Kim Kardashian Didn't Profit From Wedding, Never Had $2 Million Ring—Now, About a Reconciliation...

Reality show matriarch runs rumor patrol on Today, denies that couple banked $20 million for televised nuptials and says that Kim's ring cost less than half what people reported

By Gina Serpe Nov 02, 2011 2:35 PMTags

Kris Jenner has seen her latest press tour (for her clothing line and new book) morph into a defense of daughter Kim Kardashian's divorce from Kris Humphries.

Yesterday, the reality-show matriarch shot down the speculation that the ex-duo's entire relationship was a made-for-TV sham. Today, Jenner is trying to rebut claims that the family made millions of dollars in profits from Kim's fairy-tale nuptials.

To paraphrase Jenner: not so fast, haters.

"You know, one of the rumors is we sold the television rights for millions of dollars? Not true," Jenner told Ann Curry while sitting down on the Today show this morning. "She profited from the wedding? Absolutely false."

As for reports the Kardashians pocketed $20 million in endorsement and TV deals for their E! special, Kim's Fairytale Wedding: A Kardashian Event, Jenner insisted they received nothing close to that—instead, she claimed that Kim actually lost money on her decision to tie the knot.

"Absolutely not," she said, shooting down the veracity of the $20 million figure. "They made some money for the pictures that were sold and things like that, but at the end of the day, that money went towards the wedding, and Kim had to pay a great deal of money, the balance that was owed for the wedding—which she was delighted to do, because that was her fairytale wedding."

As for the much-hyped, star-studded TV special, Jenner said it was business as usual.

"We don't sell television rights. Our network has been amazing to us, we have a great relationship with them, but we were all paid to do a television show just like any other episode."

Before the conversation veered too far off the money trail, Curry grilled Jenner over the pricetag People magazine paid for the wedding spread.

"I don't know what the end result was, but it was less than $1 million, and probably more than a half a million dollars, and all of that went into the wedding."

As for Kim's 20.5-carat ring that allegedly cost $2 million.

Seth Browarnik/startraksphoto.com

"Well first of all, I mean come on, that wasn't a $2 million ring," Jenner  explained. "I'm here to say that as well…It was not $2 million. It was less than half of that. I don't really know the exact price, I didn't buy the ring, but some of these reports are so outrageous and everybody gets so carried away.

"Sometimes when people write things down, or put things on the front page of a newspaper or a tabloid, that's the truth to them. And I'm here to say it's not."

One thing she's not saying—in fairness, because she doesn't know—is what will become of that bauble.

"It's none of my business, to be honest with you. I'm sure they'll work that out when they get back."

Jenner, meanwhile, said that she personally had no regrets about the way the relationship played out. While some critics thought their six-month courtship was too speedy, and Kim herself noted that the conditions weren't ideal, Kris said that she and Bruce Jenner—now 20 years strong—tied the knot after five months, and Lamar and Khloé Kardashian Odom wed after a measly nine days—"two years later, I've never seen two people more in love."

"I don't have any regrets because this is what we do. We have people that have invested in our lives since day one, season one, and we enjoy what we do…I had no reason to believe that Kim after six months wouldn't work out, because the rest of us have kinda done it that way."

And just in case the haters didn't get the message from yesterday, Jenner once again made it clear:

"It makes me feel sad that some people are reacting that way, of course. Certainly wasn't a sham, certainly wasn't something for TV, we have enough going on on our show, we don't have to make things up…She really felt like she was in love with him. It was an amazing time. For all of us that were watching, I had no idea there was a problem at the time. It saddens all of us."

Including Kim.

"She feels she's let a lot of people down. She's sick about it. She just has to come out and say, look, I made a mistake and I feel terrible."

So, what will become of Kim and Kris? Could there possibly be hope for a reconciliation between the two of them?

"That's a Kim and Kris question," Jenner said. "We'll just see what happens."