What Happened to Kimora Lee Simmons?

Kimora Lee Simmons, born Kimora Lee Perkins on May 4, 1975, began her illustrious career as a fashion model at the tender age of 14, working under an exclusive contract with Chanel and walking for major fashion houses like Fendi and Valentino. Her marriage to hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons in 1998 marked a significant turning point, as she transitioned from modeling to entrepreneurship, becoming the creative force behind Baby Phat, a women's offshoot of Russell's Phat Farm menswear line. Under her leadership as President and Creative Director, appointed in 2000, Baby Phat rapidly grew into a global lifestyle brand known for its urban luxury and glamorous designs, expanding into various product lines including denim, accessories, and fragrances.

The Kellwood Company acquired Phat Fashions, Baby Phat's parent company, for $140 million in 2004, with Simmons reportedly receiving around $20 million from the sale. She continued as President and Creative Director until 2010 when she parted ways with the company. Following this, Simmons remained active in the fashion industry, serving as President and Creative Director of JustFab from 2011 to 2015 and launching her eponymous high-end fashion label, KLS by Kimora Lee Simmons, in 2015.

A pivotal moment in her recent career came in March 2019 when Simmons reacquired the Baby Phat brand, announcing its return with a focus on being woman-owned, woman-led, and designed for women by women. The brand officially relaunched in the summer of 2019, followed by a new signature collection in the fall, with her daughters Ming Lee and Aoki Lee Simmons actively involved in the new iteration. This reacquisition capitalized on the resurgence of Y2K fashion trends, allowing Baby Phat to reconnect with nostalgic fans and introduce itself to a new generation of consumers, particularly Gen Z.

In her personal life, Simmons divorced Russell Simmons in 2009 and later married investment banker Tim Leissner in 2014, with whom she had a son. However, their relationship faced significant challenges, including Leissner's involvement in the 1MDB scandal and his admission of bigamy in 2018. Simmons adopted another son in 2020, making her a mother of five children. By February 2022, Simmons and Leissner were estranged, and in 2023, she filed a lawsuit against him regarding forfeited shares. As of July 2026, there were reports of a custody request in her divorce from Leissner, which Simmons clarified as a clerical error, indicating no plans to give him primary custody.

Simmons also made a highly anticipated return to reality television. After a decade-long hiatus, her new E! series, 'Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane,' premiered on December 2, 2025. The show documents her life as a CEO, single mother navigating five children (Ming, Aoki, Kenzo, Gary, and Wolfe), and her ongoing business ventures, including Baby Phat and investments in companies like Celsius Holdings Inc. As of September 2026, Simmons continues to be a prominent figure in fashion and media, with her net worth estimated to be around $100 million, reflecting her diversified empire across beauty, fashion, and media.