Kimora Lee Simmons is facing another public split after her estranged husband, Tim Leissner, moved to end their marriage after nearly 12 years. Court filings reported Tuesday show Leissner has filed for divorce, adding a new legal chapter to a relationship that had largely faded from public view in recent years.
Leissner, a former Goldman Sachs banker, filed the petition after a long period of estrangement from Simmons, according to entertainment outlets that reviewed the case documents. The filing cites irreconcilable differences. It also seeks joint legal and physical custody of the couple’s son, Wolfe, and requests spousal support.
The case arrives as Leissner serves a two-year prison sentence tied to his role in the sprawling 1MDB scandal. Several reports said he signed divorce paperwork shortly before beginning that sentence in February, though the petition itself was filed publicly this week.
Simmons, a model, entrepreneur and television personality, has not publicly responded to the divorce filing as of Tuesday night.
A separation that had been visible for months
While the filing is new, signs of distance had surfaced earlier. In late 2025, Simmons described herself in interviews as a woman focused on her household, her children and her own independence. Those remarks now read as an early signal that the marriage had effectively ended, even before formal papers were filed.
“Usually I would say that I co-parent okay, but the kids are with me full-time,” Simmons told People in December. “I’m pretty much the primary parent. It’s difficult, but I don’t know sometimes what other people are thinking. Guys are weird.”
In the same period, Simmons also made clear that romance was not the center of her life. “My life doesn’t ever revolve around a guy,” she said, underscoring a posture of self-reliance that matched her public image as a business executive and mother.
Those comments drew attention at the time because Simmons was speaking broadly about co-parenting and family structure, not announcing a divorce. Even so, they offered a portrait of a household already operating on separate tracks.
Legal and personal stakes
The divorce could prove complicated because it blends family issues with a history of legal scrutiny around Leissner’s finances and public reputation. Leissner pleaded guilty in 2018 in connection with the international corruption case tied to 1MDB, and his prison term has kept his name in headlines far beyond celebrity coverage.
For Simmons, the filing lands during a period of renewed visibility. The Baby Phat founder has recently returned to reality television and has spoken openly about raising her children while managing work and public attention.
She is also no stranger to high-profile personal upheaval. Simmons was previously married to Russell Simmons, with whom she shares two daughters. Over the years, her family life has often unfolded under celebrity media scrutiny, though she has tried to frame herself as the stable center of the household.