Who is Russell Simmons?
Russell Simmons is an American businessman, writer, and record executive. He is best known as the co-founder of the ground-breaking hip-hop label “Def Jam Recordings”. He is also the founder of the clothing lines “Phat Farm”, “Argyleculture”, and “Tantris”.
Russell Simmons’s full name is Russell Wendell Simmons. He was born on October 4, 1957, in Queens, New York City, United States. He is 65 years old as of June 2023.
Russell Simmons family
Russell Simmons was born in the Hollis neighbourhood of New York City’s Queens Borough to Daniel Simmons (father) and Evelyn Simmons (mother). His father was a public school administrator and his mother was a park administrator for the New York City Parks and Recreation Department. There is no information about his parents’ marriage, but they have three children together. When Russell was eight, his family moved to the Hollis neighbourhood of Queens and their home was near a corner that was a known meeting place for drug users and their dealers.
About Russell Simmons’ father- Daniel Simmons
Daniel Simmons was a public school administrator popularly known as the father of Russell Simmons. He got married to Evelyn Simmons (Russell Simmons’s mother) and they have three children. Further information about him is scarce at this time.
About Russell Simmons’mother- Evelyn Simmons
Evelyn Simmons was a park administrator for the New York City Parks and Recreation Department. She got married to Daniel Simmons (Russell Simmons’s mother) and they have three children. Further information about her is scarce at this time.
Russell Simmons siblings
Russell Simmons was born as the second of three children. He has two brothers named Daniel and Joseph Simmons. The Simmons brothers are the founders of Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation.
About Russell Simmons’ siblings
a. Daniel Simmons
Daniel Simmons is the older brother of Russell Simmons. He is a Neo-African abstract expressionist painter, a published author, poet, and philanthropist. He was born on August 17. 1953 in New York, United States. He is 69 years old as of June 2023. He is also known as Danny Simmons.
Daniel Simmons earned a degree in social work from New York University and a master’s in public finance from Long Island University Brooklyn. Alongside his younger brother Russell, Danny established Def Poetry Jam in 2019. Further information about him is scarce at this time.
b. Joseph Simmons
Joseph Simmons is the younger brother of Russell Simmons. He is an American rapper, producer, DJ, and television personality. He is better known by the stage name Run, Rev. Run, or DJ Run. He was born on November 14, 1964, in New York City, United States. He is 58 years old as of July 2023. Asides from his music and DJ work, Joseph Simmons is also a practising minister, known as Reverend Run.
Joseph Simmons founded the hip-hop group Run-DMC as a lead vocalist along with friend Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels and the late DJ Jason “Jam-Master Jay” Mizell. He began using the stage name “Rev. Run” after he was ordained as a Pentecostal minister by his spiritual mentor E. Bernard Jordan. Joseph Simmons is happily married to his wife Justine Jones. The couple got married in 1994 and has been together for over 20 years.
Russell Simmons’ marriage and wedding
As of the time of publishing this article (July 2023), Russell Simmons is divorced and has not yet remarried.
The American record executive was previously married to his ex-wife Kimora Lee Simmons. The former couple met in November 1992, when Kimora was 17 years old and still in high school. Russell Simmons was already 35 at the time.
Despite the age gap, Simmons and Kimora Lee got married on December 20, 1998, on the island of Saint Barthélemy. Unfortunately, Russell Simmons announced in March 2006 that he and Kimora Lee have ended their relationship. They officially divorced three years later in 2009.
About Russell Simmons’ marriage with ex-wife- Kimora Lee Simmons
Kimora Lee Simmons is the ex-wife of Russell Simmons. She is an American model, businesswoman, fashion designer, venture capitalist, entrepreneur, TV personality, philanthropist, and author. She was born on May 4, 1975, in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. She is 48 years old as of July 2023.
According to reports, Russell and Kimora Lee first met while Kimora was modelling at New York Fashion Week in 1992. At that time, Russell Simmons was 35 and Kimora was just 17 and still a sophomore in high school.
Addressing the age gap concerns in 2020, Russell Simmons revealed on Instagram that they didn’t begin dating until Kimora Lee turned 18 and that her mother approved of their relationship.
He said:
She was legal at 17 but she turned 18 that may her mother and her manager Bethann Hardison approved supported and rushed us (we really didn’t need a push).
Six years after their meeting, in December 1998, the former couple married in a civil ceremony in Manhattan, New York, United States. That same month, they had a nondenominational ceremony on the Caribbean island of Saint Barthélemy, which was officiated by Simmons’ younger brother, Joseph Simmons, best known as Run of the rap group Run-DMC. The pair welcomed their first child Ming Lee Simmons on January 21, 2000. Their second child Aoki Lee Simmons was born on August 16, 2002.
