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It’s easy to dismiss model-turned-CBD entrepreneur Aubrey Ashford as a nepo baby. After all, he’s the son of the real estate mogul James Ashford III and the former news anchor and now rising GOP firebrand Esmée Ashford (née Ochoa). One would imagine with a snap of his delicate fingers, he could summon a suitcase full of cash. But that couldn’t have been further from the truth.
“Boarding school,” Aubrey said. “Then boarding school, boarding school, and more boarding school. I was practically sheltered when I went to college. I didn’t even know the extent of my parents’ wealth until I was fourteen. And by then, I was already working and had become financially independent. Not gonna lie: I was tempted to go to court for emancipation.”
All that hard work (and more) led us to today as we sat for an interview and photoshoot in Aubrey’s spacious walk-in closet.
“It’s my favorite place in our new home,” he said. His long, dark brown hair matched the luxurious dark wood panels of the room. By “our,” Aubrey meant he and his fiancé, Marcus Ellis, an angel investor who found his wealth through cryptocurrency. They recently moved to a sprawling house in Brentwood.
The closet itself was pretty sparse.
“I don’t really have a lot of clothes,” Aubrey said. “I hate fast fashion. I’d rather have several, well-made basics, and maybe some couture pieces. Enough to wear without being wasteful. I know my mom’s running on a Republican platform. We had a big fight about it, but I’m glad to say I’ve changed her mind regarding some key issues, like gay rights and man-made climate emergency. Fast fashion is one of the main contributors to the weather fuckups we’re having right now. But we’re not here to talk about politics, are we?”
He was right. We weren’t, but how could we not, with all that’s occurring right now?
Another big fight happened with his mom when Aubrey said he’d like to study plant genetics, specializing in cannabis.
“My dad is a businessman. He knew cannabis would be a booming market and he’s right. Mom was worried about the implications for her political career. Not only is her son gay, but he also has a pot business? I think the fight was way crazier than when I came out.”
Bigger than when he pierced his nipples?
Aubrey laughed. That was the moment that the ice broke. He wiped away his tears. “Oh, fuck. I almost forgot about that one. But yes. That was also insane.”
But just like gay rights and climate change, Aubrey was able to convince her that it’d actually be good for her image.
“I told her having a gay son with progressive beliefs, and pierced nipples, and even espousing some of those ideas would bring her closer to the center. And here, in California, you can’t run with right-wing views. But Mom and Dad are still friends with Elon, so there’s that. “
And how about Nebuluxe, the new brand of organic CBD gummies that Aubrey launched?
“It’s been a long time coming,” he said.
There are only four varieties, but Aubrey believes all of them encompass all the aspects of our lives.
“We have two for the AMs, or when you need to wake up: La Vida Lemon and Coffee Mix. For the PMs or when you need to power down: Passion Fruit and Sleepy Time. Just like my wardrobe, I believe in the power of curating. And really, when it comes to CBD, you don’t need an overly complex formulation that can help with just one issue.”
In a different interview, Aubrey talked about how it was his grandfather who showed him the power of marijuana. It didn’t heal his pancreatic cancer, but smoking a dose of it was enough to help him with the pain and nausea from chemotherapy.
“Pops was the one who raised me, practically. The boarding school I used to go to was near his ranch and every weekend, my best friend Derek and I would go there.”
Derek is fellow model Derek Byrne, who said it was those weekends on Aubrey’s grandfather’s ranch—delivering calves, getting his boots muddy—that steered him toward life as a livestock veterinarian.
In that interview, Aubrey disclosed that he was supposed to release Nebuluxe on 4/20 last year, but then some things happened. He’d had big dreams about the brand, including a line of smokeable pot. But he decided to just go with the gummies.
“I know this is a bit sacrilegious, but I don’t smoke pot,” Aubrey said. “I’m a big snacker, and I love gummies. There’s something so satisfying about stuffing your mouth full of them, so making CBD gummies is a no-brainer to me. Although I have to remind you, the Nebuluxe organic gummies are so potent that you don’t want to chew more than two a day.”
And the “things that happened?”
Audrey smiled. There’s a brief flash of sadness in his eyes.
