Kim Kardashian’s Ex-Husband Kris Humphries Reveals Surprising Career Pivot After Leaving the NBA

Far from the Kardashian family’s Calabasas base, a former member of their inner circle has built a very different life in the fast-food business.

More than 10 years after his famously brief 72-day marriage to Kim Kardashian, Kris Humphries is now helping operate multiple Dave’s Hot Chicken locations with his family in his native Minnesota.

With bold graffiti-style decor and bright red metal seating, the restaurants may seem like an unexpected setting for one of Kardashian’s ex-husbands.

But as longtime fans may remember, Humphries, 41, has often spoken about his ties to the North Star State and his desire to return home.

The Humphries family became a Dave’s Hot Chicken franchisee in 2022 and has since launched several outposts across Minnesota.

“Super excited to bring @daveshotchicken to Minnesota with my family. This is the best chicken ever! Get ready Minnesota,” Humphries wrote when announcing the venture.

The family have an ambitious vision for their restaurant empire and plan on opening 18 Dave’s Hot Chicken in Minnesota, Downtown Voices reported in 2024. 

‘The mix of historic preservation and modern innovation in the North Loop creates a unique atmosphere that we believe is ideal for Dave’s Hot Chicken,’ Kris’s cousin, Alex Humphries, said in a statement at the time. 

‘Coupled with its diverse demographics and proximity to downtown Minneapolis, the North Loop provides a strong trade area that attracts both residents and visitors. We look forward to contributing to this community.’ 

While the Kardashians promote their cosmetic and clothing empires onto Instagram, Humphries has also been active on the platform to publicize his restaurants. 

For the past year, his Instagram account has been flooded with videos from food influencers visiting his restaurants – along with clips of him digging into the food.   

Sitting before a fast food feast, Humphries grinned for the camera as he prepared to dig into the type of foods would only rarely indulge in.

‘It’s Go Time Baby!’ Humphries captioned the post.  

The Daily Mail has contacted Humphries for comment. 

The pivot likely won’t come as a complete shock to viewers of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

The couple butted heads over Humphries’ hopes to return to Minnesota, with Kim hoping to continue her career in Hollywood.  

‘I’m never moving to Minnesota. Ever,’ Kardashian told Humphries on an episode of Kourtney and Kim Take New York. 

‘We already talked about this,’ Humphries replied. ‘You said, “When I’m done playing, I get to choose half the year, you choose the other half of the year.”‘

‘How am I going to have my career and live in Minnesota?’ Kim asked.

Kim’s insistence on remaining in Los Angeles once they started a family prompted Humphries to make an infamous comment about her future as an A-lister that likely cut deep.  

‘Baby, by the time you have kids and they’re in school and all that, no one will probably care about you, let’s be honest,’ Humphries responded. 

It’s not Humphries’ first go at being restauranteurs. 

The Humphries family are also the owners of a Crisp & Green and Five Guys franchises in Minnesota, according to Downtown Voices.

Kim was married to Humphries for just 72 days before filing for divorce in late October 2011.

While the marriage lasted less than three months, their estrangement spanned nearly two years, with rumors swirling that the whole marriage was a publicity stunt to promote their E! series Keeping Up With the Kardashians – a rumor the family denied. 

The divorce wasn’t finalized until October 2013, by which time Kardashian had already been dating Kanye West for over a year.

‘At the end of the day, I’m just a guy from Minnesota who loves the game of basketball,’ Humphries said in 2019. ‘I never wanted to be that guy.’