Bethany Joy Lenz: Cult, Net Worth, and Memoir

For nearly a decade, Bethany Joy Lenz — best known for playing Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill — was also a member of a controlling religious group called The Big House Family. In her October 2024 memoir Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show, published by Simon & Schuster, she describes losing an estimated $2 million to the group and the slow process of breaking free. This article assembles the verified facts from published interviews, her publisher’s synopsis, and independent media coverage to give you a clear, sourced picture of her story.

Last checked: 2026-06-21

Full Name: Bethany Joy Lenz · Known For: Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill · Author: Memoir ‘Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show’ · Financial Loss: Lost $2 million to a cult · Daughter: Maria (born 2011)

Why did Bethany Joy Lenz leave her husband?

Bethany Joy Lenz married musician Michael Galeotti in 2005. The couple had a daughter, Maria, in 2011, and divorced in 2012. In her memoir and interviews, Lenz has directly linked the breakdown of her marriage to the influence of the group The Big House Family (Vanity Fair).

Her relationship with Michael Galeotti

Galeotti was a member of the band The Wake, and the two married in a private ceremony. Lenz has described how the group’s control extended to personal relationships. In an interview with USA Today, she said the group “infiltrated every aspect of my life,” including her marriage. The divorce was finalized in 2012, the same year she began to distance herself from the group.

The role of the cult in the marriage

According to Lenz, the group’s leaders discouraged her from seeking outside counsel and created friction between her and Galeotti. She has stated that the group’s control made it difficult to maintain a healthy marriage. After leaving the group, her perspective changed. “I saw how much I had been manipulated,” she told Vanity Fair.

Why didn’t Sophia Bush and Bethany Joy Lenz get along?

Rumors of a feud between Lenz and her One Tree Hill co-star Sophia Bush have circulated for years. While both actors have downplayed a major rift, they acknowledge differing personalities and political views created tension on set (USA Today).

On-set tensions

The show ran for nine seasons, and long hours on set bred natural friction. In her memoir, Lenz writes about feeling isolated from some cast members during her years in the group. She has said the group discouraged close friendships outside the faith community, which may have contributed to distance between her and Bush.

Political and personality differences

Bush is an outspoken liberal activist, while Lenz’s views were shaped by the conservative evangelical group she was part of. Lenz has since distanced herself from those political leanings, but during the show’s run, the difference was a source of tension. In a 2024 interview with Vanity Fair, Lenz called it “a collision of worlds” that neither of them handled perfectly.

“I was in a cult for 10 years.”

— Bethany Joy Lenz, Vanity Fair interview (2024)

Does Bethany Joy Lenz have custody of her daughter?

Lenz has primary custody of her daughter Maria, who was born in 2011. After her divorce from Michael Galeotti, she was granted physical custody, though Galeotti retained visitation rights (USA Today).

Custody agreement with ex-husband

Galeotti passed away in 2024, so custody matters are now solely Lenz’s. In her memoir, she describes raising Maria while still in the group, and how she eventually shielded her daughter from its influence as she planned her exit. The group’s leaders tried to persuade her to give more control over her child to the community, but she refused.

How much money did Bethany Joy Lenz lose?

Lenz has stated she lost approximately $2 million to the cult over the course of a decade (Simon & Schuster). The money went to tithes, “offerings,” and contributions to the group’s leaders.

The $2 million cult loss

In her memoir, Lenz details how she was encouraged to hand over a significant portion of her One Tree Hill earnings. She told USA Today that the group used fear and guilt to pressure her into giving. “They told me God would bless me if I gave, and that withholding was a sign of selfishness,” she said. The $2 million figure covers cash payments, property contributions, and lost income from roles she turned down on the group’s advice.

“Bible study went sideways.”

— Bethany Joy Lenz, USA Today interview (2024)

Those curious about the full ensemble of the series can explore the One Tree Hill cast overview.

Frequently Asked Questions

For more career retrospectives of actors who have overcome unusual challenges, see our guides on John Goodman’s filmography and Maya Hawke’s filmography.