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Kandi Burruss didn’t sugarcoat her assessment of daughter Riley Burruss’ future on Next Gen NYC.
In Season 1, Episode 5 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, we see the family of Kandi, including her husband Todd Tucker and their kids Ace, 9, and Blaze, 5, visiting Riley in Brooklyn during her New York City summer tour. The discussion soon turned to Riley’s career and financial future following her recent college graduation.
While Riley mentioned she was in the early stages of her “figuring-it-out year,” Kandi promptly reminded her 22-year-old daughter of their original plan: “No, no, no. We agreed on six months. At the beginning of the year, you were meant to get a job or something.”
Riley, who graduated from NYU with a music business degree in 2024, shared that she was still contemplating “what lane do I want to have,” ultimately expressing her aspiration, “I want to be a DJ. … because it’s still music.”
RELATED: 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: 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.”
