Robert Kardashian Was Married Twice after Kris Jenner — Inside the OJ Simpson Lawyer's Life and Death

Robert Kardashian was arguably the most famous lawyer in the 90s after defending NFL great OJ Simpson in court. Kardashian’s relationship with Kris Jenner was quite scandalous, too.

Born in February 1944, Robert Kardashian grew up in Los Angeles with his Armenian-American parents, owners of a successful meat-packing company. In 1966, Kardashian got a degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.

After that, he attended the University of San Diego and earned a law degree. Kardashian worked as a lawyer for about ten years. In the 70s, he set up a trade publication with his brother and another investor called Radio & Records.

RELATIONSHIP WITH OJ SIMPSON

During that time, he met and became a very good friend of NFL star OJ Simpson. Apart from starting up a frozen yogurt shop, they created a music video company together.

Robert Kardashian and OJ Simpson’s friendship was tested in 1994 after the football legend’s ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, were murdered in her house.

Simpson, one of the main suspects, stayed at Kardashian’s home in the days following Brown’s death. Apart from that, Kardashian was seen taking away a bag from Simpson’s estate, believed to have evidence against the footballer.

In 1995, Simpson was taken in custody and faced trial for the two murders. Kardashian, who had spent years working mainly as a businessman, got his credentials as a lawyer reinstated and joined his friend’s defense team.

Kardashian never stopped supporting Simpson both as a friend and his lawyer, and in October 1995, the jury acquitted him of the murder charges.

ROBERT KARDASHIAN’S LOVE LIFE

In the 70s, Robert Kardashian was considered one of the most eligible bachelors in Beverly Hills. When he met Kris Jenner, he thought she looked like a young Natalie Wood.

They started dating right away, but since she was 11 years younger than him, he left her for Priscilla Presley, Elvis Presley’s ex-wife. Kardashian tried to make Priscilla the “perfect Armenian housewife” but failed.

Eventually, he and Kris Jenner got back together and tied the knot in 1978. After that, and because they shared bank accounts, Jenner began buying extravagant things, and Kardashian was not happy at all.

Still, he was not willing to give up on their marriage just because of that. He reportedly had a fantasy about dominating women, so he would give Jenner self-help audiotapes to teach her how to throw parties and decorate.

In 1979 and 1980, Kris Jenner and Robert Kardashian welcomed daughters Kourtney and Kim. Things got complicated for the former couple when Khloé was born in 1984.

According to Page Six, Kardashian and Jenner had not had sex when Khloé was supposed to be conceived. Kardashian, who never took a DNA test to confirm it, always treated Khloé as his own child.

After Rob Kardashian Jr. was born in 1987 and Jenner got breast implants, she wanted freedom and started going out more and would return home drunk and very late.

She also had an affair with Todd Waterman, and Kardashian caught them several times. In 1991, Jenner and Kardashian parted ways. Only months later, she married Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce Jenner.

ROBERT KARDASHIAN’S SPOUSES AFTER JENNER

On the other hand, Kardashian married Jan Ashley in 1998, but their marriage was annulled the following year because she wanted children and he didn’t.

[Kardashian] had to be “popped up” to a standing position [to marry Pierson].

He then married Ellen Pierson, who, just like Ashley, claimed that Kardashian privately told them another man was Khloé’s father. Khloé eventually defended herself by saying that they should be ashamed of themselves for telling such things and even called them “disgusting.”

ROBERT KARDASHIAN’S DEATH

In 2003, Kardashian was diagnosed with esophagus cancer. Only eight weeks later, on September 30, 2003, he passed away. During the time he was very sick, Pierson reportedly tried to keep his daughters away from him.

Kim once explained that her dad was not fully aware of his surroundings, and she and her sisters were against his and Pierson’s marriage as it happened two weeks after his cancer diagnosis.

According to Kim, her father had to be “popped up” to a standing position for the ceremony. Pierson, however, claimed they had been engaged for a long time.

In 2019, most of the Kardashian-Jenner family were present at UCLA’s Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health's opening. While Robert Kardashian’s death was definitely hard for the family, they are keeping his memory alive.