Kim Kardashian, in a candid moment during the latest episode of The Kardashians, opened up about one of the more controversial aspects of her short-lived marriage to NBA player Kris Humphries. Their marriage, which famously lasted just 72 days in 2011, has remained a topic of public curiosity, especially after Kardashian reflected on the engagement ring he gave her—and more interestingly, the circumstances surrounding the ring’s acquisition and eventual return.
As she reminisced about her past relationships with her sister Khloé Kardashian, Kim, 44, revealed some surprising details about her engagement ring from Humphries, one of the most discussed pieces of jewelry in her history. The reality TV mogul reflected on her three engagement rings, each marking a different chapter of her love life. But it was the emerald-cut 18-carat Lorraine Schwartz ring from Humphries that sparked the most conversation.
"I wonder what my next ring shape will be — on my last and final hoorah," Kim mused, setting the stage for a trip down memory lane. She went on to recall the details of each of her engagement rings, starting with her first marriage to music producer Damon Thomas.
"Number one was a cushion cut, 14-karat," she said, referring to her four-year marriage to Thomas, which ended before she became the global superstar that she is today.
However, it was her second engagement ring—the one from her brief marriage to Kris Humphries—that Kim had the most to say about. The 18-carat emerald-cut diamond, which was a gift from Humphries, was not just an expensive piece of jewelry but a symbol of a fleeting marriage.
Kim went on to reveal the surprising and somewhat unsettling truth about the ring: she had actually paid for most of it herself.
"I didn’t keep that," Kim said, referring to the ring’s fate after her divorce. "I was pregnant with [daughter] North [West], still married to him, and in order to divorce him, he said I had to give him the ring in my divorce," she explained.
This detail about the ring’s return struck a nerve with many who followed her relationship with Humphries, especially considering that Kim had purchased the ring herself, with Humphries only contributing a small portion of the cost.
"He contributed a fifth," Kim clarified, drawing an incredulous reaction from her hairstylist and close friend, Chris Appleton. "Jesus," Chris exclaimed, clearly shocked by the revelation, which Kim described as "savage."
For many, the demand to return the ring, coupled with the fact that Kim had financed most of the purchase herself, added an extra layer of complexity to the divorce. It was a reminder of how even high-profile relationships can have their ugly moments, particularly when financial matters and emotional stakes collide.
Despite the uncomfortable situation, Kim acknowledged that in the long run, it may have been for the best that she parted ways with the ring. Her longtime jeweler Lorraine Schwartz, who was with Kim and Khloé on a trip to Mumbai for the 2024 Ambani wedding, even told Kim it was likely a good move.
"It was for the best," Schwartz told her, while Kim admitted that she would have "loved a collection" of all her engagement rings, highlighting her sentimental attachment to the jewelry.
Though Kim rarely discusses her marriage to Kris Humphries these days, the reflection on the engagement ring served as a reminder of a time in her life that was filled with controversy and public scrutiny. Despite being married to him for a short period, the public was fascinated by the extravagant wedding, and the divorce was just as widely covered.
Kim’s comments also drew comparisons to her relationship with her second ex-husband, Kanye West. After her marriage to Humphries ended, Kim went on to marry Kanye West, with whom she shares four children.
Her relationship with Kanye, though tumultuous at times, lasted much longer and produced a family. Kim even jokingly suggested that, after Khloé’s recent reunion with her ex-husband Lamar Odom, she should consider calling up Kris Humphries.
“Should I call Kris Humphries?” Kim asked her sister and mom, Kris Jenner, after Khloé had revealed her meeting with Odom. “That’s what I said,” Khloé replied, encouraging the idea of bringing all of the ex-husbands into the fold.
Although Kim’s short marriage to Humphries is often seen as a cautionary tale, her willingness to reflect on it openly demonstrates her maturity and growth. Her comments about the engagement ring were not only a look back at her past but a testament to how she has learned from her experiences.
It’s clear that while she’s moved on from the drama, Kim Kardashian has no problem discussing the highs and lows of her life, especially when it provides an opportunity for personal reflection.
In the end, Kim’s tale about the engagement ring serves as a reminder of the complexities of relationships, especially when fame and money are involved. While she has moved on from the marriage and the ring, the experience shaped her into the person she is today.
