Kimora Lee Simmons Battles to Retain $25M Beverly Hills Mansion Acquired With Funds Her estranged husband admitted that they were stolen
Kimora Lee Simmons is engaged in a legal battle to retain a $25 million mansion in Beverly Hills, which her estranged husband has acknowledged was acquired using stolen 1MDB funds.
The ongoing legal dispute between Kimora and 1MDB regarding the ownership of the 1MDB mansion has persisted for years and is now nearing another significant court date. The seven-bedroom estate located at 25 Beverly Park Circle was purchased in 2017 by former Goldman Sachs executive Tim Leissner.
During a federal trial in Brooklyn in 2022, Leissner testified under oath that the funds used for the property purchase originated from 1Malaysia Development Berhad, commonly referred to as 1MDB. The fund emerged as the focal point of a vast international fraud investigation entailing billions of dollars.
“I purchased the property… using $25 million that had been misappropriated from the Malaysian people,” Leissner stated under oath.
In 2018, he admitted guilt to charges of conspiracy and bribery related to the 1MDB fraud scandal. In May 2025, he received a two-year sentence in federal prison. Authorities have successfully recovered over $1.4 billion in assets linked to the scheme; however, the Beverly Hills mansion remains untouched.
The legal dispute involving Kimora Lee Simmons regarding the ownership of the 1MDB mansion now focuses on a property transfer that took place in 2020. Court documents reveal that Leissner’s holding company transferred the estate to entities associated with investors David and Simon Reuben following unsuccessful refinancing attempts. The arrangement necessitated monthly payments of approximately $67,000 for Simmons and Leissner to continue residing in the home.
Court records indicate that those payments were not made.
Simmons is challenging the legitimacy of the sale. In her legal filings, she claims that her signature on specific documents was acquired through “misrepresentation and abuse of trust.” The civil case encompasses cross claims involving Simmons, Leissner, Keyway Pride LLC, and the current ownership entities of the property. A trial setting conference is planned for late February.
No allegations suggest that Simmons was involved in or aware of the underlying 1MDB fraud.
The mansion has been featured in exterior shots of her E! series Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane, where she humorously remarked, “My name is Kimora, and I am a hoarder — but a luxury hoarder.”
The fate of that prestigious location now rests in the hands of the court.
