Kimora Lee Simmons walked her first runway at 13 under Karl Lagerfeld’s wing, but she didn’t just model clothes—she built a billion-dollar fashion empire from the ground up. Today, she’s a venture capitalist and mother of five, with a net worth estimated at $150 million.
Born: May 4, 1975 · Net Worth: $150 million · Children: 5 · Height: 5 ft 10 in · Founded: Baby Phat (1999)
Early Life
- Born May 4, 1975 in St. Louis, MO Wikipedia
- Mother Japanese, father African-American BlackFacts
- Began modeling at age 13 Wikipedia
Modeling Career
Business Career
Family
- Married to Russell Simmons (1998-2009) Wikipedia
- Five children: Ming, Aoki, Kenzo, Gary, Wolfe Wikipedia
- Adopted two sons IMDb
How many baby daddies does Kimora Lee Simmons have?
The term “baby daddies” refers to two men: Russell Simmons and Djimon Hounsou.
How many children does she have?
Kimora has five children: two biological daughters with Russell Simmons (Ming Lee Simmons, born January 21, 2000 IMDb; Aoki Lee Simmons, born August 16, 2002 IMDb), one son with Djimon Hounsou (Kenzo Lee Hounsou, born May 30, 2009 IMDb), and two adopted sons (Gary Lee Leissner, born 1998, adopted 2007 Wikipedia; and Wolfe Lee Leissner, born April 14, 2015, adopted later IMDb).
Who are the fathers of her children?
The fathers are music mogul Russell Simmons and actor Djimon Hounsou.
“I wanted to give him a stable home and a family that loves him unconditionally.” — Kimora Lee Simmons on adopting Gary (YouTube Interview)
What ethnicity is Kimora Simmons?
Is she biracial?
Yes, Kimora Lee Simmons identifies as biracial. She is African-American and Japanese BlackFacts.
What is her family background?
Kimora Lee Simmons was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to an African-American father (John) and a Japanese mother (Joanne) Wikipedia. She grew up in a predominantly African-American neighborhood.
Why did Russell and Kimora split?
How long were they together?
Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee Simmons married in 1998 and separated in 2006, finalizing divorce in 2009 Wikipedia.
What caused the divorce?
The split was attributed to irreconcilable differences and Russell’s alleged infidelity. They remained on good terms for the sake of their children Wikipedia.
The implication: their co-parenting relationship survived the public dissolution of their marriage, a pattern reflected in how Kimora structures her blended family today.
How did Kimora Lee Simmons get so rich?
What is her net worth?
Her current net worth is estimated at $150 million Mabumbe.
What businesses does she own?
Kimora built her wealth primarily through the fashion brand Baby Phat, which she launched in 1999 under Russell Simmons’s Phat Farm Wikipedia. Baby Phat became a billion-dollar brand; she sold it in 2004 to Kellwood for $140 million but regained ownership later Complex. She has also earned income from modeling, TV appearances (Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane), acting, and recent ventures in venture capital.
“I didn’t inherit anything. I built Baby Phat from the ground up.” — Kimora Lee Simmons (Forbes)
Why did Kimora Lee adopt Gary?
Who is Gary?
Gary Lee Leissner was the son of a close friend of Kimora’s who struggled with addiction and passed away.
What was the story behind the adoption?
Kimora legally adopted Gary in 2007 to provide him a stable home Wikipedia. She has spoken publicly about the adoption, emphasizing love and family. She also adopted a younger son, Wolfe Lee Leissner, later.
Key Facts
| Full Name | Kimora Lee Simmons |
| Date of Birth | May 4, 1975 |
| Place of Birth | St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
| Occupation | Fashion designer, model, television personality, venture capitalist |
| Net Worth | Estimated $150 million |
| Spouse(s) | Russell Simmons (m. 1998; div. 2009) |
| Children | 5 (Ming, Aoki, Kenzo, Gary, Wolfe) |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
What’s Unclear
Exact current net worth (estimates vary; not audited) Mabumbe. Exact details of her relationship with Djimon Hounsou (limited public info). The full story behind the adoption of her younger son Wolfe (private).
hamiltonjournal.org, dearmedia.com, explore.st-aug.edu, finance.yahoo.com, youtube.com, youtube.com, focusmondo.it
For more details on the multifaceted life of the fashion mogul, this detailed Kimora Lee Simmons biography covers her early career and business achievements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kimora Lee Simmons’s real name?
Kimora Lee Simmons is her legal name. She was born Kimora Lee Perkins.
How did she start Baby Phat?
She launched Baby Phat in 1999 as a women’s and girls’ clothing, shoes, and accessories line under Russell Simmons’s Phat Farm label.
What happened to her relationship with Russell Simmons after divorce?
They remained on good terms for the sake of their children, co-parenting effectively.
Does she still model?
She occasionally models for Baby Phat campaigns and special projects but focuses primarily on business ventures.
What are her philanthropic activities?
She serves as Global Ambassador for The Unmentionables, supporting women and children in crisis, and donates to various charities.
How tall is Kimora Lee Simmons?
She is 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) tall.
Who are Kimora Lee Simmons’s parents?
Her mother is Joanne, who is Japanese, and her father is John, who is African-American.
What is Kimora Lee Simmons doing now?
She runs Baby Phat with her daughters Ming and Aoki, invests in startups through her venture capital firm, and focuses on philanthropy.
George Thompson is Senior Reporter at UrbanMixr.uk, covering breaking culture, lifestyle and general news stories across the UK.