Kim Kardashian becomes the latest member of the Kardashian-Jenner clan to join the billionaire’s club.


Kim Kardashian West has joined the ranks of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos with a spot on the Forbes Billionaire List. The reality star and businesswoman is now worth $1 billion, according to a report published Tuesday by the outlet. The 40-year-old was already worth millions of dollars by 2011, thanks to the success of branded products like her own mobile game, but it was her decision to enter the makeup industry that really boosted her wealth.

Kardashian West started KKW Beauty in 2017, following in the footsteps of her younger sister Kylie Jenner. Jenner briefly appeared on the Forbes Billionaire List due to the success of her cosmetics company Kylie Cosmetics. West replicated Jenner’s model, using a similar direct-to-consumer model that relies heavily on social media marketing.


Kardashian West’s first launch of 300,000 contour kits sold out within two hours. By 2018, the business had expanded into additional products, selling eyeshadows, concealers, lipsticks, and fragrances, and was bringing in about $100 million in revenue. By 2018 she was already worth an estimated $350 million.

“It’s the first time I’ve moved away from having licensing deals and transitioned into being an owner,” Kardashian West told Forbes in 2017 when she announced her cosmetics line.

She sold 20% of KKW Beauty to cosmetics conglomerate Coty for $200 million last year, a deal that valued the company at $1 billion. Coty also bought 51% of Kylie Cosmetics in 2020. Kardashian West’s remaining 72% stake is still worth about $500 million, according to Forbes.

The reality star turned businesswoman also owns Skims, a shapewear line launched in 2019, which she promoted to her large Instagram following. Forbes estimates her stake in Skims is worth a conservative $225 million, enough to lift her fortune to $1 billion.

The business magazine says it determines a person’s wealth using stock prices and exchange rates from March 5, 2021. “We value a variety of assets, including private companies, real estate, art, and more. We don’t pretend to know each billionaire’s private balance sheet. When documentation isn’t supplied or available, we discount fortunes,” it notes in its methodology.

She tweeted the day she made the cover of Forbes, calling out those who had criticized her over the years, “Not bad for a girl with no talent.”