The $123 Million Question: 5 Shocking New Updates On Tim Leissner, Kimora Lee Simmons, And The 1MDB Scandal

The saga of former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner and fashion mogul Kimora Lee Simmons has taken a dramatic turn in late 2025, moving from a high-profile financial scandal to a complex, multi-million dollar legal battle over forfeited assets. The fallout from the infamous 1MDB scheme continues to generate fresh headlines, with Leissner's recent two-year prison sentencing and Simmons' aggressive legal maneuvers to reclaim over $120 million in assets dominating the news. This deep dive provides the most current, unique, and essential updates on the couple’s legal woes, their strained relationship, and the financial catastrophe that links them. As of December 2025, the central focus remains on a forfeiture order that has pitted the former couple against the U.S. government, with Kimora Lee Simmons asserting that the vast majority of the funds Leissner was ordered to surrender are, in fact, her own separate property. The complexity of their intertwined finances, coupled with a separate, ongoing lawsuit involving Kimora’s first ex-husband, Russell Simmons, paints a picture of extreme financial and personal turmoil for the celebrity entrepreneur.

The Dual Biographies: From Goldman Sachs Chairman to Baby Phat Mogul

The relationship between Tim Leissner and Kimora Lee Simmons brought together two people from vastly different worlds—high finance and high fashion—whose lives are now permanently linked by one of the largest financial crimes in history. To understand the current legal drama, it is essential to first know their individual profiles.

Tim Leissner: The German-Born Banker and Convicted Felon

• Full Name: Tim Leissner
• Born: November 2, 1969 (German-born)
• Career Peak: Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and Chairman of the bank's Southeast Asia division.
• Education: Reportedly holds a degree from the University of Siegen.
• Spouses: Previously married to Judy Chan. Married Kimora Lee Simmons in 2014.
• Conviction: Pleaded guilty in 2018 to conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with the 1MDB scandal.
• Legal Status (2025): Sentenced to two years in federal prison in May 2025.

Kimora Lee Simmons: Model, Designer, and Businesswoman

• Full Name: Kimora Lee Perkins
• Born: May 4, 1975, in St. Louis, Missouri.
• Career Highlights: Began modeling at age 14, signing an exclusive contract with Chanel, where she was mentored by Karl Lagerfeld.
• Business Empire: Founder and former Creative Director of the iconic hip-hop fashion brand Baby Phat, which she relaunched in 2019.
• Television: Starred in the reality series Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane.
• Spouses: Married to Russell Simmons (1998–2009); married to Tim Leissner (2014–present, though separated).
• Children: Shares two daughters with Russell Simmons (Ming Lee and Aoki Lee), a son with Djimon Hounsou (Kenzo Lee), and a son with Tim Leissner (Wolfe Lee Leissner). She also has an adopted son, Gary Lee Simmons.

The 1MDB Scandal Fallout: Leissner’s Cooperation and 2025 Sentencing

The core of the current drama is Tim Leissner’s central role in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, a massive international embezzlement scheme that saw an estimated $4.5 billion siphoned from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. Leissner, as a top executive at Goldman Sachs, was instrumental in orchestrating the scheme, working closely with Malaysian financier Jho Low and other key players.

Leissner's guilty plea in 2018 involved admitting to money laundering and bribery conspiracy, leading to an order to forfeit $43.7 million in assets. However, the total amount of assets the U.S. government is seeking from him has grown significantly in subsequent years, leading to the current legal fight with his wife. The banking world was stunned by his testimony, which included details of using his relationship with Kimora Lee Simmons to further his criminal activities and even his admission of bigamy, having been married to two women simultaneously.

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A major and recent development occurred in May 2025, when Leissner was sentenced to two years in prison. This sentence was a significant reduction from the 25 years he initially faced. Prosecutors successfully argued for leniency due to his "substantial cooperation" with the Department of Justice (DOJ), which included testifying against his former colleague, Roger Ng, and providing key information that helped unravel the scale of the global financial crime.

Kimora Lee Simmons’ $123 Million Forfeiture Battle: A Fight for Assets

The most pressing and current legal issue for Kimora Lee Simmons is the ongoing civil forfeiture case, where she is fighting the U.S. government to prevent the seizure of assets she claims belong solely to her. The government is seeking to claim assets tied to Leissner’s ill-gotten gains from the 1MDB scandal.

The Core of the Claim: Separate Property

The U.S. government is seeking to forfeit assets from Leissner, but Simmons has filed a petition asserting an interest in the seized property. Specifically, she contends that a vast sum—reported to be between $93 million and $123 million—is rightfully hers. Her legal argument hinges on the assertion that these assets were either acquired independently of Leissner’s criminal activities, or that they were gifted to her and were therefore her separate property, not subject to forfeiture under the terms of Leissner's plea agreement.

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This legal filing, officially titled In Re Forfeiture Order of Tim Leissner et al v. USA, is a live case in the Eastern District of New York (E.D.N.Y.) with active documents filed in 2025, underscoring the immediacy of this financial dispute. The outcome will determine whether the U.S. government can liquidate a significant portion of the couple's accumulated wealth to compensate the victims of the 1MDB fraud.

The Celsius Stock Lawsuit and Entangled Exes

Adding another layer of complexity to Kimora Lee Simmons' legal troubles is a separate lawsuit filed by her first ex-husband, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons. The lawsuit alleges that Kimora and Tim Leissner conspired to fraudulently transfer millions of shares of Celsius energy drink stock, which Russell claims he owned, into Leissner's name to pay his legal fees and bond.

This case, which has drawn intense media scrutiny, is scheduled for a full trial in January 2026. The trial will force all three individuals—Russell Simmons, Kimora Lee Simmons, and Tim Leissner—into the same legal arena, highlighting the extraordinary entanglement of their personal and financial lives. The legal battle centers on allegations of conversion, breach of fiduciary duty, and unjust enrichment related to the Celsius Holdings, Inc. shares.

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Personal Fallout and The Future of Co-Parenting

In recent interviews in 2024 and 2025, Kimora Lee Simmons has been candid about the immense personal and emotional toll of the financial scandals. She has spoken about the challenges of raising her five children amidst the public drama and her strained relationship with her ex-partners.

Simmons has stated that she does not "have a relationship" with the fathers of her children, including Leissner, and has reflected on having "run into con artists every step of the way" in her romantic life. This sentiment suggests a clear and final break from Leissner, even as their names remain legally tied through the forfeiture and stock lawsuits.

Despite the personal turmoil, Kimora Lee Simmons has focused on her role as a mother, emphasizing her commitment to her son with Leissner, Wolfe Lee Leissner, and her adopted son, Gary Lee Simmons. The ongoing legal battles ensure that while the marriage may be over, the financial and legal connection between Tim Leissner and Kimora Lee Simmons will continue to dominate headlines well into 2026.