Kimora Lee Simmons: Net Worth, Children, Ethnicity, and More

Few people go from runway model to fashion mogul in a single lifetime, but Kimora Lee Simmons has done exactly that. Her story weaves together high fashion, a billion-dollar brand, and a family life that’s as public as it is complex.

Born: May 4, 1975 · Occupation: Fashion designer, model, television personality · Children: 5 · Notable work: Baby Phat

The table below summarizes the core biographical and financial details.

The implication: the numbers draw a clear line between her runway origin and her business empire.

Is Kimora Lee Simmons a millionaire?

Yes, by a wide margin. Kimora Lee Simmons’s net worth is estimated at $50 million, according to Us Weekly (celebrity news outlet). She earned that fortune through a combination of modeling, brand ownership, and TV deals.

Why is Kimora Lee Simmons so rich?

• Baby Phat, launched in 1999, became a cultural phenomenon. In 2004, she and Russell Simmons sold the brand and its parent company to Kellwood for $140 million, as reported by All American Speakers (biography service).
• She earned a divorce settlement from Russell Simmons in 2009, though the exact amount was never disclosed.
• Her reality TV shows Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane (2007–2011) and Kimora: House of Fab (2013) added income and brand exposure, per Us Weekly (celebrity news outlet).
• She also works as a venture capitalist and philanthropist, investing in fashion and beauty startups.

The implication: her net worth places her among the wealthiest self-made women in fashion, but the exact figure remains private. What matters is the pattern—she turned a runway career into a lasting business empire.

How many baby daddys does Kimora Lee Simmons have?

Kimora has three biological children with two fathers. She also adopted a son, making her a mother of five.

Do Kimora’s kids see their dads?

• Daughters Ming Lee Simmons (born 2000) and Aoki Lee Simmons (born 2002) are with her first husband, Russell Simmons. According to The Sydney Morning Herald (Australian newspaper), Kimora has spoken about co-parenting with Russell.
• Son Kenzo Lee Simmons (born 2019) is with ex-husband Tim Leissner, a former investment banker, as confirmed by IMDb (film database).
• She adopted son Gary in 2019 as a single mother, per Famous Birthdays (celebrity database).

Kimora has said in interviews that she encourages her children to have relationships with their fathers. The trade-off: public scrutiny of her family dynamics has been intense, especially after her high-profile divorces.

What ethnicity is Kimora Simmons?

Kimora is of mixed race: African-American on her father’s side and Japanese-Korean on her mother’s side. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to an African-American father, Vernon Whitlock Jr., and a Japanese mother, Joanne Perkins, who was adopted by an American family during the Korean War, according to Blackfacts (community encyclopedia).

She began modeling at age 13 after being discovered by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, as Us Weekly (celebrity news outlet) reports. Her multiethnic background made her stand out on runways in Paris and New York.

What happened to Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee?

Kimora married Russell Simmons in 1998, and they divorced in 2009. They have two daughters together. According to The Sydney Morning Herald (Australian newspaper), Kimora has described the marriage as “intense” and focused on building their fashion empire.

Are Tyra Banks and Kimora Lee Simmons still friends?

Kimora and Tyra Banks met as young models and have remained close over the decades. A 2025 profile in Us Weekly (celebrity news outlet) notes that they still support each other publicly. While there is no public feud, their friendship has been less visible in recent years.

After her divorce from Russell, Kimora married Tim Leissner in 2017 and divorced him in 2022. She has spoken about co-parenting with both ex-husbands. The pattern: her personal life has been as public as her business career, forcing her to navigate custody and media attention.

Why did Kimora adopt Gary?

Kimora adopted her son Gary in 2019 from the foster care system. She has said that adoption was a long-held goal. In a Dreamworld Girlzine (fashion blog) feature, she described the decision as “natural” and motivated by a desire to give a child a stable home.

She adopted Gary as a single mother, adding him to her family of four children. The move was widely praised, but details about Gary’s background remain private to protect his identity.

Kimora Lee Simmons has built a legacy that goes beyond fashion. For aspiring entrepreneurs, her journey shows that a strong brand can survive marriage, divorce, and public scrutiny. The takeaway: authenticity and business savvy are more powerful than any single product.