Ellen Pierson may not be a name you hear as often as Kim or Khloé Kardashian, but she played a major role in the family’s history. She was the last woman to marry Robert Kardashian Sr., the famous lawyer and father of the Kardashian siblings.
Their marriage, short as it was, stirred up years of tension. Even now, more than 20 years later, Ellen Pierson’s name still pops up on the family’s TV shows and podcasts. So, who is she? And why is she still part of the Kardashian conversation in 2026? Let’s take a closer look.
Ellen Pierson Profile Summary
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Judith Ellen Markowitz (later known as Ellen Pierson) |
| Birth Year | 1949 (approx.) |
| Age (2026) | Around 76 years old |
| Place of Birth | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Height | 5’4″–5’6″ (estimated) |
| Profession | Real estate agent, escrow specialist, title insurance professional |
| Years Active | 30+ years in real estate and insurance |
| Known For | Third and final wife of Robert Kardashian Sr. |
| Marriage to Robert Kardashian Sr. | Married August 2003; widowed six weeks later on September 30, 2003 |
| First Husband | Scott William Marlin (married 1973) |
| Children | One biological daughter |
| Grandchildren | Two |
| Stepchildren | Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Rob Kardashian Jr. |
| Key Inheritance | Indian Wells property and furnishings |
| Major Controversies | Diary scandal, Kardashian legal battles, paternity comments |
| Net Worth (2026) | Estimated between $1 million – $5 million |
| Residence | California, USA |
| Social Media | Not publicly active |
| Notable Career Roles | Corporate sales director, title insurance specialist, real estate firm owner |
| Other Work | Managed Robert Kardashian’s music company for two years after his death |
Early Life and Identity: From Markowitz to Pierson
Ellen Pierson was born Judith Ellen Markowitz in Los Angeles, California, around 1949. That would make her about 76 years old now. Not much is known about her early years. She’s always been a very private person.
Before she became Pierson, she had already been married once. In 1973, she married a man named Scott William Marlin. They later divorced, and she continued to focus on her career and personal life.
A Long Career in Real Estate and Insurance
Ellen wasn’t in the spotlight for most of her life. She built a long and steady career in real estate and title insurance across Southern California. She worked hard for over 30 years in this field.
Ellen even owned her own company—JM Pierson Real Estate—in Santa Clara, and later worked for well-known firms like Heritage Escrow and Westminster Title Company. Ellen was known by her coworkers for being focused, professional, and sharp. She also won several awards, including the Longest Drive Award at a charity golf tournament and was a three-time Affiliate of the Year.
Ellen Pierson Love, Marriage & Family
Ellen Pierson’s journey through love and marriage has been marked by personal milestones and public attention. From her early years as Judith Ellen Markowitz to her short but impactful marriage to Robert Kardashian Sr., her story ties deeply into one of America’s most famous families.
First Marriage to Scott William Marlin
Before meeting Robert Kardashian, Ellen was married to Scott William Marlin, an institutional account executive.
They got married in April 1973. At the time, Ellen was still early in her professional career, working in California’s title insurance field.
Scott Marlin worked in finance and corporate accounts, and while the couple stayed mostly out of the public eye, their marriage didn’t last. They later divorced, and Ellen went on to focus on her career and her daughter from that relationship.
Meeting and Dating Robert Kardashian Sr.
Ellen met Robert George Kardashian Sr.—the well-known attorney and businessman—around 1999 or 2000.
Robert was already a public figure, known for being O.J. Simpson’s close friend and lawyer during the famous 1995 trial. He was also the ex-husband of Kris Jenner and father of Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Rob Kardashian Jr.
Their relationship started quietly, away from the cameras. After dating for about three years, Robert proposed in 2001. Ellen later described their bond as genuine and built on years of friendship and care.
Marriage to Robert Kardashian Sr.
Ellen and Robert were married in August 2003, in a small, private ceremony.
At the time, Robert was battling esophageal cancer, and his health was rapidly declining. Despite this, Ellen described their wedding as beautiful and full of love.
Sadly, their marriage only lasted six weeks. Robert passed away on September 30, 2003, due to complications from his cancer. The brief nature of their marriage later sparked major tension with Robert’s children, who questioned the timing and intent behind the ceremony.
Ellen Becoming a Kardashian Stepmom
By marrying Robert, Ellen became the stepmother to the four Kardashian siblings. But things were far from perfect.
The children were upset about the marriage—especially Khloé, who lived with her father during his final days. There were rumors that Robert had already been very sick and weak at the time of the wedding. The Kardashians later said that Robert was “propped up in his bed” for the ceremony.
Ellen, however, said their wedding was real and full of love. She said they had been engaged for years and had planned to get married for a long time.
The Inheritance and the Indian Wells Property
After Robert passed away, things became even more tense. Ellen received Robert’s Indian Wells property, including all the furniture inside. The Kardashian kids expected to inherit most of their father’s things, so the news shocked them.
The inheritance created a major conflict. Over the years, the family often said that Ellen “took everything” and left them with almost nothing. Khloé repeated this in her 2025 podcast, saying she barely has anything of her dad’s to hold onto.
