Jan Ashley was an American former beauty pageant titleholder from Texas. She is best remembered as the second wife of attorney Robert Kardashian, the father of Kim, Kourtney, Khloé and Rob Kardashian. Their marriage in 1998 lasted only a short time, but it kept her name alive in Kardashian family history.
Many people search for Jan Ashley Kardashian because her name came back into headlines in 2012. That year, she and Ellen Pierson, Robert’s third wife, spoke to a magazine about Khloé Kardashian’s paternity. This article gives you the verified story, the disputed parts, and the facts people usually ask about, in one clean place.
Quick answer: Jan Ashley (born Janice Lynn Glass, 3 August 1948) was Robert Kardashian’s second wife. She married him in November 1998, the marriage ended within weeks, and she died on 1 October 2015 at age 67.
Jan Ashley Profile Summary
Here is a fast, snippet-ready overview. Details are explained in the sections below.
Who Is Jan Ashley
Jan Ashley was an American woman, a former pageant winner, and the widow of actor-producer John Ashley. She became publicly known only because of her very short marriage to Robert Kardashian in 1998.
She never built a Hollywood career of her own. Her fame is a “family history” fame, not a red-carpet fame.
Janice Lynn Glass Ashley at a Glance
Janice Lynn Glass Ashley is her full name. “Glass” was her maiden name, and “Ashley” came from her first husband, John Ashley.
She is also searched as Jan Ashley Kardashian, although she did not become a lasting part of the Kardashian family.
Jan Ashley Quick Bio Table
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Janice Lynn Glass Ashley |
| Known As | Jan Ashley |
| Date of Birth | 3 August 1948 |
| Birthplace | Amarillo, Potter County, Texas, USA |
| Jan Ashley Age | 67 at death (would be 78 in 2026) |
| Date of Death | 1 October 2015 |
| Place of Death | Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White (as listed in most profiles) |
| Profession | Former beauty pageant titleholder; private citizen |
| Known For | Second wife of Robert Kardashian |
| First Husband | John Ashley (actor and producer, died 1997) |
| Second Husband | Robert Kardashian (married 1998, ended within weeks) |
| Parents | James Douglas Glass and Monnie M. Glass |
| Jan Ashley Children | No confirmed children (see Cole Ashley note below) |
| Resting Place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, California |
| Social Media | None |
| Net Worth | Never publicly disclosed |
A note on accuracy: Jan lived a very private life. Because of that, many websites copy each other, and some details conflict. This article marks anything uncertain clearly.
Jan Ashley Age and Birthday
Jan Ashley Birthday
Most biographies list Jan Ashley’s birthday as 3 August 1948. That makes her a Leo.
Jan Ashley Age
She was 67 years old when she died on 1 October 2015. If she were alive in 2026, she would be 78.
You may see other websites with a different birth year. Those are usually mix-ups with other women named Jan Ashley, including an unrelated person with a Los Angeles birthplace listed online. Ignore those.
Early Life in Texas
Growing Up in Amarillo
Jan was born Janice Lynn Glass in Amarillo, a city in the Texas Panhandle. Her parents were James Douglas Glass and Monnie M. Glass.
Amarillo in the 1950s was a small, close-knit place. Church, family, and community were the centre of life. That background likely shaped her calm and private nature later on.
Very little is on record about her siblings or school years. She never gave long interviews about her childhood, and no major magazine ever published a detailed profile on her youth.
Early Life Snapshot
| Early Life Fact | Detail |
| Birth name | Janice Lynn Glass |
| Hometown | Amarillo, Texas |
| Region | Texas Panhandle, USA |
| Parents | James Douglas Glass, Monnie M. Glass |
| Education | Not publicly documented |
| Childhood fame | None |
Miss Tulsa and Her Early Recognition
Success in Beauty Pageants
Jan Ashley is reported to have been crowned Miss Tulsa in 1966. This is the main public achievement from her young life.
Pageants were a big deal in the American South and Midwest at that time. Winning a city title often opened doors to local modelling, scholarships, and social attention.
It is not clear how far she went in state or national contests. No reliable record shows her winning a bigger crown. So the safest statement is simple: she was a pageant winner at the city level.
This is also where her connection to Oklahoma began. Tulsa stayed an important place in her life, and she returned there in later years.
