Ian Somerhalder has opened up about the financial crisis he faced after leaving Hollywood, revealing that he and his wife, Nikki Reed, were once eight figures in debt from a failed business. The former ‘The Vampire Diaries’ star said fraud and personal bank guarantees pushed them into a deep hole, but the couple sold off major assets and worked together to rebuild their lives.
Ian Somerhalder’s debt after leaving Hollywood
Speaking to E! News, Somerhalder said he retired from acting seven years ago after a major financial setback changed his course. “I retired from acting seven years ago. I left an unprofitable television career after a financial upheaval as a result of building a business I didn’t build properly,” he said. “And because of the fraud, I put my wife and I in an eight-figure hole.”The actor said the problems escalated after he made eight figures in personal guarantees to a bank. “Eight figures is a tough hole to get out of,” he said. “But Nikki and I did. You know, he really talked us out of this deal, but we sold houses, paintings, cars, watches, everything.”Somerhalder also reflected on the setback period. “I mean, I should retire from one of the biggest TV shows in the world,” he added, referring to The Vampire Diaries, which ran from 2009 to 2017.
The new life of Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed
Somerhalder, 47, and Reed, 37, married in April 2015. They share a daughter, Bodhi, 8, and a son born in June 2023. The couple moved to a farm outside of Los Angeles a few years ago, and have been away from the old Hollywood routine.The actor now focuses on business. He co-founded Brother’s Bond Bourbon with ‘The Vampire Diaries’ star Paul Wesley. He and Reed also founded the Absorption Company, which sells high-absorption powder supplements.His advice for couples starting a business together is simple. “The ups and downs of the journey are supposed to be fun,” she told E! the news “Grinding should be fun.” He added, “Find beauty in everything.”In October 2024, she told People: “We’re building three companies at the same time, raising kids.” In January 2024, E! News, “I loved what I did for a long time. I don’t miss anything. I love making movies, and I did it for so long. We had an amazing run.”
