How the Kardashians Turned Fame into a Business Model

By: Paula de Souza

We all know who the Kardashians are. Yet, what we tend to forget is that decades ago, they were just another privileged American household living a relatively normal life. In a span of a few years, these girls went from mere teenagers to A-list celebrities and business moguls. How? That's the big question.   ​

It all begins with 5 girls: Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, Kendall and Kylie, and of course, their mother, Kris.   

The Kardashian name first appeared in the public eye in the 1990s when Kris's first husband and father of Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe—Robert George Kardashian—became the defense attorney for O.J. Simpson’s infamous murder trial. Yet the Kardashian–Jenner family, as we know them today, came to light in 2007 with the release of the iconic reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. This show redefined reality TV and catapulted the girls into fame.   

Their personal lives became millions of people's daily entertainment, and in no time, the Kardashians became household names. Yet it didn't stop there. Kris had a vision: to turn her family into a brand. 

So, the girls mastered the art of social media and personal branding. They became influencers before the influencer economy even took off, and frankly, they rewrote how fame works. Through perfectly crafted personal branding and an impressive system of monetization, the Kardashian–Jenners grew from celebrities to billionaires.  

Instead of simply settling for the benefits of fame, the Kardashians went beyond and used their fame as a lucrative business tool, using their powerful personas to create million—or even billion—dollar companies.  

It would be unreasonable to list the extensive number of business ventures the Kardashian–Jenners have launched; yet, if we were to name just a few, there is Kylie Cosmetics, Skims, KKW Beauty, Good American, Lemme Gum... the list goes on.   

This strategy proved to be successful when Kylie became the youngest self-made billionaire and when any Kardashian could easily make millions simply out of their marketable personas and brand image.  
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It is obvious that the Kardashian-Jenner family has been a game-changer in the world of fame and business. They broke the traditional mold of a celebrity, pioneering the rise of influencers and showing the world 2 things: that fame can be self-generated- and not always tied to acting or singing like beforehand, and that this fame can be used to profit --significantly.   

The Kardashian-Jenners have blurred the line between celebrity and business mogul, turning their public image into a foundation for entrepreneurial success.