Her First Marriage to John Ashley
Marriage to the Actor and Producer
Jan’s first husband was John Ashley, an American actor, singer, and film producer. He was born on 25 December 1934 in Kansas City, Missouri.
John became famous in the 1960s through the American International Pictures Beach Party films. Later, he worked behind the camera as a producer, including on low-budget action and horror films in the Philippines.
Jan reportedly married John in the late 1970s. Their marriage lasted until his sudden death on 3 October 1997. He reportedly had a heart attack while working on a film project in New York.
This marriage is important. It shows Jan was not a “one-marriage celebrity wife.” She had a full married life in the entertainment world before the Kardashian chapter started.
Cole Ashley: What Do We Know?
Some online profiles list “Cole Ashley” as Jan Ashley’s son. However, other sources say Jan Ashley had no children.
John Ashley’s known son was Anthony Brooks Ashley, from John’s earlier marriage to actress Deborah Walley. So the “Cole Ashley” claim is unverified, and we do not treat it as confirmed fact.
Jan Ashley Children: Short Answer
There is no reliable proof that Jan Ashley had biological children. Several biographies say she had none.
How She Met Robert Kardashian
Introduction Through Los Angeles Social Circles
Jan has said she met Robert Kardashian in early 1998. One widely repeated account says they crossed paths while she was selling a house in Los Angeles.
Robert was then in his mid-50s. He was a well-known attorney, businessman, and a close friend of O.J. Simpson. His fame had grown during the 1995 murder trial, where he sat in the courtroom with the defence team.
Jan, a widow of only a few months, was in a vulnerable moment. Robert, divorced from Kris Jenner since 1991, was also looking for a fresh start.
Reports say Jan kept the relationship quiet for a while. That fits her personality. She did not want attention.
Robert Kardashian at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Robert George Kardashian |
| Born | 22 February 1944, Los Angeles |
| Died | 30 September 2003 |
| Profession | Attorney, businessman |
| First wife | Kris Jenner (married 1978, divorced 1991) |
| Second wife | Jan Ashley (1998) |
| Third wife | Ellen Pierson (relationship from 1998-99, married before his death) |
| Children | Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Rob Jr. |
Marriage to Robert Kardashian and Its Quick End
The 1998 Marriage
Jan Ashley married Robert Kardashian on 25 November 1998, according to most biographies. It was her second marriage and his second as well.
At that time, the Kardashian name was known mostly through the O.J. Simpson case. Nobody could imagine a global reality TV empire.
The union moved fast. Both were mature adults, and both believed they could make it work.
Annulment and Legal Resolution
The marriage did not last. Within roughly a month, the couple decided to end it. Accounts differ on the exact legal wording. Some say annulment, while others say divorce.
The safest summary is this: the marriage ended in weeks, and the legal process closed it quickly.
Marriage Timeline Table
| Year | Event |
| 1966 | Jan reportedly wins Miss Tulsa |
| Late 1970s | Marries John Ashley |
| 3 Oct 1997 | John Ashley dies |
| Early 1998 | Jan meets Robert Kardashian |
| 25 Nov 1998 | Jan and Robert marry |
| Late 1998 / early 1999 | Marriage ends within weeks |
| 2003 | Robert Kardashian dies of esophageal cancer |
| 2011 | Kris Jenner’s memoir discusses her affair |
| 2012 | Jan and Ellen speak on Khloé’s paternity |
| 1 Oct 2015 | Jan Ashley dies in Tulsa |
Why the Marriage Fell Apart
Family Differences and Personal Goals
Jan later explained that the problem was not Robert himself. She said the real strain came from his ex-wife and his four children. In her view, there was constant drama and little peace.
She wanted a calm, private life. Robert’s world, however, was busy, family-centred, and always attached to the past.
Think of it like this, simple Urdu style: “Do log theek the, lekin zindagi ke raaste alag the.” Two decent people, but two different lifestyles.
Read More: Brooke Daniells
Kardashian Family Dynamics
Robert and Kris Jenner had divorced, but they still shared a family. Kris and the children were a big part of his daily life. The Kardashian household was already loud, social, and public.
For Jan, who grew up in quiet Texas and lived a low-key life in Tulsa, this was hard to adjust to. She did not feel she could be a stepmother in that environment.
This is not a scandal. It is a classic “mismatch of life goals” story, which is why her marriage to Robert is remembered as short rather than dramatic.
