What I Wish I Knew Before My Divorce (and how I built a $150M business from it) with Chriselle Lim
Hot Smart Rich with Maggie Sellers Reum
Storytelling Secret: Start With Truth
Chriselle stresses authentic storytelling first, then product, and ties scents to genuine narratives when possible.
Chriselle Lim (Founder of PHLUR & "Rich Mom" on TikTok) opens up about the raw reality of her divorce, the alimony story nobody believed, and the financial lessons she wishes she knew before getting married.
From building a 250,000-person waitlist for Missing Person to navigating a messy public split, Chriselle shares how she turned heartbreak into business momentum. She explains why prenups are about protection (not distrust), how women can take control of their finances, and what no one tells you about the legal realities of marriage and money.
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:00 What Makes an ‘IT’ Girl?
00:02:55 Chriselle Before Fame
00:04:02 Breaking Free from Perfection
00:06:34 Influencer or CEO?
00:08:14 The Moment Chriselle Stopped Pretending
00:10:08 Buying PHLUR Amid Divorce
00:12:09 Why ‘Buy, Don’t Build’
00:13:03 Taking Over a Brand
00:13:42 First Move as a Brand Owner
00:14:56 What Selling a Company Really Means
00:16:59 The Role of People in Business
00:19:52 Pain vs. Pleasure: What Drives Action?
00:22:40 Secret to Storytelling
00:24:02 Stan Ad
00:25:37 Be Authentic or Fail
00:28:24 Documenting Divorce
00:29:43 The Cost of Sharing Your Life
00:30:56 Marriage Lessons Chriselle Learned
00:32:14 Why Every Business Needs a Contract
00:34:25 How ‘Rich Mom’ Went Viral
00:36:12 Backlash of Being a ‘Rich Woman’
00:38:50 The Shift in Public Perception
00:41:14 Pique Ad
00:42:12 Bilt Ad
00:43:24 Chriselle on AI
00:45:15 Do You Identify as a Creator?
00:46:58 Embracing Creativity
00:48:08 Balancing Trends & Creativity
00:51:19 Sharing Your Story Bravely
00:53:08 I Bought Myself An Engagement Ring
00:54:37 Missing Person vs. Father Figure
00:55:10 Chriselle’s Favorite Beauty Brand
00:56:44 Entrepreneurship vs. Divorce vs. Co-Parenting
00:58:41 One Word to Describe Your Life
01:00:35 The ONE Thing to Hear on Hard Days
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Sponsors:
. Stan - Learn more at https://stanley.stan.store?ref=maggie_sellers&utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=youtube
. Pique - https://piquelife.com/hsr for 10% off
. Bilt - http://joinbilt.com/hsr
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Follow Chriselle Lim:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/chrisellelim
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Hot Smart Rich: Your Business & Culture Gossip
For ambitious women wanting to own the room, gain power, and build wealth.
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