Jessica Simpson Called Nick Lachey Marriage Her “Biggest Money Mistake” but History Won’t Repeat With Eric Johnson
- Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey did not sign a prenup when they got married in 2002.
- The singer-actress says she will always be respectful to Nick Lachey and the relationship they once shared.
- Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson parted ways after 10-years of marriage.
Singer-actress-fashion designer Jessica Simpson started her career at seventeen when she signed with Columbia Records. She released her debut album, Sweet Kisses, in 1999, followed by her second album, Irresistible, in 2001. Simpson’s music career was highly praised by the critics, but it was her relationship and later marriage with Nick Lachey that garnered her worldwide recognition. The former couple appeared on MTV’s Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica from 2003 to 2005. They separated in 2006.
Simpson was regarded as a teen idol in the late 1990s, and during the time when MTV’s Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica was on air, media and the public perceived the singer as a ‘ditzy blonde.’ The singer-actress has separated from her husband, Eric Johnson, after a decade of being married. Her separation from Johnson has once again opened the doors for the public to revisit her marriage to Nick Lachey.
Fans revisit Jessica Simpson’s comments about her marriage with Nick Lachey
Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey were, back in the day, considered the IT couple of the entertainment industry, but their relationship has had its share of ups and downs. The two met in the late ‘90s and got married in 2002 before going their separate ways in 2006. They got married at a church in Austin, Texas, and their wedding was featured in their reality show.
After they had separated, the former couple met for one last time, and Lachey played his then-new album for his ex-wife. The songs in that album were about her, and Simpson wrote about the incident in her memoir Open Book. She wrote (via People)
I was numb, just blank. I felt manipulated into some revenge fantasy, but I had put myself in this situation. I didn’t know any other way to make it better, so I slept with him.
The actress-singer revealed during an interview (via The Washington Post ) shared that the former couple did not have a prenuptial agreement. Simpson at the time was worth about $35 million, whereas Lachey was close to $5 million, and according to California law, if the couple had no prenup signed, they’d split the assets acquired during the marriage equally.
TMZ reported at the time that Lachey settled for ‘considerably less’ than half of their combined earnings to avoid any legal fight. Even though the details of their settlement were not disclosed, Simpson had mentioned that her marriage to Nick Lachey was her ‘biggest money mistake.’ The actress-fashion designer had shared on The Dr. Oz’s Show in 2022 that when Lachey tried to convince her for a prenup, she got offended as she, at the time, believed that they were meant to last.
In her memoir, Simpson called Nick Lachey her first love and wrote that the media and themselves crushed them. Simpson, for her part, has decided to stay respectful of their now non-existent relationship, stating to People that there was a reason she got married to him. She added that Lachey has a family now, and she would never say anything to disrespect that.
Jessica Simpson did not make the same mistake with Eric Johnson
After her split from Nick Lachey, Jessica Simpson went on to marry former NFL player Eric Johnson in 2014 and has since welcomed three kids. After being married for a decade, the two decided to call it quits in their marriage. Simpson in her memoir had opened up about how her marriage to Johnson had helped her get sober. She wrote (via People),
Eric gave up drinking the second I did. He said, ‘I’ll do it with you, baby.’ It was like no biggie, and he hasn’t gone back or looked back. He’s a very selfless and loving person who is the most incredible father on the planet.
But the so-in-love couple did sign a prenuptial agreement before saying ‘I do,’ something Simpson did not do when married to Nick Lachey. She shared with Access Hollywood in 2020 that while getting married for the second time, she was adamant about getting a prenup. She added,
We both were, actually. We connected over both being divorced and having our hearts broken and then knowing who we wanted for the rest of our lives.
However, the singer-actress shared in a statement that she and Johnson have been living separately, navigating a painful situation in their marriage. She also added that their children come first and they are focused on what’s best for them.
Simpson has shared in interviews that her relationship with Eric Johnson has always felt easy, and they have always tried to keep the romance alive even with three kids. Her split from the love of her life has inspired the singer to work on a new album in fifteen years. A source shared with Page Six that Jessica Simpson has been working on new music for a while, but with everything going on, the singer feels that it’s the perfect time to go full force with it.
Sources also shared that the reason for their split is hinted towards trust issues and them being on different pages. The duo relisted their Hidden Hills, California, mansion for sale at $17.9 million.