“It was all self-inflicted. Let’s just say in a moment of passion, I lost my temper. And in return, I had to put Nebuluxe on hold. And I also lost friendships. But I believe that people can change, and they do.”
Like Elon?
This time, Aubrey laughed. It was a hearty laugh, a sincere laugh. With a healthy hint of cheekiness.
“Oh, Elon. He’s such an asshole. I’m so glad we don’t have a Tesla. But see, this is why I was hesitant to say yes to this interview. I’m not really the friendliest person. My personality can be off-putting. And I worry if or when I said something stupid, it’d hurt Nebuluxe and those who’ve helped me build it. On the other hand, it’d be publicity.
“But yes. I’ve changed. I quit smoking, got a new therapist, and I’m more focused, thanks to La Vida Lemon. Years ago, I wouldn’t even admit that I needed help to get to where I am, but now, I know Nebuluxe wouldn’t even have one product without the help of these people.”
Would one of them be Marcus?
“Oh, definitely,” Aubrey said. He wasn’t just smiling. He was beaming at the mention of his fiancé’s name.
“Marcus literally financed Nebuluxe. I was able to continue lab work and research and splicing strains and whatnot thanks to his investment. Also, if it were up to me, I’d come up with the most Goth product design. But he convinced me that Nebuluxe needed a more pop appeal. He even bought me the red and orange Birkin bags.”
The Birkin 40s did add a splash of color to the closet. They were perched at the topmost shelf, as though presiding over the rest of the items, from the black blouses to the high-end sunglasses and the rare and exclusive coffee-table books that Aubrey displayed in the closet. Even the priceless vintage trunks were placed on the bottom shelves.
“Then of course there’s Derek,” Aubrey said. “We’re always thick as thieves. And speaking of thieves…”
Aubrey sighed. He had a wistful look. It was a mixture of yearning and intimacy, like someone reminiscing the good times with a lover who’d passed.
“I can’t name him. He’d kill me. Not literally, of course. But he knows who he is. This past year, he helped me brainstorm the names of the products. I know there are only four of them, but the amount of hours we spent talking, texting, just to hash them out… He’s good with words and puns. He’s a big fan of Bob’s Burgers, so that tracks. Bob’s Burgers and the color red. They’re part of the inspiration behind Nebuluxe’s Passion Fruit. Anyway, I can’t say their name because his spouse is super jealous, but yeah…”
We both laughed when Aubrey realized he was rambling. He apologized and said sometimes he’d nerd out and ramble about people and things that matter to him.
As we were nearing the end of the interview, this seemed like the perfect segue. Aubrey and Marcus didn’t have to evacuate when the Palisades Fires burned parts of Brentwood in early 2025, but they ended up hosting many of their friends who’d lost their homes in the Palisades and Eaton fires.
I asked Aubrey which three objects he would take with him if another, bigger fire threatened his home.
“That’s pretty bleak,” Aubrey scowled, then laughed. “Three… I mean, I love the Rothko. It’s rare, but it’s insured. It’d be too bad to lose it because it is a piece of art history.”
I reminded him that just like the three people he said he was indebted to, he could only save three things.
“I’d probably grab my three Birkins. The Black one is personal to me because it was one of the first things I bought with my own money after I had saved enough thanks to modelling. The other two are because Marcus gave them to me. But if I could choose four, just like the number of products Nebuluxe has, I’d take the Birkins and the Rothko. That is assuming Marcus were still able to walk out safely on his own. If not, then I’d drop everything to save him.”
He was beaming again. Pensive, but beaming. The soft lighting cast a halo on his head, like in the vintage photos of Hollywood stars. He was looking at the Rothko hanging near the entrance of the walk-in closet. The painting was an engagement gift from his parents.
“It was the nicest thing they’ve ever done for me. Ever. And one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen. It’s so deceptively deliciously simple. Isn’t it crazy how something so simple can evoke so much emotion?”
There’s no soft lighting in the real world. No golden-hour filter on climate change, heartbreak, or ambition. But in Aubrey Ashford’s world—pale and gothic chic, just a little cracked open—you learn to make your own glow.
One Nebuluxe organic gummy at a time.
Photographed and interviewed at the Brentwood, California home of Aubrey Ashford and Marcus Ellis. Styling and grooming by Dollsexposed.
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