Kimora Lee Simmons’ Three Husbands: The Scandal, The Mogul, And The $93 Million Legal Battle

The love life of Kimora Lee Simmons is as high-profile and dramatic as her career in fashion and television, a journey that has seen her linked to three powerful men—one a hip-hop pioneer, one an Oscar-nominated actor, and the most recent, a convicted felon at the heart of a global financial scandal. As of December 2025, the question of who Kimora Lee Simmons’ husband is comes with a complex answer, as she is currently separated from her most recent spouse while navigating a very public legal and co-parenting battle with her exes.

The former supermodel and Baby Phat CEO has been a central figure in the entertainment and business worlds for decades, but her relationships have often overshadowed her professional success, especially in light of the shocking 1MDB scandal that entangled her last marriage. Her recent public statements about being the "primary parent" to her five children and having no relationship with their fathers only add fuel to the ongoing narrative.

Kimora Lee Simmons: Complete Biographical Profile

Kimora Lee Simmons is an American businesswoman, fashion designer, television personality, and former model known for founding the iconic Y2K fashion brand, Baby Phat, and its successor, JustFab Style Fashion.

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• Full Name: Kimora Lee Perkins
• Born: May 4, 1975
• Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Ethnicity: African-American and Japanese-Korean descent
• Career: Model (started at age 13 for Chanel), Fashion Designer (Baby Phat, KLS), Businesswoman, TV Personality (Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane)
• Children: 5 (Ming Lee Simmons, Aoki Lee Simmons, Kenzo Lee Hounsou, Wolfe Lee Leissner, Gary Lee Leissner - adopted)

Russell Simmons: The Hip-Hop Mogul

• Full Name: Russell Wendell Simmons
• Born: October 4, 1957
• Occupation: Entrepreneur, Writer, Record Executive
• Known For: Co-founding Def Jam Recordings, Phat Farm, and the Rush Communications empire.
• Relationship with Kimora: Married (1998–2009). They met when she was 17 and he was 35.
• Children Together: Ming Lee Simmons and Aoki Lee Simmons.

Djimon Hounsou: The Oscar-Nominated Actor

• Full Name: Djimon Gaston Hounsou
• Born: April 24, 1964
• Occupation: Actor and Model
• Known For: Roles in Gladiator, Amistad, and Blood Diamond (for which he received an Oscar nomination).
• Relationship with Kimora: Partner (2007–2012). They were never legally married but had a traditional commitment ceremony.
• Children Together: Kenzo Lee Hounsou.

Tim Leissner: The Convicted Banker

• Full Name: Tim Leissner
• Born: November 2, 1969
• Occupation: Former Investment Banker, Convicted Felon
• Known For: Former Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and his central role in the 1MDB global financial scandal.
• Relationship with Kimora: Married (2014–Separated 2022).
• Children Together: Wolfe Lee Leissner.

The Financial Scandal That Ended the Last Marriage: Tim Leissner

Kimora Lee Simmons' most recent "husband" is the German-born former Goldman Sachs banker, Tim Leissner. Their marriage, which began in 2014, was a quiet affair until it was dramatically thrust into the global spotlight by the massive 1MDB financial scandal.

The 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal involved the misappropriation of billions of dollars from a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. Leissner, a key figure in the scheme, pleaded guilty in 2018 to charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by bribing government officials.

The fallout from this conviction has been the primary source of news regarding Kimora’s love life in recent years. While Leissner was sentenced to two years in prison in 2023, the financial repercussions for Kimora are ongoing.

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The couple separated in 2022, but the legal battle over Leissner’s assets continues. In a stunning legal claim, Kimora Lee Simmons has asserted ownership over shares worth approximately $93 million that the U.S. government is seeking to seize from Leissner as part of his forfeiture order.

Kimora claims that these shares belong to her and her children, arguing they were acquired separately or as part of their marital assets, not through Leissner's criminal activities. This high-stakes legal fight over the $93 million is the most current and compelling chapter in Kimora's complex relationship history, highlighting her resilience in protecting her family’s financial future amidst a devastating scandal.

The Hip-Hop Mogul and the Co-Parenting War: Russell Simmons

Before the Wall Street drama, Kimora Lee Simmons was the "First Lady of Hip-Hop," married to Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons. They married in 1998 after meeting when Kimora was a young model, and they became one of the most visible power couples in the late 90s and early 2000s, building the Baby Phat empire together.

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Despite divorcing in 2009, the two maintained a seemingly amicable co-parenting relationship for years, often appearing together with their two daughters, Ming Lee and Aoki Lee. However, that veneer cracked dramatically in recent years.

The tension escalated into a public feud over co-parenting and financial issues. Russell Simmons took to social media to publicly accuse Kimora of using their daughters as leverage to prevent him from suing her over financial matters.

Kimora responded forcefully, alleging a history of manipulation and claiming she has been the one primarily responsible for their children's well-being. This public spat, which played out across social media and in celebrity news, confirmed that the relationship between the former couple is far from friendly. This ongoing drama ensures that the name Russell Simmons remains inextricably linked to Kimora’s current life, even a decade and a half after their divorce.

The Unconventional Partnership: Djimon Hounsou

Between her two marriages, Kimora Lee Simmons had a significant, five-year relationship with the acclaimed Beninese-American actor Djimon Hounsou. The couple began dating in 2007, shortly after her split from Russell Simmons, and they welcomed their son, Kenzo Lee Hounsou, in 2009.

While often referred to as a "marriage" in media reports, the couple was never legally married. They did, however, participate in a traditional commitment ceremony in Hounsou's home country of Benin, which they considered their bond.

Their relationship was a brief but celebrated moment in celebrity culture, blending the worlds of high fashion and Hollywood cinema. They separated in 2012, and like her other ex-partners, Hounsou has been part of the discussion regarding Kimora's role as a single mother.

Kimora recently stated in an interview that she does not "have a relationship" with any of her children's fathers, which includes Hounsou, and that she is the "primary parent" to her five children. This candid revelation underscores the reality of her life: she is the head of a large, blended family, largely operating independently of her former partners, regardless of their fame or wealth.

Current Relationship Status and The Future of Kimora Lee Simmons

The question of who Kimora Lee Simmons’ husband is today is met with a clear answer: she is currently single and separated from her last husband, Tim Leissner. Her focus, as she often emphasizes, is on her children, her businesses, and navigating the aftermath of the financial and co-parenting turmoil that has defined the last few years.

The separation from Leissner in 2022 and the subsequent legal battle over the $93 million in assets demonstrate that her personal life remains intertwined with high-profile, high-stakes drama. This situation highlights Kimora's transition from a model and fashion mogul to a resilient businesswoman fighting to protect her family's wealth and reputation.

Her openness about the difficulties of co-parenting with three different fathers—a hip-hop legend, an Oscar-nominated actor, and a convicted financier—resonates with many. Kimora Lee Simmons has cemented her legacy not just as a style icon but as a powerful, independent matriarch who controls her own narrative, even when that narrative involves complex and controversial ex-husbands.