Ian Somerhalder is shedding light on one of the ‘toughest’ chapters of his life. Somerhalder rose to fame as Damon Salvatore on “The Vampire Diaries,” which aired from 2009 to 2017 and became one of the defining teen dramas of its time.
During a recent interview with E! News, the former “The Vampire Diaries” star revealed that a poorly structured business decision left him and his wife, Nikki Reed, in serious financial trouble.
Somerhalder Says Failed Business and Fraud Led to âEight-Figure Holeâ
“I retired from acting seven years ago,” Somerhalder said.
“I left an insanely lucrative career in television after financial upheaval from building a business that I didnât build properly. And due to fraud, it put my wife and I into an eight-figure hole.”
The actor, now 47, said his transition away from a thriving television career came with unexpected fallout as he pivoted toward building businesses.
How Nikki Reed Played a Crucial Role in Helping the Couple Recover
Somerhalder credited his wife as the steady presence who helped them navigate the rough patch. “Eight figures is a hard hole to climb out of,” Somerhalder said.
“But Nikki and I did it. You know, she really negotiated us out of this deal, but we sold houses, paintings, cars, watches, everything.”
He described Reed as instrumental in helping them find a way forward when the situation felt overwhelming.
Somerhalder Reflects on Leaving ‘The Vampire Diaries’
At the peak of the success of his hit show “Vampire Diaries”, he was also pouring time and money into a business venture that would later fall apart.
“I should have been retiring off of one of the biggest TV shows in the world,” Somerhalder said.
“And so, then, leaving a lucrative business in television to go start companies that were not going to pay me possibly ever. So burnout, financial perseverance, and staying power is really, really, really important.”
Somerhalder Compares Business Challenges to Aviation
Somerhalder, who has recently taken up flying, said the highs and lows of business feel similar to navigating the skies.
“It’s a lot like aviation, right?” Somerhalder said. “I live on planes, right. Did 120 flights last year, I’ll do 150 this year. A lot of them will be on my little plane as well. But you plan for things to go wrong.”
He said the key is to prepare for every outcome and stay steady through both success and setbacks.
“So what do we do if it goes wrong?” he continued. “Well, we do this, this, and this. Well, what do we do if it goes right? Well, we do this, this, and this. So you’re always in the middle. If it goes wrong, you do this. If it does right, you can do this. Either way, you’re winning and surviving.”
“And not even surviving, you’re thriving and growing,” he added.
Somerhalder Says Entrepreneurship Is Far Harder Than Acting
Somerhalder said the move from television to entrepreneurship has been both challenging and transformative. “Being the star of a successful television show is literally like eating a cupcake compared to being an entrepreneur of two nine-figure businesses that are scaling simultaneously, one of them globally,” he told E! News.
“This is not for the faint of heart, but if you love what you do, and you love your products, and you love people, and the idea is to bring people together, even in this digital world.”
He added that his work today reflects a sense of balance he values in his own life.
“You know, I make whiskey, and I make vitamins. People go, ‘Well, you know, you make vitamins, but you make alcohol.’ And I’m like, ‘Dude, life’s about balance. Like bringing people together over a campfire or a table.”
“That’s my vibe,” he added.
New Ventures Mark a Fresh Start for the Couple
The couple gradually rebuilt their lives and moved forward with new ventures. Somerhalder later co-founded Brothers Bond Bourbon with a former co-star and, in 2024, launched The Absorption Company alongside Reed.
Looking back, he said the experience reshaped how he views both work and life.
“Remember, it’s supposed to be fun,” he told E! News. “The ups and the downs in the journey are supposed to be fun; the grind is supposed to be fun. Find the beauty in all of it.”
“For preserving as a human being as a parent as a spouse as a human, you just have to make sure that you don’t take personal guarantees, and if you’re in the grind with your spouse, make it fun,” Somerhalder emphasized.
The couple, who married in 2015 and share two children, have since turned a challenging chapter into one defined by growth, perspective, and a fresh start.
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