, The Real Housewives of Atlanta mom (along with husband Todd Tucker and children Ace, 9, and Blaze, 5) paid Riley a visit in Brooklyn during her New York City summer tour stop when the topic of the recent college graduate’s career prospects and finances arose.
Though Riley noted she was still early into her “figuring-it-out year,” Kandi quickly corrected the 22 year old: “No, no, no. We said six months. We said at the top of the year, you were supposed to get a job or something.”
As Riley, who earned a music business degree from NYU in 2024, explained, however, she was still “in the phase of, like, what lane do I want to have,” before revealing, “I want to be a DJ. … ’cause it’s still music.”
RELATED:Â Riley Burruss Offers a Career Update as She Prepares for Her Next Chapter
Cue an eyeroll from Kandi, who asked if law school is “still off the table,” reminding Riley, “When you were growing up, we always had this plan: You’re gonna be a lawyer one day.”
Responding that “maybe in a few years” she’d revisit the law school plan, Riley also shared that she wants to remain in NYC because she would be living “in [Kandi’s] shadow” if she returned to Atlanta.
After Ariana Biermann joined them, the conversation took another left turn when Riley recapped a recent expensive night out that included bottle service with Don Julio 1942 tequila — at a cost of more than $14,000.
“It better not be on the card I pay for,” an incensed Kandi said, before swatting her daughter with a napkin. “Oh man, you got too much money to burn. You really need to figure out your finances, honey.”
RELATED:Â Ariana Biermann & Riley Burruss Share Where Moms, Kim & Kandi, Stand Today (EXCLUSIVE)
How does Riley Burruss make her money?
Riley revealed in the Next Gen NYC premiere that Kandi agreed to support her financially for one year after her May 2024 college graduation (though, as mentioned, the RHOA alum clarified the timeline as being “six months,” on Episode 5.)
In the meantime, Riley has also been earning a paycheck working as a digital content creator and influencer, having already landed brand partnerships with Dark and Lovely, Makeup Forever, and Viva Naturals, to name a few.
Riley Burruss shares law school and career updates
Despite her Next Gen NYC comments about law school still being a “few years” away, Riley updated The Daily Dish in May 2025 that she was already studying for the LSAT in hopes of enrolling in a “dual degree” program at Columbia University.
“I want to get that and then my business degree,” she explained in the exclusive interview. “I think for me, my main priority is studying for the LSAT, of course, and getting a great score, and getting into Columbia.”
As she plans to continue her studies in Manhattan, find out why Riley’s current NYC living situation is “a lot to handle.”
