Russell Simmons And Ex-Wife Kimora Lee Set To Ring In 2026 New Year In Court

Russell Simmons and his ex-wife Kimora Lee Simmons are gearing up for a tense 2026 showdown in court over a multimillion-dollar stock dispute. 

The former Hollywood power couple have been locked in a heated legal battle since 2021, with Russell recently moving to depose Kimora.

In September, Russell Simmons filed a motion requesting that Kimora Lee Simmons produce private text messages and other documents he says are vital to the case.

The former couple will start 2026 not with a celebration but in a courtroom battle over Celsius energy drink stock shares. Married from 1998 until their split in 2009, the two have continued to clash in the years since.

Adding to the mix is Kimora's ex-husband Tim Leissner, whom she married in 2014 but later separated from due to his own legal troubles. The fight over Celsius shares, now worth millions, has been ongoing for years, with tensions building as both sides refuse to back down. 

According to In Touch, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge recently scheduled the trial date for January 2, 2026, just after New Year's, setting the stage for a dramatic face-off.

Russell's once-friendly ties with Kimora and her estranged husband soured in 2021 when he filed a lawsuit alleging a complex fraud scheme.

Despite a positive relationship post-divorce, the 67-year-old claims things changed after Tim faced separate legal troubles and a hefty financial burden.

According to Russell, Kimora and Tim joined his company, Nu Horizons, in 2016 after he had already purchased millions in shares of Celsius energy drinks through the firm. 

He accuses the pair of then conspiring to use these shares as collateral for Tim without his consent, "knowing full well that they would be required to pay tens of millions for bail and a victim compensation plea deal."

Kimora has denied the claims, but Russell insists they used Celsius stock to dodge financial fallout from Tim's case, describing it as an intentional betrayal by both. 

Since his first filing, Russell has shown no signs of letting up on his battle with his ex-wife. Instead, the father-of-two intensified his legal battle against Kimora, filing a petition in September to compel her to testify and hand over private text messages in their ongoing stock dispute.

The Blast reports that Russell's legal team requested Kimora appear for a deposition in New York, along with submitting all communications between her, Leissner, and her financial advisors.

The writer's attorney argued that these exchanges are critical to support his claims but alleged that "the only text messages Ms. Lee has produced appear to be messages sent or received by Defendant Leissner, not her." The rep also added that the mother-of-five continues to avoid her deposition.

In response to her embittered ex, the Baby Phat founder fired back against his request for her to appear in New York for a deposition. 

Her legal team argued for a Los Angeles venue instead, highlighting that three of her five children are school-age and live with her in Los Angeles, making travel disruptive. Her attorney reminded the court of Russell's familiarity with Kimora's family situation, saying:

"He is Ms. Lee's ex-husband and, as the Court knows, he has even sued Ms. Lee in Los Angeles."

The dispute followed the 2021 lawsuit, which Kimora's lawyer characterized as "extortive harassment." The model's legal rep stated at the time:

"Kimora and her children are shocked by the extortive harassment coming from her ex-husband, Russell Simmons, who has decided to sue her for shares and dividends of Celsius stock in which Kimora and Tim Leissner invested millions of dollars."

Amid legal battles, Russell also faced deeply personal accusations from his ex-wife and their daughters, Aoki and Ming. In June of last year, both Kimora and the girls publicly accused Russell of abusive behavior, a claim that quickly drew significant attention online.

The Blast reported that in response, Russell took to Instagram, sharing a heartfelt message alongside a short clip of his daughters. His post acknowledged the challenging period they were going through, encouraging his daughters to find strength through adversity. 

In his caption, he apologized for moments of anger, stating, "DEEPLY sorry for being frustrated and yelling."

"Smile and breathe," he wrote, urging them to trust in the process of growth and healing before concluding with a declaration of his love. 

With accusations and millions on the line, this legal clash promises to start the new year with a bang.