Kim Kardashian’s Marriage History, Explained: From Her First Elopement to Her Most Recent Divorce
Los Angeles, CA – September 1, 2025
Kim Kardashian, the 44-year-old reality TV icon, entrepreneur, and mother of four, has been married three times, each union making headlines for its drama, glamour, and eventual dissolution. From an impulsive teenage elopement to a high-profile romance with a rap superstar, her marital journey has been as public and scrutinized as her career. As Kardashian continues to focus on her business empire—valued at over $1.7 billion—and her advocacy for criminal justice reform, her past relationships offer insight into her evolution from a socialite to a self-made mogul. Below, we break down her three marriages, drawing from her own accounts on Keeping Up with the Kardashians and The Kardashians, court documents, and interviews, to explain the timeline, key events, and lessons learned from each.
First Marriage: Damon Thomas (2000–2004) – A Youthful Elopement Gone Wrong
Kim Kardashian’s first marriage was to music producer Damon Thomas, whom she wed when she was just 19 years old. The couple eloped in Las Vegas on January 21, 2000, after a whirlwind romance. Thomas, then 28 and known for producing hits for artists like Mary J. Blige and Chris Brown, was 10 years older than Kardashian. The union lasted four years, with the couple filing for divorce in 2003 and finalizing it in 2004.
Kardashian has been candid about the marriage, describing it as a product of her “wild phase.” In a 2018 episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, she revealed that she was high on ecstasy during the impromptu ceremony, saying, “I got married on ecstasy. The first time. I did ecstasy once and I got married. I did it again, I made a sex tape. Like, everything bad would happen.” The relationship was kept private, as Kardashian was not yet a public figure, but it ended amid allegations of abuse. In court documents, she claimed Thomas was controlling, physically abusive, and isolated her from friends and family. Thomas denied these claims, calling the marriage “young love” and accusing Kardashian of using it to boost her fame later. The divorce was finalized without children or major assets, but it marked Kardashian’s entry into a pattern of high-profile relationships.
This marriage remains a sore point for Kardashian, who has reflected on it as a lesson in maturity. “You think you know so much about love when you’re really young,” she told the Today show in 2010. Thomas has since stayed out of the spotlight, remarrying and focusing on his production career.
Second Marriage: Kris Humphries (2011) – The 72-Day Whirlwind Wedding
Kardashian’s second marriage was to NBA player Kris Humphries, a relationship that catapulted her into even greater fame—and infamy. The couple began dating in December 2010, got engaged after seven months in May 2011, and married in a lavish $10 million ceremony on August 20, 2011, in Montecito, California. The event was filmed for a two-part E! special, Kim’s Fairytale Wedding, which drew massive ratings but also fueled skepticism about its authenticity.
The marriage lasted just 72 days before Kardashian filed for divorce on October 31, 2011, citing irreconcilable differences. The split was finalized in April 2013 after a contentious legal battle, with Humphries initially seeking an annulment on grounds of fraud, claiming the marriage was staged for TV. Kardashian denied this, insisting it was real but rushed due to her turning 30 and feeling societal pressure. “I just thought, ‘Holy s—, I’m 30 years old, I better get this together. I better get married,’” she later told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live in 2017. Humphries, in a 2019 essay for The Player’s Tribune, maintained the relationship was genuine but “brutal” due to public scrutiny, denying it was fake.
The short-lived union drew widespread criticism, with many accusing it of being a publicity stunt to promote the Kardashian brand. It cost Kardashian millions in legal fees and damaged her image temporarily, but she rebounded by focusing on her business ventures. Humphries has since kept a low profile, marrying model Myla Ayoub in 2022 and playing in Europe.
Third Marriage: Kanye West (2014–2022) – The High-Profile Union and Contentious Divorce
Kardashian’s most enduring and publicized marriage was to rapper Kanye West (now Ye), whom she had known since the early 2000s. They began dating in April 2012, announced her pregnancy in December 2012, and welcomed daughter North West on June 15, 2013. West proposed in October 2013, and the couple married on May 24, 2014, in a lavish ceremony at Fort di Belvedere in Florence, Italy, attended by celebrities like John Legend and Bruce Jenner (now Caitlyn). They had three more children: son Saint (December 2015), daughter Chicago (via surrogate, January 2018), and son Psalm (via surrogate, May 2019).
The marriage, spanning nearly eight years, was marked by glamour, controversies, and public breakdowns. West’s bipolar disorder, Twitter rants, and political ambitions (including his 2020 presidential run) strained the relationship. Kardashian filed for divorce on February 19, 2021, citing irreconcilable differences, and was declared legally single on March 2, 2022, amid ongoing settlement talks. The divorce was finalized on November 29, 2022, with joint custody of their four children and no spousal support, as both waived it. Kardashian has spoken about the toll, saying on The Kardashians in 2022, “For so long, I did what made other people happy… I’ve chosen myself.” West has since remarried Bianca Censori in 2022.
The divorce was amicable in custody but messy publicly, with West’s outbursts and music videos targeting Kardashian’s boyfriend Pete Davidson. It taught Kardashian about self-priority, as she reflected in 2023: “I think it’s okay to choose you.”
Background: Kardashian’s Approach to Love and Lessons Learned
Kardashian’s marriages reflect her evolution from a young socialite to a empowered businesswoman. Her first was impulsive, the second pressured by fame, and the third a deep partnership strained by mental health and public life. She’s dated high-profile figures like Reggie Bush (2007–2010), Pete Davidson (2021–2022), and Odell Beckham Jr. (2023–2024), but post-West, she’s emphasized privacy and self-growth. In The Kardashians Season 3 (2023), she shared hopes for a partner who “protects me” and has “good hygiene,” signaling a more mature outlook.
Experts like relationship therapist Dr. Orna Guralnik note Kardashian’s pattern of seeking stability amid chaos, but her advocacy work shows growth. She’s a Christian and has described herself as “really religious,” influencing her views on commitment.
Potential Impacts and Next Steps
Kardashian’s history has shaped her brand, from SKIMS (valued at $4 billion) to her law studies. Future relationships may remain private, as she’s hinted at a “fourth” marriage in 2025 but focuses on co-parenting and career. She recently passed the California bar exam, eyeing prison reform.
In conclusion, Kim Kardashian’s three marriages—from the impulsive union with Damon Thomas to the high-profile split from Kanye West—reveal a journey of growth through fame’s pressures. The key takeaway? Love in the spotlight is complex, but Kardashian’s resilience proves self-discovery leads to empowerment—lessons for anyone navigating relationships under scrutiny.