The Full Story of Kris Jenner Ex Husband and the Complex History Behind the Kardashian Family Matriarch
You’re searching for Kris Jenner ex husband because the Kardashian-Jenner empire didn’t begin with Keeping Up With the Kardashians—it began with Kris Jenner’s marriages, relationships, and the blended family she helped create. Kris has had two ex-husbands who both played important roles in her life story: Robert Kardashian, her first husband and the father of her four oldest children, and Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce Jenner, her second husband and father of her two youngest daughters. Their relationships were filled with love, challenges, personal evolution, and cultural impact that shaped the Kardashian-Jenner family into what the world knows today.
Below, you’ll explore who Kris Jenner’s ex-husbands are, how each relationship unfolded, their children, the divorces, and how Kris turned her family into the most influential reality brand in modern entertainment.
Who Is Kris Jenner?
Before exploring her ex-husbands, it helps to understand Kris Jenner herself. Born on November 5, 1955, Kris is a businesswoman, producer, television personality, and the mastermind behind the Kardashian-Jenner brand.
She is:
- The executive producer and star of Keeping Up With the Kardashians
- The founder of Jenner Communications
- The manager (“momager”) of her six children
- A global influencer
- A key architect of reality-TV culture
Kris’s marriages and relationships deeply shaped her journey, both personally and professionally.
Kris Jenner’s First Ex-Husband: Robert Kardashian
The first and perhaps most widely known Kris Jenner ex husband is Robert Kardashian, the famed attorney and father of Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Rob Kardashian.
Who Was Robert Kardashian?
Robert George Kardashian was a successful Los Angeles lawyer and businessman. He rose to national fame in 1994 during the O.J. Simpson trial, where he served as one of Simpson’s defense attorneys and close friends.
He was known for:
- His intelligence
- His calm, grounded personality
- His Armenian heritage
- His commitment to family
How Kris and Robert Met
Kris met Robert Kardashian when she was 17 and working as a flight attendant. Robert, nearly 12 years older, quickly fell for her. Their relationship was built on mutual attraction, shared values, and charisma—both were social and ambitious.
Their Marriage
Kris and Robert married in 1978. Together, they built a glamorous life in Beverly Hills, filled with:
- Parties with celebrities
- Country club outings
- Growing careers
- A bustling household
They welcomed four children:
- Kourtney Kardashian (born 1979)
- Kim Kardashian (born 1980)
- Khloé Kardashian (born 1984)
- Rob Kardashian (born 1987)
Their family dynamic later became the foundation of the Kardashian brand.
Problems in the Marriage
Despite their early happiness, their marriage faced difficulties—mostly driven by infidelity, lifestyle differences, and personal changes over time.
Kris later admitted in her memoir that she had an affair, something that contributed to their 1991 divorce.
Their Divorce
Kris and Robert divorced in 1991, after 13 years of marriage. Although the divorce was challenging, the two eventually repaired their relationship and remained close friends until Robert’s death.
Robert Kardashian’s Passing
Robert Kardashian died of esophageal cancer in 2003, at age 59. His passing deeply affected Kris and her children, and they still honor his memory today.
Kris Jenner’s Second Ex-Husband: Caitlyn Jenner
Kris Jenner’s second ex husband is Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce Jenner. Their marriage brought two more daughters and later became one of the most widely discussed and culturally significant relationships of the 2010s.
Who Is Caitlyn Jenner?
Before her transition, Caitlyn, known then as Bruce, was a world-famous athlete who won the gold medal in the men’s decathlon at the 1976 Olympics. She became a national hero and later a motivational speaker and television personality.
Caitlyn is known today as:
- A transgender woman
- An advocate for LGBTQ+ issues
- An author and public speaker
- A former political candidate
How Kris and Caitlyn Met
Kris met Caitlyn shortly after her divorce from Robert Kardashian. They were introduced through mutual friends, and their chemistry was immediate.
Kris described Caitlyn (Bruce at the time) as charming, supportive, and family-oriented. They both had children from previous marriages, which gave them common ground.
Their Marriage
Kris and Caitlyn married in 1991, the same year Kris divorced Robert. Their marriage blended two families:
- Kris’s four Kardashian children
- Caitlyn’s four older children: Burt, Cassandra, Brandon, and Brody
Together, they welcomed two daughters:
- Kendall Jenner (born 1995)
- Kylie Jenner (born 1997)
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Kris managed Caitlyn’s motivational speaking career and helped revitalize her public presence. Kris later identified this period as the beginning of her journey as a powerhouse manager.
Building the Kardashian-Jenner Empire
Their relationship played a central role in the creation of:
- Keeping Up With the Kardashians
- Multiple spin-offs
- Brand development for every child
- The family’s global fame
Kris and Caitlyn were the parental pillars of the early Kardashian-Jenner era.
Challenges in Their Marriage
Caitlyn struggled privately with gender identity for years. Kris later said she felt unaware of the extent of Caitlyn’s internal conflict, while Caitlyn said she did express her feelings but didn’t feel fully understood.
Additionally, fame, pressure, financial stress early in their marriage, and personal differences contributed to the distance between them.
Their Separation and Divorce
Kris and Caitlyn separated in 2013 and finalized their divorce in 2015. Around the same time, Caitlyn publicly came out as transgender in a groundbreaking interview and later in a Vanity Fair cover story.
Their Relationship After Divorce
Post-divorce, their relationship has had ups and downs, including:
- Disagreements about past events
- Differences in how their marriage was portrayed in Caitlyn’s memoir
- Distance in communication at times
However, both have expressed love for their children and commitment to family healing.
How Kris Jenner Maintains Relationships With Her Ex-Husbands’ Families
Kris remains very close to:
- Robert Kardashian’s extended family
- Caitlyn Jenner’s children (Brandon, Brody, Cassandra, and Burt)
She is known for blending families with grace, even in complicated circumstances.
Why Kris Jenner’s Marriages Matter to Pop Culture
Her relationships shaped:
- The Kardashian family dynamic
- The launch of their reality empire
- Her evolution into a powerful businesswoman
- Public conversations around gender identity
- Celebrity family structures in the modern world
Kris’s life story illustrates resilience, reinvention, and loyalty to family above all.
What You Can Learn From Kris Jenner’s Relationships
Her marriages offer important lessons:
- Relationships can evolve, but family remains forever.
- Growth happens through both love and adversity.
- Blended families can thrive with effort and communication.
- Reinvention is always possible—even after heartbreak.
- Supporting a partner’s authenticity is essential.
- Honesty with yourself is a powerful tool for transformation.
Kris’s journey shows that endings are not failures—they’re transitions to new beginnings.
Optional Outro
When you explore “Kris Jenner ex husband,” you uncover two defining relationships—with Robert Kardashian and Caitlyn Jenner—that shaped not only Kris’s life but also the entire Kardashian-Jenner legacy. These marriages brought six children into the world, transformed the landscape of reality television, and contributed to some of the biggest cultural conversations of the past 30 years. Kris Jenner continues to build her empire today, grounded in the lessons, love, and growth that came from both marriages.
Featured image source: Pinterest
