When you think of Kim Kardashian, you probably think of the SKIMS empire, the sleek Balenciaga outfits, or maybe just the sheer ubiquity of her name. But for a lot of people, her identity is still kinda tied to the men she’s walked down the aisle with. It’s a lot to keep track of. Honestly, the timeline of who was married to Kim Kardashian is a wild ride that spans over two decades, starting long before she was a household name.
It wasn't just about the cameras. Well, sometimes it was. But looking back at her three marriages reveals a lot about her evolution from a teenager looking for an escape to a global mogul navigating the complexities of a very public divorce.
The First Marriage: Damon Thomas (2000–2004)
Most people forget about this one. It’s the "secret" marriage that happened way before Keeping Up With The Kardashians was even a glimmer in Ryan Seacrest’s eye. In 2000, a 19-year-old Kim eloped with music producer Damon Thomas. He was ten years her senior.
They went to Las Vegas. It was impulsive.
Kim later admitted on her reality show that she was actually on ecstasy when she tied the knot. "I did ecstasy once, and I got married," she famously told Kendall Jenner and Scott Disick. It wasn't exactly a fairytale. According to divorce papers filed later, Kim alleged that Thomas was controlling and physically abusive. She claimed he pressured her into getting plastic surgery, like liposuction, to make her "perfect."
Thomas has since denied those allegations, but by 2003, the relationship was done. The divorce was finalized in 2004. Looking back, this was a pivotal moment. It was a messy, dark chapter that taught her a lot about independence. She spent the years following this split building her brand as a stylist and socialite, eventually meeting Ray J and entering the era that would change her life forever.
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That 72-Day Glitch: Kris Humphries (2011–2013)
If the first marriage was a secret, the second was a spectacle. By 2011, Kim was one of the most famous women on the planet. When she started dating NBA player Kris Humphries, the media went into a frenzy. It was a whirlwind. They got engaged after only seven months.
The wedding was a two-part television special on E! called Kim's Fairytale Wedding: A Kardashian Event. It cost millions. There were black-and-white themes, Vera Wang gowns, and every celebrity you can imagine.
Then, 72 days later, Kim filed for divorce.
The fallout was brutal. Kris felt "bamboozled." He famously sought an annulment instead of a divorce, claiming the whole thing was a fraud designed for TV ratings. Kim, for her part, has spoken about how she knew on the honeymoon that it wasn't going to work. She felt pressure to go through with it because the cameras were rolling and she didn't want to let anyone down.
Why the Kris Humphries Era Matters
- The PR Nightmare: It was the first time the public really turned on her. People felt lied to.
- The Legal Battle: Even though the marriage lasted two months, the divorce took nearly two years to finalize.
- The Realization: Kim often cites this as the moment she realized she couldn't just do things for the "show."
By the time the divorce was actually finalized in 2013, she was already pregnant with her first child with Kanye West.
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The Kimye Empire: Kanye West (2014–2022)
This was the big one. Kanye and Kim had been friends for years—he’d even appeared in the background of early KUWTK episodes. But when they finally got together in 2012, it felt like two tectonic plates shifting. They weren't just a couple; they were a brand.
Kanye famously overhauled her closet, throwing out her old clothes and introducing her to the world of high fashion. They got married in May 2014 at a fortress in Florence, Italy. It was peak "Kimye."
They had four children together:
- North West
- Saint West
- Chicago West
- Psalm West
For years, it seemed like they were invincible. Kanye helped her become a billionaire; she supported him through his fashion ventures and his very public mental health struggles. But eventually, the strain of Kanye’s erratic behavior and their differing lifestyles became too much.
Kim officially filed for divorce in February 2021. It wasn't an easy split. There were public Instagram rants from Kanye and a long legal road to settle their massive assets. They finally reached a settlement in November 2022, with Kanye agreed to pay $200,000 a month in child support.
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Where She Stands Now
Since the Kanye chapter closed, Kim’s approach to romance has shifted significantly. We all saw the Pete Davidson era—a nine-month rebound that seemed more about fun and "lightness" than anything else. Then there were the rumors about Odell Beckham Jr.
As of early 2026, Kim has been pretty vocal about "interviewing" potential partners but not being in any rush to head back to the altar. She’s focused on her kids, her law studies, and her businesses.
If you're looking for lessons from Kim's marital history, it’s basically a masterclass in resilience. She’s gone from a vulnerable teenager in a toxic marriage to a woman who knows exactly what her time is worth.
Actionable Insights from Kim's Marriage History
- Don't rush the "I do": The 72-day marriage is a classic warning against social pressure. If your gut says no, listen to it—even if the invitations are already sent.
- Privacy is a choice: After years of televising her relationships, Kim has moved toward keeping her "interviews" with new men much more private.
- The "Business" of Marriage: Especially in her union with Kanye, she showed how a partnership can elevate both people's careers, provided the foundation stays solid.
The story of who was married to Kim Kardashian is still being written, but for now, she seems perfectly content being the CEO of her own life without a ring on her finger.