Kimora Lee Simmons' Husband Files for Divorce Behind Bars, Making Stunning Demands

The reality star's incarcerated husband just filed for divorce, and his list of demands makes the split look anything but simple.

Kimora Lee Simmons is officially ending her marriage to estranged partner Tim Leissner, and details of his filing are shedding new light on a relationship that had already quietly unraveled long before the paperwork hit the courthouse.

A Marriage Under the Radar

The couple had kept a low profile for years. The 56-year-old German native and former Goldman Sachs banker, Tim, wed the "Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane" star in March 2014.

Together, they welcomed son Wolfe Leissner, now 11. For much of the outside world, the relationship had simply faded into the background, but those close to the situation say the split has been in motion for far longer than anyone realized.

A source familiar with the matter told TMZ that the two have been going through this process for at least six years, calling the filing "just a matter of housekeeping."

Court documents, however, show no date of separation was listed. Tim's filing simply reads "TBD," though sources say the couple has been estranged since at least March 2022.

Still, this is what is known: he signed the papers on February 4, 2026, just two days before surrendering to a federal correctional facility in Pennsylvania. But the documents were officially filed this week, on April 20.

The Crime That Changed Everything

To understand the divorce, it helps to understand what Tim why Tim is in prison.

In May 2025, U.S. District Judge Margo Brodie sentenced him to a two-year prison term in Brooklyn federal court for participating in a massive global financial crime.

This scandal centered on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a state-run investment fund designed to boost Malaysia's economy.

Instead, U.S. investigators estimated that criminals stole $4.5 billion from the fund. Tim admitted to conspiracy charges in 2018, confessing that he teamed up with colleague Roger Ng and Malaysian businessman Jho Low to drain billions from the accounts.

The case gained worldwide notoriety because some of the embezzled cash — in a strange twist of irony — helped finance the movie "The Wolf of Wall Street."

While serving as a partner and Southeast Asia chief at Goldman Sachs, Tim misled his coworkers, set up fraudulent email addresses, and faked legal papers. He even used some of these forgeries to lie to Kimora regarding his marital status.

At his sentencing, Tim expressed remorse. "First and foremost, I offer my sincere apology to the people of Malaysia," he told the court, per Reuters. "I deeply regret my actions." He is scheduled to be released on September 29, 2027.

Kimora Had Already Moved On

While Tim was preparing to turn himself in, Kimora had long since adjusted to life without him.

In a December 2025 interview with E! News, the 50-year-old dropped a telling line, saying she had "changed jobs, careers a few times, husbands, investments."

She didn't elaborate, but she didn't need to. Around the same time, Kimora told People she had no current prospects and wasn't interested in dating apps.

"I wouldn't go on an app because I don't even know the first thing about how these people are behaving," she said. She has been raising her five children largely on her own, plus what she calls her "bonus son," Jayden, 19.

"Usually I would say that I co-parent okay, but the kids are with me full-time," Kimora told People. "I'm pretty much the primary parent. It's difficult, but I don't know sometimes what other people are thinking. Guys are weird."

She shares daughters Ming Lee Simmons, 25, and Aoki Lee Simmons, 23, with her first husband, music mogul Russell Simmons, a relationship that ended in 2006.

She then dated actor Djimon Hounsou, with whom she shares son Kenzo Hounsou, 16, before that relationship ended in 2012. She also adopted son Gary Lee, 16, from Jamaica in 2020.

Despite everything, she seemed grounded. "My life doesn't ever revolve around a guy, ever," she said. "You have to look out for yourself. A man's not going to be responsible to give you everything in life. It's important to be independent."

And she's right because her soon-to-be ex-husband is making some serious demands.

What He's Asking For, From Behind Bars

First, the official cause of their separation is listed as "irreconcilable differences" after 12 years of marriage. But what Tim is asking for would certainly make anyone frown.

According to court documents obtained by E! News, the incarcerated banker requested joint legal and physical custody of their son.

He also asked for spousal support from Kimora and requested that she cover his attorney fees. At the same time, he asked that the court terminate her ability to receive alimony from him.

On the asset side, Tim wished to keep all earnings and property acquired before the marriage, along with anything received "by gift, bequest, devise, or descent" and its associated profits, plus "miscellaneous jewelry and other personal effects."

The legal filing also mentioned various separate assets and debts, though the document didn't specify their exact nature or full extent yet.

