What is Jessica Simpson's Net Worth?
Jessica Simpson is an American singer, actress, entrepreneur, and TV personality who has a net worth of $200 million. Jessica Simpson has earned separate fortunes as an actress, singer, and, more recently, retail entrepreneur. Her line of beauty products and handbags, lingerie, shoes, and boots have generated billions in gross sales to date. Much more details on her retail empire and earnings later in this article.
Jessica Simpson burst onto the scene as a pop starlet during the years that also launched the careers of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Mandy Moore, and a few other now-forgotten pop starlets. It was almost impossible not to turn on the television and see one or the other of the young women strutting their stuff at an awards show, performing at a large event, or appearing in a music video. Each performer had something that set them apart from the others. Britney had sex appeal and dance skills. Christina had sex appeal and a powerhouse voice. Mandy Moore had a simultaneously wholesome, yet slightly naughty, vibe that she parlayed into a moderately successful film career. She has since focused on folk music instead of pop. Jessica Simpson, perhaps quickly realizing that she was not going to be able to maintain the same level of pop/performance success as her peer group, quickly focused her energies on becoming a reality celebrity. Her reality series, with her husband, fellow pop star Nick Lachey, was immensely popular. The show ended when the marriage ended. She also launched an acting career, appearing in such movies as "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Employee of the Month," and "Blonde Ambition." In 2004, she launched a line of edible perfume and cosmetics. She then created the "Jessica Simpson Collection," a line of handbags and shoes she designed herself. She launched an online beauty products site soon after and then an intimates line.
Is Jessica Simpson A Billionaire?
Outside of music, Jessica is an extremely successful entrepreneur. She has launched a line of beauty products and handbags, lingerie, shoes and boots that are sold primarily on the Home Shopping Network. Her combined retail empire is expected to become the first celebrity brand to achieve over $1 billion in annual sales. This last achievement has been the source of a common misconception about Jessica Simpson's net worth. When this billion-dollar sales estimate was announced, several magazines ran headlines that called Jessica a "billion-dollar celebrity." Many of Jessica's fans have misinterpreted this headline to mean that Jessica is personally worth $1 billion, which unfortunately is not true… But if she stays on this pace, it might be true soon enough!
In 2015 Jessica sold a majority stake in her brand to a company called Sequential Brands for $117 million. After COVID-19 decimated Sequential's business at large, the company filed for bankruptcy in February 2021. Thanks to a clause in her initial contract with Sequential, the company could not sell her brand without her approval. That meant other buyout offers could be considered, but none could be accepted without Jessica's approval. That essentially made Jessica the only viable buyer in bankruptcy. In August 2021, Jessica paid $65 million to reacquire her brand with a bankruptcy judge's approval. She once again owns 100% of her brand.
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Early Life
Jessica Ann Simpson was born in Abilene, Texas, on July 10, 1980. Along with her younger sister Ashlee, she grew up in Dallas and Waco, Texas. She dropped out of high school in 1997 when her career began taking off, earning her GED via distance learning at Texas Tech High School a year later.
As the daughter of a Baptist youth minister, Simpson was raised with a strong Christian faith. She began singing in the church choir as a child, and it was at a church retreat that she realized she wanted to pursue a career as a singer.
Career Beginnings
At the age of twelve, she auditioned and was selected as a semi-finalist for "The Mickey Mouse Club," although she ultimately was not selected. After resuming her singing in church, she was discovered and signed by the head of the Christian music label Proclaim Records. Her debut album, "Jessica," was unreleased, as the company went bankrupt, but her grandmother funded a limited pressing of the record. Simpson landed a record deal with Columbia Records after "Jessica" was sent out to multiple labels and producers, and she caught the eye of Columbia Records head Tommy Mottola.
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Music Career
Mottolla wanted Simpson to focus on an "anti-sex appeal" wholesome image to contrast against the public images of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Her debut single, "I Wanna Love You Forever" (1999), performed well, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, and was certified platinum by the RIAA. Her debut studio album "Sweet Kisses" was released in November 1999 and earned a double platinum certification by the RIAA. Her second album, "Irresistible" (2001), was less successful.
After wedding boyfriend Nick Lachey in October 2002, Simpson and Lachey starred in the MTV reality show "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica," which was a popular hit. Simpson's third studio album, "In This Skin," was released the day of the show's premiere, with the show helping to promote the record. Following disappointing sales, Simpson recorded new material and re-released "In This Skin" in 2004 with better results, selling over 4 million copies in the US.
In March 2006, Simpson parted ways with Columbia Records and signed on with Epic Records. Her fifth studio album, "A Public Affair," was released in 2006 and debuted at number five on the Billboard 200. For her sixth album, "Do You Know" (2008), Simpson attempted a transition into country music, but her work was not generally well received. Additionally, Simpson has two holiday albums, "ReJoyce: The Christmas Album" (2004) and "Happy Christmas" (2010).
(Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
Acting and Television Pursuits
In addition to her own reality show with then-husband Nick Lachey, "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica," Simpson also appeared on her sister's show, "The Ashlee Simpson Show," in 2004. She made her film debut in "The Dukes of Hazzard" (2005), which grossed over $111 million worldwide despite negative reviews. Her second film, "Employee of the Month" (2006), was a commercial failure. Other films she's starred in include "Blonde Ambition" (2007) and "Private Valentine: Blonde and Dangerous" (2008). Additionally, Simpson hosted the VH1 documentary series "The Price of Beauty" (2010) and appeared as a mentor on the television series "Fashion Star" (2012-2013). She reprised the role of Daisy Duke for an episode of "Funny or Die Presents" in 2014, and she made a cameo in "Ashlee + Evan" (2018) and lent her voice to an episode of "Duncanville" (2022).
Entrepreneurial Ventures
Outside of music, Jessica is an extremely successful entrepreneur. She has launched a line of beauty products and handbags, lingerie, shoes and boots that are sold primarily on the Home Shopping Network. One of Simpson's earliest ventures was her Jessica Simpson Desserts by Jessica Simpson edible cosmetics line with Randi Shinder in 2004, followed in early 2005 by her Dessert Treats edible cosmetics line targeted towards a younger audience. Both lines were canceled following a series of lawsuits.
Following her 2011 pregnancy announcement, Simpson signed a multi-million-dollar deal with Weight Watchers in 2012 to use their diet plan to shed her pregnancy weight, filming several television commercials for the company. She also launched a maternity clothing line in 2012, as well as a perfume inspired by motherhood, "Vintage Bloom." In February 2020, she released her memoir, "Open Book," which reached number one on The New York Times Best Seller List.
(Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images)
The Jessica Simpson Collection
In 2005, Jessica launched The Jessica Simpson Collection. At inception, she partnered with the Camuto Group to manufacture brands that carried her name. The Camuto Group, which was founded by Nine West co-founder Vince Camuto, had built an empire manufacturing shoes for brands such as Tory Burch, Dillard's, BCBG, and Max Azria.
Jessica and Camuto collaborated on the development of a high-heeled cowboy boot for women, which featured a red heel and coincided with Jessica's appearance in the 2005 film reboot of "The Dukes of Hazzard."
In addition to selling a master licensing agreement, Jessica also sold Camuto 25% of her brand. The master license gave Camuto the first right to manufacture all retail products for Simpson, not just shoes. The partnership eventually produced everything from shoes to perfume and lingerie.
By 2010, The Jessica Simpson Collection was generating $750 million per year in gross revenue. At its peak in 2014, it topped $1 billion in gross revenue. In 2021, the brand generated $500 million.
During the Camuta era, Simpson typically earned a little over 1% of the brand's gross revenue. So, in a year when the brand generated $750 million, she earned $9.75 million. In the year the brand generated $1 billion in gross sales, she earned $13 million.
Many publications have called Simpson a "billion-dollar celebrity," referencing the billion-dollar sales performances of her retail empire. She is not personally worth $1 billion…yet!
In April 2015, Jessica sold 62.5% of her 75% stake in the brand to a company called Sequential Brands for $117 million. Vince Camuto's widow remained 25% owner, and Jessica, after the deal, continued to own 12.5%.
After COVID-19 decimated Sequential's business at large, the company was forced to file for bankruptcy in February 2021. Thanks to a clause in her initial contract with Sequential, the company could not sell her brand without her approval. That meant other buyout offers could be considered, but none could be accepted without Jessica's approval. That essentially made Jessica the only viable buyer in bankruptcy.
In August 2021, Jessica, working with an investment bank to help with financing, paid $65 million to reacquire her brand with a bankruptcy judge's approval.
(Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images for IMG)
Personal Life
Simpson met singer Nick Lachey at a Christmas party in 1998, and the two wed on October 26, 2002. After announcing their separation in November 2005, Simpson filed for divorce in December 2005, finalized in June 2006. Because Simpson had not signed a pre-nuptial agreement, she reportedly had to pay Lachey $12 million in their divorce.
She began dating retired NFL player Eric Johnson in May 2010, and the couple became engaged in November that same year. They married in July 2014 and have three children together.
Real Estate
Simpson's primary residence is a large mansion in Hidden Hills, California, which she bought from Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne for $11.5 million in 2013. The Osbournes bought the house for $12.5 million in 2007, so it was a relative bargain. Over the years, Simpson and her husband have done extensive remodels to the 2.5-acre property, which features six bedrooms, a basketball court, a playground, and a large pool. Today this property is worth $15 – 20 million based on comparable recent sales. Prior to buying in Hidden Hills, Simpson owned a home in Beverly Hills that she bought in 2005 for $5.265 million. She sold this house in October 2013 for $6.4 million.
