Secret Marriage, Abuse Allegations, a $100 Million Sex Tape and a $10 Million Wedding: Shocking Kim Kardashian Revelations in New Book

An excerpt from Jonathan Van Meter’s book Citizen Kim reveals details of Kim Kardashian’s tumultuous personal life, from a marriage to a controlling husband to the controversial intimate video that helped turn her into a global celebrity, the Daily Mail reports.

At 19, Kim Kardashian secretly married music producer Damon Thomas in Las Vegas. Her parents knew nothing about the wedding, and the family only learned about the marriage some time later. Thomas first met Kim when she was 13 and he was 23.

By the time Kardashian moved into the producer’s sprawling home, complete with recording equipment and a Ferrari in the driveway, she had left her job at a clothing store and found herself in a relationship that, according to her later allegations, involved strict control.

In divorce documents filed in 2003, Kardashian claimed that her husband pressured her to quit her job, abandon her studies, account for her whereabouts and limit contact with her family. She also alleged that he convinced her that her mother and sister wanted to harm her.

The most shocking allegation involved nude photographs.

In the divorce proceedings, Kardashian alleged that Thomas brought nude photographs of one of her sisters to her father Robert Kardashian’s office and showed them to him. According to Kim, Thomas told her father: “Your daughters are whores, and I have pictures to prove it.” Kardashian further claimed that he then packed the photographs and sent them to her friend in gift wrapping.

On April 13, 2003, while her husband was away, Kim packed her belongings and left for good. But when she arrived at her mother’s house, she encountered an unexpected sight: her stepfather, Bruce Jenner — who later came out as transgender and became known as Caitlyn Jenner — was wearing women’s clothing, a wig, makeup and high heels. Kim later recalled feeling frightened and running out of the house before calling her sister Kourtney.

The Sex Tape That Changed Her Life

Shortly after her father’s death, Kim grew close to singer Ray J, the brother of her friend Brandy Norwood. During a trip to Mexico for Kardashian’s 23rd birthday, the couple filmed themselves with a new video camera Kim had received from her sister as a gift, including intimate moments.

The footage later became the basis for Kim Kardashian, Superstar, released in 2007. The book’s author was unable to establish exactly how the material ended up with Vivid Entertainment, a company specializing in adult content.

Kim tried to block the release and took legal action. She eventually settled the dispute for a reported $5 million and, according to media reports, secured a share of future revenue. Figures cited in the book suggest the video generated around $1.4 million in sales during its first month, with total earnings later estimated at approximately $100 million. These figures are estimates rather than independently verified financial accounts.

Rumors persist that Kim’s mother, Kris Jenner, may have been involved in the tape’s release. She has repeatedly denied the allegations, describing them as entirely false in a court filing. Kim herself has also said that posing for Playboy was entirely her own decision. However, she admitted feeling pressured and later regretting the shoot. Kris supported her on set, and her remark, “You’re doing amazing, sweetie!” went on to become an internet meme.

The $10 Million Wedding She Regretted

Another high-profile chapter in Kardashian’s personal life was her marriage to basketball player Kris Humphries. Their lavish wedding, filmed for the reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians, reportedly cost $10 million. The couple split just 72 days later.

Kardashian later explained that she had rushed into marriage because she was afraid of turning 30 unmarried. She felt she was supposed to meet other people’s expectations by that age. She also admitted that she had doubts about the marriage before the ceremony but feared that calling off the wedding, with cameras rolling for the show, would trigger an even bigger scandal.

Kim described the marriage as one of the biggest mistakes of her life. The book also notes that, according to Kardashian, Humphries wanted a traditional family life, while his expectations of a wife conflicted with her ambitions.

She later married Kanye West. That relationship also ended in divorce, but by then, Kim had transformed herself from Paris Hilton’s assistant and a tabloid fixture into one of the world’s most recognizable entrepreneurs and celebrities.