(28 October 1975 - 9 August 1993) (divorced) (1 child)
Daughter: Nicole Richie (adopted, b. 21-Sep-1981)
On October 18, 1975, Richie married his college sweetheart, Brenda Harvey. In 1986, while still married to Harvey, Lionel began a relationship with Diane Alexander. He would later separate from Harvey and in 1988, she allegedly discovered Richie and Alexander together in a Beverly Hills hotel room by saying she was "room service" and breaking in the door. A confrontation ensued and Harvey attacked both Richie and Alexander brutally. Harvey was arrested for spousal abuse, trespassing, assault towards Alexander, and vandalism. Richie and Harvey divorced on August 9, 1993, after being married nearly 18 years.
In 1983 Lionel Richie and his wife, Brenda Harvey, informally adopted Nicole Camille Escovedo, the two-year-old daughter of one of the members of Lionel's band. They raised her as their daughter, Nicole Richie, and adopted her legally when she was nine years old.