Tim Leissner Biography: Tim Leissner born October 31, 1971 is a German-born former investment banker and convicted felon, best known for his central role in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal—one of the largest financial frauds in history. As a senior executive at Goldman Sachs, where he served as Managing Director and Chairman of Southeast Asia, Leissner helped orchestrate the embezzlement of billions of dollars from Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund.
Tim Leissner Biography
Tim Leissner was born on October 31, 1971, in Germany. Known by the nickname “Tim,” he gained notoriety—and an estimated $25 million fortune—through his involvement in the 1MDB fraud scandal. Now 53 years old, the former banker and public figure has the zodiac sign Scorpio. Despite being widely known for his financial dealings, some sources have mistakenly listed him as a basketball player, though his fame stems from the corporate and criminal worlds.
Tim Leissner Biography 2025 Details
| Born | October 31, 1971 |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Investment banker |
| Known for | 1MDB Fraud |
| Title | Chairman of Southeast Asia and Managing Director of Goldman Sachs |
| Spouse(s) |
Judy Chan
(m. 2000, divorced)
Kimora Lee Simmons
(m. 2014; sep. 2022) |
| Children | 2 |
| Category | Lifestyle |
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About Tim Leissner
Tim Leissner is a German-born investment banker and convicted felon. As managing director at Goldman Sachs and chairman of the bank’s Southeast Asia division Leissner helped orchestrate the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal, one of the biggest financial scandals in history, in which billions of dollars were stolen.
Tim Leissner Personal Life
He was arrested in Washington, D.C., in June 2018, and later pled guilty to multiple charges, including money laundering and violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). He admitted to personally stealing $200 million and paying bribes to secure business for Goldman Sachs. Leissner was fined $43 million and banned for life by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Tim Leissner Wiki
- Born: 31 October 1971 (age 53 years)
- Spouse: Kimora Lee Simmons (m. 2014–2022)
- Children: 2
- Height: 1.83 m
- Education: University of Hartford
- Known for: 1MDB Fraud
- Title: Chairman of Southeast Asia and Managing Director of Goldman Sachs
Early Life and Education
Tim Leissner was born in Germany, the son of a senior executive at Volkswagen. He studied at the University of Siegen and later earned an MBA in 1992 from the University of Hartford in Connecticut.
Career
Leissner began his banking career with JPMorgan and Lehman Brothers before joining Goldman Sachs in 1998. He rose quickly through the ranks, becoming a partner in 2006 and later the Chairman of Goldman’s Southeast Asia division in 2014. However, his career at Goldman ended in January 2016, following an internal investigation that revealed he had sent a forged letter to Banque Havilland on behalf of Malaysian financier Jho Low. Leissner was a central figure in the 1MDB scandal.
He pled guilty to embezzling $200 million from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund and admitted to bribing officials in Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates to secure lucrative deals for Goldman Sachs. His cooperation with U.S. authorities helped convict other key players, including his former deputy, Roger Ng, against whom he testified in 2022. As a result of the scandal, Goldman Sachs paid over $5 billion in fines to U.S. and Malaysian authorities. Bloomberg referred to Leissner as “Goldman’s most notorious banker” in 2022.
Personal Life
Leissner has been married three times and was, at one point, married to two women simultaneously. He wed his second wife, Judy Chan, in Hong Kong around 2000. while still married to Chan, Leissner married fashion entrepreneur Kimora Lee Simmons. To cover up his existing marriage, he forged divorce documents and created a fake email account in Chan’s name, which he used to deceive Simmons for over a year. The couple had a son together in 2015. Simmons later adopted another child in 2020. As of early 2022, Leissner and Simmons were reported to be estranged, though the timeline of their separation remains unclear.
Tim Leissner Facts
Where does Tim Leissner live? And how much money does Tim Leissner earn?
| Birth Date | 31-10-1971 |
| Heritage/origin | German- Brazilian- |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion – believes in God? | Christian |
| Residence | He lives together in a house in Los Angeles, California, United States. |
Tim Leissner Net Worth 2025
Tim Lesissner has an estimated net worth of $25 million. tim earned lucrative fortune when he was working for Lehman Brothers and Goldman Sachs as a banker and financial marketer. He became widely known as the husband of celebrity Kimora Lee and 1MDB fraud.
| Estimated Net Worth | 25 million Dollar |
| Yearly Salary | N/A |
| Colleagues | Roger Ng & David Bonderman |
Tim Leissner: Wife, Dating, Family & Friends
Tim is married to model and celebrity Kimora Lee Simmons since 2013. They dated for three years before married. They have a son together named Wolfe Lee Leissner.
| Relationship status | Married (Since 2013) |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Current Wife of Tim Leissner | Kimora Lee Simmons |
| Ex-girlfriends or ex-wives | Judy Chan |
| More info | Was previously married and divorced |
| Has any kids? | Yes, father of: Wolfe Lee Leissner |
Family
Names of father, mother, kids, brothers & sisters:
- Wolfe Lee Leissner (Son)
Height, Weight, Body Measurements, Tattoos, Skin, Hair & Eye Color
This enigmatic celebrity & basketball player originating from Germany has a thin body & square face type.
| Hair color | Dark brown |
| Hairstyle | formal |
| Beard or Mustache | Beard |
| Eye Color | Hazel |
| Height | 183 cm |
| Weight | 70 kilo |
| Feet size | 8 |
| Waist size | 32 |
| Buste size | 33 |
| Butt size | 40 |
| Does Tim Leissner smoke? | No, never |
| Does Tim Leissner have a tattoo? | No |
FAQs
What is Tim Leissner doing now?
Former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner was sentenced on Thursday to two years in prison for role in 1MDB scandal.
How many children does Tim Leissner have?
Leissner and Simmons had a son, born in 2015. In 2020, Simmons adopted a 10-year old son. In February 2022, it was revealed that Leissner and Simmons were estranged, though it is not clear when the couple split. Leissner has a daughter.
Is Kimora still married to Tim Leissner?
In February 2022, it was revealed that Simmons and Leissner were estranged from each other.