Reasons for the Split: Quick View
| Reason | Explanation |
| Family pressure | Ongoing involvement of Kris Jenner and the children |
| Lifestyle gap | Jan wanted privacy; Robert’s life was busy and social |
| Timing | She had lost her husband John just a year before |
| Expectations | Different ideas about home, family, and peace |
The 2012 Khloé Paternity Claims
Media Attention Returns
Jan Ashley stayed out of the news for over a decade. Then, in 2011, Kris Jenner released her memoir, Kris Jenner… And All Things Kardashian. In it, Kris admitted to having an affair during her marriage to Robert.
That opened the door. Reporters began asking old friends and family about Robert’s last years. Jan and Ellen Pierson were among the few people who knew him closely at that time.
Star Magazine Interview and Public Debate
In 2012, Jan and Ellen gave an interview to Star magazine. They said Robert had told them he doubted that Khloé Kardashian was his biological daughter.
Tabloids then linked the story to Kris Jenner’s past relationships. Some reports named Todd Waterman, a man connected to the affair story, but no confirmed proof ever supported any claim about Khloé’s biological father.
Khloé strongly pushed back. She responded on Twitter and defended her father. The Kardashian family treated Robert as Khloé’s dad, and she has always done the same.
Memoir Admission and Family Responses
Kris Jenner confirmed her affair in her memoir, but she did not agree with the paternity claims. Family members publicly rejected them.
So, here is the neutral truth:
- Jan and Ellen made the claim, saying they were repeating what Robert told them.
- The Kardashian family rejected it.
- No public DNA proof was ever released.
2012 Claims: Who Said What
| Person | Role | Position |
| Jan Ashley | Robert’s second wife | Said Robert doubted Khloé’s paternity |
| Ellen Pierson | Robert’s third wife | Backed the same account in the interview |
| Khloé Kardashian | Robert’s daughter | Rejected the claim publicly |
| Kris Jenner | Robert’s first wife | Admitted her affair, family rejected the paternity claim |
| Todd Waterman | Named in tabloid stories | No confirmed proof of any link to Khloé’s paternity |
Life After the Kardashian Marriage
Choosing Privacy Over Fame
After her short marriage ended, Jan walked away from the spotlight. She did not sell her story, join a TV show, or write a book.
That is rare. Most people connected to a famous family try to cash in. Jan did the opposite.
Return to Oklahoma
She went back to Oklahoma, where she had earlier ties from her pageant days. Tulsa became her home in later life.
Reports say she lived quietly, with a small circle of friends. She stayed away from Hollywood events.
No Social Media Presence
Jan Ashley had no Instagram, no Facebook, no X (Twitter) account. In the age of influencers, this is part of why people find her story interesting.
If you see an account using her name, it is almost certainly fake.
Life After Kardashian: Summary Table
| Topic | Detail |
| Public appearances | Almost none |
| Reality TV | None |
| Books or memoir | None |
| Social media | None |
| Home | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Media contact | Rare, mainly the 2012 interview |
Jan Ashley Career
Jan Ashley did not have a traditional celebrity career. Here is her professional timeline in short points:
- 1960s: Pageant participant, reported Miss Tulsa winner (1966).
- 1970s-1997: Wife of actor-producer John Ashley, living in the entertainment world but out of the camera’s focus.
- 1998: Briefly became Robert Kardashian’s wife.
- 2012: Gave one major media interview about the Kardashian family.
- 2000s-2015: Lived privately in Oklahoma.
Her “career,” if we can call it that, was being a private person who happened to touch two famous lives: John Ashley and Robert Kardashian.
Jan Ashley Net Worth
Is There an Official Figure?
No. Jan Ashley’s net worth was never publicly disclosed. No reliable financial record, estate report, or interview gives a number.
Any website claiming a precise figure is guessing. Be careful with those.
Possible Income Sources
Based on her known life, her money may have come from:
- Marriage to John Ashley: As his widow, she may have received part of his estate.
- Personal savings and property: Reports mention that she was selling a house when she met Robert.
- The 2012 interview: Magazines sometimes pay for interviews, but no payment amount was ever confirmed.
- No brand deals or royalties: She never signed endorsements or appeared in paid projects.