A man serving two years in federal prison, asking his fashion mogul ex-wife to pay his legal bills from a cell, seems rather outrageous. In any case, E! News reached out to Kimora for comment, but had not heard back at the time of this publication.

And it looks like complicated relationships run in the family, as Kimora opened up in December 2025 about her daughter's brief relationship with a much older man.

This tryst drew attention in 2024. But Kimora stayed silent for over a year until a podcast interview, where she finally shared how she found out, how quickly it unfolded, and why she felt it was a serious concern.

Aoki's Relationship Took Her by Surprise

In the December 9 episode of the "Not Skinny But Not Fat" podcast with host Amanda Hirsch, Kimora opened up about Aoki's 2024 relationship with then-65-year-old restaurateur Vittorio Assaf.

At the time, Aoki was 21 at the time. The two had met while on vacation in St. Barths, a regular getaway for the Simmons family.

Kimora explained that she was completely unaware of the relationship until it became public. While she was familiar with Vittorio through her social circles and had known him for years as a restaurateur, she said she had no idea he was romantically involved with her daughter.

She also expressed discomfort with his reputation, hinting at past concerns without going into specifics, and acknowledged she was being cautious about what she could say publicly for legal reasons.

When Amanda asked if she wanted to say, "What the hell are you doing?" to Aoki, Kimora replied:

"I didn't say it in that way because it was this fast, and it blew up to be so much, so then you can't be the mom that’s like, 'What the hell are you doing?' But that definitely was the thing."

The relationship escalated very quickly and caught her completely off guard, and Kimora learned about it at the same time the public did, which made the situation even more shocking for her.

Because the situation had become so public so quickly, Kimora felt unable to react the way a parent normally would in private.

The scrutiny made it impossible to deliver the usual motherly warnings or frustrations. Wanting to say things like "I told you so" or question her daughter's choices didn't feel appropriate given the timing and pressure surrounding the situation.

When Amanda said, "She was going through it," Kimora nodded. Later, reflecting on the whole situation and her own history, Kimora didn't hold back. She explained:

"It was a lot. But I do think in general, of those kinds of things, I feel like and having gone through not exactly the same but similar…that big age gap relationship, let’s just call it that. I do think it’s predatorial. We said all of that to get to what Kimora thinks about it. I think that’s predatorial and kinda crazy."

Kimora described the relationship as very brief. She suggested it wasn't meaningful or serious and viewed it as nothing more than a passing moment.

A Look Back at Aoki Lee Simmons' Brief, Headline-Grabbing Romance

Reports of the romance initially surfaced in April 2024 when Page Six published exclusive photos of Aoki and Vittorio kissing on the beach during a getaway to St. Barths. The images quickly circulated online, sparking backlash and public curiosity.

Though Aoki shared videos on Instagram during the trip, referring to Vittorio as her "boyfriend" and calling him only the second serious partner she ever had, a source close to her later claimed the relationship had already ended. "It's 100% done. They're absolutely not dating," a source told the outlet.

According to the insider, Aoki insisted that she was never truly "with" Vittorio and dismissed it as something casual. Still, her posts at the time suggested otherwise.

In videos, she reportedly appeared cheerful and affectionate, showing off Vittorio's shoes, gushing about his height, and describing herself as the "happiest person to ever happy right now."

Those who know Vittorio weren't surprised by the pairing. According to another source, he has long been known for his attraction to younger women. They noted him as a "older man with little boy charm," adding that while he's aged, his preferences haven't changed.

Another person familiar with Vittorio from years ago suggested his appeal isn't only tied to wealth or status, hinting at physical attributes that drew women in.

Who Is Vittorio Assaf?

While much was said about his charm and dating history, Vittorio's public life paints a fuller picture. He is best known as the co-founder of the Serafina Restaurant Group, a popular international dining brand.

Born in Milan, he earned a degree in Political Science and later studied Law at the University of Urbino. Before entering the restaurant world, Vittorio worked for eight years on the floor of the Milan Stock Exchange and later transitioned into the fashion industry.

In 1985, he moved to New York and opened Café Candiotti, which featured original art by Andy Warhol and quickly became a celebrity hotspot.

Vittorio went on to create a global restaurant empire with locations in New York, Miami, Dubai, and beyond. He is known for his hands-on involvement with menu design and hospitality.