Kimora Lee Simmons is an American model, fashion designer, entrepreneur, and television personality best known for building the urban lifestyle brand Baby Phat and for her high-profile modeling work with Chanel under Karl Lagerfeld. She later expanded into reality television and various business ventures while raising a blended family.
Profile Bio Table
| Attribute | Details |
| Full name | Kimora Lee Perkins (known as Kimora Lee Simmons) |
| Profession | Model, fashion designer, entrepreneur, TV personality |
| Nationality | American |
| Hometown | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Reported birthday | May 4, 1975 |
| Reported age | 51 (as of 2026) |
| Education | Lutheran North High School; BA in Business and Entrepreneurial Affairs, University of Hartford (2018) |
| Known for | Baby Phat brand, Chanel modeling, reality TV |
| Reported height | 6 ft (1.83 m) |
| Relationship status | Separated / single (as of latest reports) |
| Estimated net worth | Approximately $20 million (unverified) |
| @kimoraleesimmons |
Who Is Kimora Lee Simmons?
Kimora Lee Simmons is a former supermodel turned fashion entrepreneur and reality television star. She rose to prominence in the late 1980s and 1990s as a Chanel model and later became widely recognized as the creative force behind the Baby Phat clothing and lifestyle brand. Her public profile expanded through reality series that documented her professional and family life.
Kimora Lee Simmons Net Worth
As of 2026, Kimora Lee Simmons’ net worth is estimated at around $20 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Other online reports have circulated higher figures in past years, sometimes citing $80 million or more, but these appear unverified and inconsistent with more recent assessments. Net worth estimates for celebrities are inherently approximate and can fluctuate with business deals, real estate, investments, and legal matters. Simmons has publicly discussed receiving roughly $20 million (or less) from the mid-2000s sale of Phat Fashions, which included Baby Phat.
Sources of Income
Primary reported income sources include royalties and licensing from Baby Phat (which she later reacquired and relaunched), residual earnings from reality television, fashion design work (including her KLS line), and various entrepreneurial investments. She has also been linked to ventures in skincare, consumer products, and real estate over the years. Exact current earnings are not publicly confirmed.
Age and Birthday
Kimora Lee Simmons was born on May 4, 1975. As of 2026, she is 51 years old.
Early Life
Born Kimora Lee Perkins in St. Louis, Missouri, she grew up in the Florissant suburb. Of mixed African American, Japanese, and Korean heritage, she has described being teased for her height and background as a child. Her mother enrolled her in modeling classes at age 11 to help build confidence. At 13, she was discovered at a model search and soon moved into professional modeling.
Education
Simmons graduated from Lutheran North High School in St. Louis. Later in life, she returned to school and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Entrepreneurial Affairs from the University of Hartford’s Barney School of Business in 2018.
Career
Modeling
At age 13–14, Simmons secured an exclusive contract with Chanel and became a muse to designer Karl Lagerfeld. She walked major runways for houses including Fendi, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, and others, and appeared in publications such as Vogue and Elle.
Fashion and Business
In 1999, she launched Baby Phat as a women’s counterpart to Phat Farm. She served as president and creative director, helping expand it into apparel, accessories, fragrance, and more. After the parent company’s sale in 2004 and her later departure, she worked with JustFab (as president and creative director until around 2015), launched KLS by Kimora Lee Simmons, and reacquired and relaunched Baby Phat around 2019.
Television
She starred in Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane (2007–2011), Kimora: House of Fab (2013), and returned with Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane in 2025. She has also made guest and hosting appearances.
Awards
Simmons received a Tony Award as an executive producer of the Broadway production Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam (Special Theatrical Event category, 2003). She has also been recognized for philanthropic work, including goodwill ambassador honors.
Family Background
Her mother is Joanne (Kyoko) Perkins, of Japanese-Korean heritage, and her father is Vernon Whitlock Jr., African American. She has spoken about her multicultural upbringing in St. Louis.
Husband/Wife and Children
Simmons married Russell Simmons in 1998; they divorced in 2009 and share two daughters, Ming Lee (born 2000) and Aoki Lee (born 2002). As of recent reports, she describes herself as a primary parent to her blended family of five children plus Jayden.
Height and Appearance
Simmons is reported to stand 6 feet (1.83 m) tall. She has long been noted for her statuesque presence on the runway and her mixed-heritage features.
Lifestyle
She has lived in high-end properties in Beverly Hills and elsewhere, including homes linked to past purchases and later sales or legal matters involving real estate. Public reports have covered luxury collections and family-oriented activities. Details of current personal finances and living arrangements remain private beyond what is reported in media coverage of ongoing matters.
Social Media
Simmons maintains an active presence on Instagram under the handle @kimoraleesimmons, where she shares fashion, family, and entrepreneurial content. She has millions of followers and uses the platform to promote Baby Phat and personal updates.
Quick Facts
- Born May 4, 1975, in St. Louis, Missouri.
- Began modeling professionally as a young teenager with Chanel.
- Founded and led the Baby Phat brand.
- Mother of five children (plus a bonus son) from multiple relationships.
- Earned a business degree from the University of Hartford in 2018.
- Estimated net worth around $20 million as of 2026 reports (unverified).
Final Thoughts
Kimora Lee Simmons has navigated a multifaceted career spanning high fashion, brand building, television, and entrepreneurship while raising a large blended family. Her story reflects both significant commercial achievements and the complexities of public life, with net worth and personal details subject to the usual caveats of celebrity reporting.
Must Read: Lauren Shulkind: The Private Artist Behind a Hollywood Love Story
FAQs
What is Kimora Lee Simmons’ net worth in 2026?
Estimates place it around $20 million according to Celebrity Net Worth, though figures vary across sources and remain unverified.
How old is Kimora Lee Simmons?
She was born on May 4, 1975, making her 51 years old in 2026.
What is Kimora Lee Simmons known for?
She is best known for her early modeling career with Chanel, creating and leading Baby Phat, and starring in reality television series.
Who are Kimora Lee Simmons’ children?
She has five children: Ming Lee, Aoki Lee, Kenzo Lee Hounsou, Wolfe Lee, and adopted son Gary, plus a bonus son named Jayden.
Is Kimora Lee Simmons currently married?
She is reported as separated from Tim Leissner since around 2022 and has described herself in recent years as a single mother.