In March 2006, Russell Simmons announced their separation but claimed that they would continue to remain committed parents and caring friends with great love and admiration for each other. Kimora Lee officially filed for divorce in March 2008, citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was finalized in January 2009.
Russell Simmons’ past relationships
Russell Simmons has gotten involved with several other women since his divorce from his ex-wife Kimora Lee.
Below is a list of the women Russell Simmons has dated or hooked up with:
- Russell Simmons was in a relationship with Cynthia Bailey in 1988.
- Russell Simmons was in a relationship with Marita Stavroy in 1990.
- Russell Simmons was in a relationship with Porschla Coleman in 2007.
- Russell Simmons was in a relationship with Katie Rost in 2008.
- Russell Simmons was in a relationship with Julie Henderson in 2009.
- Russell Simmons was in a relationship with Noémie Lenoir in 2009.
- Russell Simmons was in a relationship with Paige Butcher in 2010.
- Russell Simmons was in a relationship with Melissa George in 2011.
- Russell Simmons was in a relationship with Hana Nitsche in 2012.
- Russell Simmons was in a relationship with Shannon Elizabeth in 2014.
- Russell Simmons was in a relationship with Lucy Mclntosh in 2016.
- Russell Simmons was in a relationship with Donna D’Errico in 2019.
About Russell Simmons’ relationship with Cynthia Bailey
Cynthia Bailey is an American model, reality television personality, and actress. She was born on February 19, 1967, in Tuscumbia, Alabama, United States. She is 56 years old as of July 2023.
Russell Simmons and Cynthia Bailey dated in the early ’90s when Cynthia was at the peak of her modelling career. The pair met in New York City and according to Cynthia, Russell was persistent to get her attention. In an interview with Straight From The A in 2011, Cynthia Bailey claimed that she wasn’t initially interested in Simmons due to his style, but later agreed to go on a date with him.
She said:
Simmons wasn’t my type, you know. He was still wearing the paisley wool shirts and the jeans and he was sending flowers and every second was like, ‘Please, please, please, please?'”
Simmons and Cynthia Bailey dated for seven months before calling it quits due to Cynthia’s suspicions that Russell was cheating. Some reports claimed that Russell Simmons proposed to Bailey but she turned him down. The two have remained good friends since their relationship ended.
About Russell Simmons’ relationship with Shannon Elizabeth
Shannon Elizabeth is an American actress, conservationist, animal activist, model, and poker player. She was born on September 7, 1973, in Houston, Texas, United States. She is 49 years old as of July 2023.
Russell Simmons and Shannon Elizabeth sparked dating rumours when they were photographed together at the Miramax party following the 2014 Golden Globe Awards. According to reports, their relationship was short-lived as the two only dated for about a year. Further information about their relationship is scarce at this time.
About Russell Simmons’ relationship with Katie Rost
Katie Rost is an American reality TV star, fashion model, and entrepreneur. She was born on July 7, 1980, in Potomac, Maryland, United States. She is 43 years old as of July 2023.
Russell Simmons and Katie Rost first met in 2002 when his ex-wife Kimora, hired her to model for her Baby Phat Collection. A year before Russell and Kimora finalized their divorce, Katie Rost and Russell started their relationship. According to reports, they had a working and sexual relationship for six months until she found out he was with other women too. Following Russell’s rape allegations in 2018, Katie Rost defended him, claiming he was never the type of person who used his position or status as a way to threaten, abuse, or control women, at least from what she saw.
Russell Simmons children
As of the time of publishing this article (July 2023), Russell Simmons is the father of two daughters. Simmons’ daughters are Ming Lee Simmons and Aoki Lee Simmons.
About Russell Simmons’ daughters
a. Ming Lee Simmons
Ming Lee Simmons is the oldest daughter of Russell Simmons. She is an American internet personality and social media star. She was born on January 21, 2000, in the United States. She is 23 years old as of July 2023.
Ming Lee studied and completed her high school education in New Jersey. She then enrolled at New York University to study fashion. Her modelling career started when she was 14 and she made her runway debut at her mother’s fashion show together with her younger sister Aoki Lee Simmons.
b. Aoki Lee Simmons
Aoki Lee Simmons is the youngest daughter of Russell Simmons. She is also an American internet personality, social media star and Harvard graduate. She was born on August 16, 2002, in the United States. She is 20 years old as of July 2023.
Aoki made her runway debut with her mother when she was 18 months old in 2004. She had also worked as an archaeologist in the Pollentia Ronan dig in Spain. She and her older sister Ming Lee Simmons walked the runway with their mom during the final bow for the Baby Phat fashion line.