Running Robert’s Music Company
Not long after Robert’s death, Ellen took over his music company and managed it for about two years. It wasn’t a huge business, but it was something Robert cared about. Ellen stepped in to keep it going for a while before returning to her main career in real estate and insurance.
Public Accusations and Diary Drama
In 2012, things got worse between Ellen and the Kardashian family. She shared pages from Robert’s private diaries with the press. The entries claimed that Kris Jenner had been abusive and neglectful during her marriage to Robert.
Naturally, the Kardashians were furious. They filed a lawsuit against Ellen for copyright infringement, fraud, and defamation. In 2015, the court ruled in favor of the Kardashians. Ellen was ordered to return the diaries and was banned from ever publishing them again.
Ellen Pierson Fights Back
But Ellen didn’t stay quiet. She filed her own defamation lawsuit in 2013 against the Kardashian family and Ryan Seacrest Productions (the people behind KUWTK). She claimed that the show portrayed her as a gold-digger and a blackmailer, and that the producers made up stories to damage her reputation.
Ellen said that the family hired a private investigator as part of a fake TV plot to make her look bad. The lawsuit didn’t go far, and eventually, it was either dropped or quietly settled. But the damage was already done.
The Khloé Kardashian Paternity Rumor
One of the most explosive moments connected to Ellen Pierson was the Khloé paternity rumor. After the diary scandal, Ellen reportedly told magazines that Robert Kardashian Sr. once said Khloé wasn’t his biological daughter.
This caused a major stir. Khloé spoke about it in interviews and on TV, saying that the claims were cruel and came from someone who wasn’t really part of their lives. The family defended Khloé fully, calling Ellen’s words “evil” and “a total lie.”
Ellen later said she didn’t mean to hurt anyone. But the damage was done, Even years later, fans still remember this messy chapter. It made Ellen Pierson even more controversial in the public eye.
Ellen Pierson Life Outside the Fame
Despite all the drama, Ellen Pierson has kept a very private life. She doesn’t have any public social media accounts. She doesn’t give interviews or attend celebrity events.
Ellen still lives in California, far from Hollywood. She continues to work in real estate and keeps her distance from the Kardashian spotlight.
Friends and neighbors describe her as quiet and professional. Unlike the Kardashians, Ellen never seemed interested in fame. She just wanted to live her life and do her job.
Ellen Family: Daughter and Grandchildren
While much of the world only knows Ellen Pierson for her marriage to Robert Kardashian Sr., she also has her own family.
Before meeting Robert, Ellen had a daughter from her first marriage. Today, she’s also a grandmother to two grandchildren.
She spends most of her time with her family and work. She doesn’t talk about her stepchildren, and it seems she’s accepted that their relationship is over.
Ellen Pierson’s Net Worth in 2026
As of 2026, Ellen Pierson’s net worth is estimated between $1 million and $5 million. This comes from her many years in the title insurance and real estate industry.
She also received part of Robert Kardashian Sr.’s estate, including his Indian Wells property, which was valuable.
Even though she was called a “gold-digger” by some, the truth is that Ellen had her own career and income long before marrying Robert.
Why Ellen Pierson Still Makes Headlines
Even though it’s been over two decades since Robert’s passing, Ellen Pierson’s name still comes up.
In recent seasons of The Kardashians, the siblings continue to talk about her—especially Khloé. In a 2025 podcast, Khloé said she has “no love” for Ellen and doesn’t consider her family.
People still debate whether Ellen was treated unfairly or whether she took advantage of the situation. Some see her as a woman caught in a family war. Others believe she crossed the line.
Final Thoughts
Ellen Pierson was never a celebrity. She never asked for cameras or attention. But by marrying Robert Kardashian Sr., she stepped into one of the world’s most famous families—and into years of tension, lawsuits, and headlines.
Whether you see her as misunderstood or manipulative, one thing is clear: Ellen Pierson is a key figure in the Kardashian story. Her actions, and the family’s reactions, changed how millions of people saw the Kardashians in their early years.
Now, in 2026, she lives quietly, far from the spotlight.
FAQs
1. How old is Ellen Pierson in 2026?
Ellen Pierson is about 76 years old in 2026, based on her estimated birth year of 1949.
2. What did Ellen Pierson do for a living before marrying Robert Kardashian Sr.?
She spent more than 30 years working in real estate, escrow, and the title insurance industry, building a strong and steady career in California.
3. What was Ellen Pierson’s relationship with the Kardashian family like?
Her relationship with Robert’s children—Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Rob—was strained due to inheritance issues, diary leaks, and public disagreements.
4. Did Ellen Pierson inherit Robert Kardashian Sr.’s estate?
Yes. She inherited the Indian Wells property and its furnishings, while his children inherited other tangible and intangible assets.
5. What is Ellen Pierson’s estimated net worth in 2026?
Her net worth is believed to be between $1 million and $5 million, earned through decades of work in real estate and insurance, plus part of Robert’s estate.
