What Kris Humphries is up to 15 years after Kim K split
Fifteen years after his 72-day marriage to Kim Kardashian ended, Kris Humphries is building a fried-chicken empire in Minnesota rather than chasing Hollywood fame. The 41-year-old former NBA player now runs multiple Dave's Hot Chicken franchises with his family and has signed deals to open dozens more across the Twin Cities. It is a sharp pivot from the reality-TV spotlight—but one Humphries has said he welcomes.
Key Takeaways
- Kris Humphries retired from the NBA and now franchises Dave's Hot Chicken locations across Minnesota with family members.
- He opened his first Minnesota shop in 2023 after signing to launch 10 statewide, and later committed to 30 Twin Cities locations.
- Humphries and Kardashian married in August 2011 and split after just 72 days; their legal separation came in 2013.
- The ex-athlete keeps a low profile online, posting from inside his restaurants instead of courting celebrity headlines.
- Kardashian said in 2021 she owed Humphries an apology, but Page Six reported he would not call her back.
Why did Kris Humphries walk away from basketball and fame?
According to Page Six, Humphries retired from the NBA in 2017 and has lived outside the limelight since. He told the U.S. Sun he is "trying to stay under the radar and work on a new phase of my life" after leaving the game.
His Instagram feed reflects that shift. Posts that once highlighted an active, travel-heavy lifestyle now promote his restaurant ventures, including appearances inside stores and spicy chicken challenges.
How big is Kris Humphries' Dave's Hot Chicken business?
Humphries signed to open 10 Dave's Hot Chicken restaurants throughout Minnesota before launching his first franchise near where he used to attend school in 2023, Page Six reported. By last September, he had agreed to expand to 30 locations across the Twin Cities, according to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
The Sun reported that Humphries works alongside family members and has also held franchises for Five Guys and Crisp & Green in the area. He has described himself as hands-on—regularly inside the takeout shops sampling menu items rather than acting as a silent partner.
When the partnership launched, he said he was "super excited to bring Dave's Hot Chicken to Minnesota with my family," per The Sun.
What happened between Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian?
The couple began dating in 2010 and married in August 2011, but Kardashian filed for divorce just 72 days later. She later admitted she knew the marriage was over during their honeymoon. At the time, they were living in a small New York apartment with her sister Kourtney, The Sun reported.
The split dragged through an 18-month legal dispute over whether Kardashian's divorce petition should stand or Humphries' request for an annulment based on fraud, The Sun noted. They were legally separated in June 2013—just days before Kardashian gave birth to her first child, North, with Kanye West.
For more updates on reality stars and athletes after high-profile breakups, browse our Celebrity Breaking News section.
Have Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian made peace?
Publicly, there has been little contact. In 2021, Kardashian said she owed Humphries an apology for how she handled their separation, Page Six reported, but added that he would not return her calls. Humphries has not used his platform to revisit the relationship, focusing instead on his Minnesota restaurant expansion.