Anna Nicole Smith’s personal life is attracting renewed attention following the release of a trailer for Hurricanna, an upcoming biographical drama exploring the final days of the former Playboy model and television personality. The film, starring Sylvia Hoeks as Smith, has brought fresh interest to her complicated relationships, famous marriages and the legal battles that followed her rise to celebrity status.
Anna Nicole Smith was married twice, first to Billy Wayne Smith and later to billionaire oil businessman J. Howard Marshall II. Her second marriage became one of the most widely discussed celebrity relationships of the 1990s because of the couple’s 63-year age difference and the inheritance dispute that followed.
Who Was Anna Nicole Smith’s First Husband, Billy Wayne Smith?
Anna Nicole Smith’s first husband was Billy Wayne Smith, whom she met while working at Jim’s Krispy Fried Chicken in Mexia, Texas. At the time, she was known as Vickie Lynn Hogan and had not yet entered the modeling industry.
The couple married on April 4, 1985, when Anna Nicole was just 17 years old. Billy was also a teenager, and their relationship began during a period when both were working ordinary jobs and trying to establish their lives.
They welcomed their son, Daniel Wayne Smith, on January 22, 1986. However, the marriage faced difficulties, and the couple separated while Daniel was still young.
Their divorce was finalized in 1993, the same year Anna Nicole was named Playboy’s Playmate of the Year. By then, her modeling career had begun attracting international attention.
Anna Nicole Smith’s Second Husband, J. Howard Marshall II
Anna Nicole Smith’s second husband was J. Howard Marshall II, an American billionaire businessman and oil industry executive. He was associated with Koch Industries and had accumulated considerable wealth through his career in the petroleum business.
The two reportedly met in 1991 while Smith was working at a Houston nightclub. Their relationship developed as she was beginning to establish herself in modeling and entertainment.
They married on June 27, 1994, in Houston, Texas. Anna Nicole was 26 years old, while Marshall was 89. Their 63-year age difference immediately attracted widespread media coverage and speculation about their relationship.
Despite criticism, Smith publicly maintained that her feelings for Marshall were genuine. Their marriage lasted approximately 14 months before Marshall passed away on August 4, 1995, at the age of 90.
The marriage became a defining chapter of Smith’s public image, although it represented only one part of her personal and professional story.
The Inheritance Battle Following Her Second Marriage
After J. Howard Marshall II passed away, Anna Nicole Smith became involved in a lengthy legal dispute over his estate. Marshall had not provided for her in his will, leading to a complicated court battle involving his family.
Smith argued that Marshall had promised to provide financially for her. His son, E. Pierce Marshall, challenged her claims, and the dispute continued through bankruptcy proceedings and multiple court decisions.
The case eventually reached the United States Supreme Court, becoming one of the most closely followed celebrity inheritance disputes of its time.
Although Smith initially received favorable rulings in certain proceedings, the legal fight continued for years. She did not ultimately receive the substantial inheritance she had sought.
The controversy remained closely associated with her name long after her marriage to Marshall ended.
Was Anna Nicole Smith Married to Howard K. Stern?
Anna Nicole Smith was also romantically involved with attorney Howard K. Stern, who became a significant figure in her life during her final years. The two exchanged vows during a private commitment ceremony in the Bahamas in September 2006.
However, Anna Nicole Smith and Howard K. Stern were never legally married. Their ceremony did not involve an official marriage license, meaning Billy Wayne Smith and J. Howard Marshall II remained her only two legal husbands.
Smith also had a daughter, Dannielynn Hope, with photographer Larry Birkhead. Their relationship became the subject of considerable public attention following a paternity dispute.
Smith passed away in February 2007 at the age of 39. Her story continues to attract interest through documentaries and biographical films. Hurricanna, scheduled for theatrical release on January 8, 2027, revisits the final chapter of her life, bringing renewed attention to the relationships and personal struggles behind her celebrity image.