They were married for just three years – but a decade after their divorce; Jessica Simpson says that Nick Lachey remains her most costly mistake.

The businesswoman – now worth some €132m – was speaking on CNBC’s Closing Bell slot yesterday when she was asked about what her most expensive blunder was.

“My first marriage,” the 35-year-old star says immediately before breaking out into a smile.

During their time together, Jessica and Nick, 41, famously appeared in three series of the hit reality MTV show, Newlyweds.

It made them both international stars, but they filed for divorce in December 2005; they had said ‘I do,’ during a lavish ceremony held in her native Texas in October 2002.

Both Ms Simpson and Mr Lachy now have children from their current relationships: he has been married to Vanessa Minnillo since 2011, while she wed Eric Johnson last year following a lengthy engagement.  

Earlier this year, Jessica said she'd have a “panic attack,” if she had to watch an episode of Newlyweds now.