Net Worth Table
| Category | Status |
| Official net worth | Not disclosed |
| Estimated net worth | Unknown / unverified |
| Main income source | Personal and family finances |
| Endorsements | None |
| Reality TV income | None |
| For comparison: Robert Kardashian’s estimated net worth at death | Around $5 million (commonly cited estimate) |
Jan Ashley Physical Stats
Jan Ashley’s body measurements were never part of any official biography. The table below shows what limited information exists.
| Physical Stat | Detail |
| Height | About 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m), per one unverified profile |
| Weight | Not publicly known |
| Eye Color | Not publicly known |
| Hair Color | Not publicly known |
| Body Measurements | Not publicly known |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christian (reported) |
Her Death in 2015
Final Years and Passing
Jan Ashley died on 1 October 2015 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was 67 years old.
There was no big public announcement. No major newspaper ran a long obituary. The cause of death was not made public, and we will not guess.
That quiet goodbye matched how she had lived her last years.
Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Jan was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, California. Reports say she is buried next to her first husband, John Ashley.
Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills is a famous cemetery where many entertainment industry names rest. For Jan, it is also a final return to the husband she had lost nearly two decades earlier.
Death Facts Table
| Detail | Information |
| Date of death | 1 October 2015 |
| Age at death | 67 |
| Place of death | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Burial | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills |
| Buried beside | John Ashley, first husband |
| Cause of death | Not publicly disclosed |
Jan Ashley’s Place in Kardashian History
Jan Ashley’s story is a small chapter inside a very big family saga. Yet it matters for three reasons.
First, it shows a softer side of Robert Kardashian’s life, away from the O.J. Simpson trial and the reality TV era.
Second, her 2012 interview became a major talking point in tabloid history, linking her name to Kris Jenner, Khloé, and the late Robert.
Third, it is a reminder of the global reach of the Kardashian brand. From Los Angeles to London, and from Karachi to Dubai, fans in many countries search for the people around the family, not only the stars.
Entity Connections (Quick Reference)
| Entity | Connection to Jan Ashley |
| Robert Kardashian | Second husband (1998) |
| John Ashley | First husband, actor and producer |
| Kris Jenner | Robert’s first wife; her 2011 memoir reopened the paternity talk |
| Ellen Pierson | Robert’s third wife; co-spoke in the 2012 interview |
| Khloé Kardashian | Subject of the paternity claim; rejected it |
| Todd Waterman | Named in tabloid speculation; unproven |
| Cole Ashley | Listed on some sites as her son; unverified |
| Forest Lawn Memorial Park | Her resting place |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jan Ashley’s age?
Jan Ashley was 67 when she died on 1 October 2015. She was born on 3 August 1948, so she would be 78 in 2026.
Who was Jan Ashley married to?
She was married to actor-producer John Ashley until his death in 1997. She then married Robert Kardashian on 25 November 1998.
What is Jan Ashley’s net worth?
Her net worth was never publicly disclosed. There is no verified estimate.
Where is Jan Ashley from?
She was born in Amarillo, Texas, and later lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was an American citizen.
Did Jan Ashley have children?
There is no reliable proof that she had children. Some sites mention Cole Ashley as her son, but this is unverified.
How long was Jan Ashley married to Robert Kardashian?
Only a few weeks. The marriage began in November 1998 and ended very soon after.
Why did Jan Ashley and Robert Kardashian split?
Jan said the constant turmoil involving Robert’s ex-wife Kris Jenner and his children was the main reason.
What did Jan Ashley say about Khloé Kardashian?
In 2012, she and Ellen Pierson told Star magazine that Robert doubted Khloé was his biological child. Khloé and her family rejected the claim.
How did Jan Ashley die and where is she buried?
She died on 1 October 2015 in Tulsa. The cause was not made public. She is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills.
Conclusion
Jan Ashley lived a life far quieter than the famous name beside hers. Born Janice Lynn Glass in Amarillo, she became a Miss Tulsa titleholder, the wife of actor John Ashley, and briefly the wife of Robert Kardashian.
Her marriage to Robert ended in weeks, and in 2012 her words about Khloé Kardashian put her back in the news. Those claims were disputed, and nothing has ever been proven publicly.
If you are searching for Jan Ashley age, Jan Ashley net worth, Jan Ashley children, or Jan Ashley Kardashian, the verified answer is simple: she was born in 1948, died in 2015, had no confirmed children, left no known net worth figure, and chose privacy over fame.
That choice is perhaps the most memorable part of her story. In a family known for being seen everywhere, Jan Ashley chose not to be seen at all.
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