Life Is $weet Right Now for Jessica Simpson

By Elizabeth Townsend Posted Dec 7th 2010 07:47AM

With a new fiance, a holiday album and news that she is on her way to becoming a billion-dollar mover and shaker in the fashion world, Jessica Simpson is on top of the world these days. "Things are going great for her right now," says a source close to the singer. "She's in a really good place now."

Indeed, Simpson graced the cover of WWD on Dec. 6, with the headline, "Jessica Simpson: Fashion's Billion Dollar Baby."

The Jessica Simpson Collection, it turns out, has become one of the most successful celebrity fashion lines of all time, according to WWD. It will most likely become the first ever to earn more than a billion dollars in retail sales, considering her line brought in a whopping $750 million in retail sales this year alone, WWD reports.

Simpson's estimated net worth from all the shoes, clothes and accessories she's selling? A cool $100 million. Not bad for the gal who famously wondered if tuna was chicken on her hit MTV series 'Newlyweds,' with ex-hubby Nick Lachey.

"She is the girl next door and has great product that surrounds her," Vince Camuto, the founder and CEO of Camuto Group, her brand's master licensee, told WWD. "People like her. People look at her as a style icon."

A style icon with plenty of high-wattage competition. Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony are launching an apparel and accessories collection, which will be distributed exclusively at Kohl's this fall. Madonna and her daughter, Lourdes, launched the Material Girl collection at Macy's earlier this year. Celebrities including Gwen Stefani, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and Victoria Beckham also have their own lines.

The Camuto Group has licensing partnerships for 22 of Simpson's product lines, including swimwear, dresses, outerwear, watches and fragrances, and recently licensed The Jones Group Inc. to create and distribute Simpson's new sportswear line for next fall.

The success of her jeanswear collection, to which The Jones Group also has the license, has gone "beyond our expectations," Jack Gross, CEO of Jeanswear for The Jones Group, told WWD. Jessica Simpson Sportswear and Jeanswear are expected to generate between $150 million and $200 million in retail sales within the next two years, he says.

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Jessica Simpson Snapshots

©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Jessica Simpson and new fiance Eric Johnson are swarmed by photographers as they arrive at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport). NON-EXCLUSIVE December 1st, 2010 Job: 101201NR3 Los Angeles, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

GVK/Bauergriffinonline.com

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

(L-R) Nina Garcia, Jessica simpson, Michael Koors and Heidi Klum attend the "Project Runway" Season 8 finale fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2011 at The Theater at Lincoln Center on September 9, 2010 in New York City. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2011 -Project Runway The Theater at Lincoln Center New York, NY United States September 9, 2010 Photo by George Napolitano/FilmMagic.com To license this image (61540178), contact FilmMagic.com

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

Jessica Simpson, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors and Heidi Klum attend the Project Runway Spring 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Theater at Lincoln Center on September 9, 2010 in New York City. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2011 - Project Runway - Front Row & Backstage The Theater at Lincoln Center New York, NY United States September 9, 2010 Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage.com To license this image (61539377), contact WireImage.com

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

Nina Garcia, Jessica simpson, Michael Kors and Heidi Klum attend the Project Runway Spring 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Theater at Lincoln Center on September 9, 2010 in New York City. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2011 - Project Runway - Front Row & Backstage The Theater at Lincoln Center New York, NY United States September 9, 2010 Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage.com To license this image (61539384), contact WireImage.com

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

From left, judges Nina Garcia, Jessica Simpson, Michael Kors and Heidi Klum attend the Project Runway Season 8 finale fashion show at the Theatre at Lincoln Center during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

Singer Jessica Simpson attends the Project Runway Season 8 finale fashion show at the Theatre at Lincoln Center during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

Special guest judge Jessica Simpson, left, joins judge and designer Michael Kors and host Heidi Klum, right, at the Project Runway Season 8 finale fashion show at the Theatre at Lincoln Center during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

Like Camuto, Gross says Simpson's line is so successful because she is so likable -- and approachable. Simpson, who often tweets about the ups and downs in her life, is also "very communicative to her fans," Gross said. "Fifteen-, 16-year-olds and 40-year-olds like her. Sometimes she has missteps, and they identify with her."

Life is good for Simpson in other areas of her life, as well. After a high-profile divorce from Lachey in 2006 and failed relationships with John Mayer and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Simpson found love again with former NFL player Eric Johnson, who popped the question in November with an estimated $150,000 ruby and diamond ring from jeweler-to-the-stars Neil Lane.

In October, she released her first greatest-hits compilation, 'Playlist: The Very Best of Jessica Simpson.' In November, she released a holiday album called 'Happy Christmas.'

Last week, at NBC's live 'Christmas in Rockefeller Center' telecast in New York City, Simpson told PEOPLE, "There's lots to be thankful for this year and a lot to celebrate in the holiday season."

Tags: jessica simpson

Comments

(26)

Wednesday 08 December

By REDDEEN

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Jessica is beautiful...and I belive that everyone thinks she's a bimbo and can't handle her business, she has talent and her stuff sells and it's good stuff she's selling so all you haters that ain't got nothing good to say should shut the F*** up! i bet you wish you were living the life she lives so Im happy for her....Merry X Mas!

By mzharleywood

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She is fat and nasty, but most of all...STUPID...She not only pays for her own engagement ring...but is offering this jerk 1/2 of her money just to marry her...

By New York

Lizie & fiona need to take a good long look in the mirror before slamming someone else. Jessica is a beautiful young lady & very smart & hard working. What are your contributions??? huh I thought so.

You are a nasty, mean judgemental person. You wish you were as smart of business person as she is. She is beautiful & sweet. As far as the other lies you spoke of, keep dreaming. I suggest you go out & get a life so you don't have to talk garbage about everyone elses.

By PSR

I have said this before and I will say it again...

First of all, I don't HATE her, to me the word hate is a very strong word, one that I don't care to use...I just don't care for her.

I am not jealous of her in the least, I have no reason to be, but, she cannot sing, at all, so, she needs to stop trying, she will not get any better. She just needs to stick with what she does best and that is designing her shoes and her handbags...just sayin'

By jan

I am so happy for Jessica. She got the last laugh on everyone who thought she was maybe not so with it all the time.

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