Kim Kardashian's global fame and influence is simply unparalleled. So, it's hard to imagine a time when she didn't have the presence and impact on pop culture that she does today. After all, there isn't a moment when fans and critics alike aren't bombarded with information about her love life, fashion choices, family drama, business deals, or even when she just goes for a cup of coffee.
The brunette beauty is arguably the most famous member of the KarJenner family, and her current net worth proves it. But Kardashian didn't exactly start off with nothing. In fact, her ascension to fame and fortune is far from a rags-to-riches story. Here's how much money she had before she became famous in 2007...
What Was Life Like For Kim Kardashian Before Becoming Famous?
Kim Kardashian was a relatively wealthy teenager born in Los Angeles, California. Her father Robert Kardashian was a successful lawyer who was OJ Simpson's defense attorney. At the time, she was unknown to the general public.
At an early age, she learned the importance of working. According to Teen Vogue, both her parents taught her that she needed to work for things she wanted and be responsible with money. " I got a job when I was 16. It was at a clothing store," she said. She worked at a California store called Body.
While it's unclear what Kardashian's net worth was at the time, she did mention she was always working. She continued by saying "I never asked people for money. That was never really my thing. I always just figured it out".
Kardashian always had a keen sense of business. She told Variety in 2015, that while working at her dad's office she discovered eBay. This would be a start for her to familiarize herself with the digital world. From there, she started selling items she wouldn't wear anymore and made big profits off of them.
How Much Money Did Kim Kardashian Have Before Achieving Fame?
In 2000, when Kim Kardashian was just 19 years old she married producer Damon Thomas, who was 10 years older than her. Their marriage lasted three years (2000-2003), with Kardashian claiming that he had become controlling. According to MoneyNation, When the two divorced, she got an estimated settlement of $10 million.
It was up until 2004, that an unknown Kardashian would get her first real breakout moment. According to Insider, she was the stylist of R&B singer and actress Brandy Norwood. Not long after, she started hanging out with Paris Hilton and then began working as her stylist.
Kardashian went on to appear on Simple Life (2003-2006) which starred Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. It was around this time when she began to cause a frenzy. She would often be photographed by paparazzi whenever she and Paris hung out together. It's safe to say that Kardashian was truly well-connected in the industry.
What Is Kim Kardashian's Net Worth Today?
Kim Kardashian has definitely worked her way up to the top since the beginning. According to Insider, in 2006 she and her sisters opened up their first clothing store Dash in Calabasas, California (2006-2018). They expanded the store and had locations in Miami and New York.
In 2007, viewers would formally be introduced to 27-year-old Kim Kardashian on the hit family reality show Keeping up With the Kardashians. The show highlighted the lives of the Kardashians-Jenners as they focus on their personal and professional lives. It turned out to be a phenomenal success lasting for 20 seasons on the E! Network. According to The Healthy Journal, each Kardashian-Jenner took home about $930,000 per episode.
Shortly after, Kim would be involved in a scandal with her ex-boyfriend Ray-J, Brandy's brother. Apparently, a sex tape involving both parties surfaced online and made headlines.The case would reportedly settle for $20 million.
According to NPR, When Kardashian decided to marry former basketball player Kris Humphrey in 2011, she earned up to 18 million selling the rights to photos and videos of the wedding. After 72 days though, they were divorced.
In 2014, Kardashian released her mobile game Kim Kardashian: Hollywood. The iPhone and Android game was an instant success. According to the New York Times, in just 5 days it went on to gross $1.6 million.
By the next year, Kim landed on the New York Times bestseller list when her small coffee table book "Selfish" was released. The book included 448 selfies of the star and sold out in minutes.
Call her the original influencer because Kardashian is a master at making money. It's no secret that she gets paid for sponsored Instagram posts. According to Insider, In 2015 she made $500,000 for one sponsored Instagram post about a morning sickness pill.
Kardashian's most popular business move comes from her beauty brand KKW beauty created in 2017. KKW has earned around $100 million. She released a contour kit for $48 that sold out in minutes bringing her in $13 million, according to Fashionista. Within her KKW line she released a successful line of fragrances that earned her $10 million, TMZ reported.
According to People, In June 2020, Kardashian sold 20% stake of KKW Beauty to Coty Inc (a publicly traded firm) for $200 million. She also ended up developing a successful shapewear line SKIMS Solutionwear which is wildly popular.
In April 2022, Kardashian and her family made their way back to viewers' screens in their second hit show The Kardashians. According to Time, they were able to secure a deal with Hulu for just under $100 million.
Kim Kardashian is officially a billionaire with a net worth of $1.7 billion. She maintained to remain relevant despite the media branding her and her family as "famous for being famous". She is one of the most recognized celebrities around the world. Her next move is to be a lawyer, and she obviously isn't slowing down anytime soon. We'll always be keeping up with Kim Kardashian every year to come.
