Kylie Jenner's Journey: The Truth Behind The Billionaire Status

You know how when people do that thing where they keep denying something so much that you know they are…well, if not lying, definitely not being entirely truthful? It seems like Kylie Jenner has had a crisis of conscience of sorts. She’s walked back her claim that she is 100% self-made. In an article in the New York Times published on March 30^th, the cosmetics mogul admitted that she can’t say she became a billionaire all on her own. Sigh. Of course, we maintain that Jenner is far from being a billionaire, but we will also take our victories where we can get them. She said, “I can’t say I’ve done it by myself. If they’re just talking finances, technically, yes, I don’t have any inherited money. But I have had a lot of help and a huge platform.”

We will let that sink in for a moment while we pat ourselves on the back. Jenner, of course, got her start as a child on her family’s long-running reality series Keeping Up with the Kardashians. That is just one of the 21-year-old’s revenue streams. Forbes declared Kylie a billionaire based on the fact that Kylie Cosmetics expanded into Ulta in 2018, helping the company’s revenue grow by 9% to $360 million. The magazine then took the liberty of giving Kylie Cosmetics an incredibly generous valuation of $900 million. The magazine called that a conservative estimate. We call that B.S.

Kylie Jenner is a lot of things. She is a savvy 21-year-old businesswoman and model. But she is not anywhere close to being worth the $900 million certain other publications have claimed. The math it takes to put Kylie so close to the billionaires club is so dubious it is ridiculous. Kylie is a lot of things: she’s a model, she’s a makeup mogul, she’s a mom, she’s a sister, a daughter, an aunt, and a member of the Kardashian-Jenner family. She is not self-made, which she now realizes, but she is also not a billionaire or even close to it.

Table of Contents

• Biography
• Kylie Jenner's Revenue Streams
• Forbes Evaluation of Kylie Cosmetics
• Understanding Self-Made Status

Biography

Kylie Jenner's Revenue Streams

Kylie Jenner has built a diverse portfolio of income sources since her rise to fame. She started her career in the spotlight through the reality TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians and has leveraged that fame into multiple business ventures.

Her main source of income comes from her cosmetics line, Kylie Cosmetics, which has become one of the hottest makeup companies in the industry. She launched the brand with a simple $29 lip kit, and since then, it has generated hundreds of millions in revenue. Additionally, she earns significant money through endorsements from brands like PacSun and Adidas, adding to her already impressive income.

Forbes Evaluation of Kylie Cosmetics

The valuation of Kylie Cosmetics by Forbes has sparked much debate and controversy. Initially reported as a $900 million valuation, critics argue there is no substantial evidence to support this figure. The magazine based its claims on sales and profit estimates that some industry experts deem exaggerated.

In July 2018, Forbes stated that Kylie had a $900 million net worth based on the valuation of Kylie Cosmetics at $800 million. However, as sales numbers were adjusted, the narrative shifted, leading many to question the accuracy of these claims.

Understanding Self-Made Status

In recent discussions, Kylie Jenner has expressed a clearer understanding of what it means to be self-made. She acknowledged the significant help she received along the way, including the platform provided by her family and the reality TV show that launched her career.

Despite her claims of being self-made, it’s crucial to recognize the advantages she had. Living under the roof of a successful family like the Kardashians has its perks, which contributed to her success in the cosmetics industry.