The Kardashians (and the Jenners) are taking over the world. With the family being worth billions, it’s no surprise they like to live large. Kim Kardashian's net worth makes her one of the richest and most famous members of the family. Not only does she have millions of dollars, but she also has millions of social media followers to help leverage her business ventures.
Read on to learn how she became so rich, plus how she spends her money (hint: lavish mansions, extravagant vacations, and designer clothes).
Estimated Net Worth: $350 million
Early Life
Kim Kardashian West was born on October 21, 1980 in Los Angeles. Her parents are Kris Jenner and Robert Kardashian. Robert passed away in 2003, but he was a famous attorney who was known for serving as O.J. Simpson’s lawyer during his murder trial in 1995.
Kim had three siblings and accumulated two more half-siblings once her mother remarried. She has an older sister named Kourtney, a younger sister named Khloe, and a younger brother named Rob. Finally, Kim Kardashian’s sibling list extends to Kendall and Kylie Jenner, who are half-sisters on her mother’s side.
Growing up in wealthy Beverly Hills, Kim was friends with many celebrities – Paris Hilton was one of Kim’s closest friends. As you might imagine, she was in the spotlight often once Paris rose to fame. Kim even credits Paris for giving her a career. She attended Marymount High School in Los Angeles, a Roman Catholic all-girls school.
Launching Her Career
In 2007, the infamous Kim Kardashian sex tape was released involving her and Ray J. Although she already had media attention because she was Paris Hilton’s stylist and friend, this tape put Kim right in the spotlight. She filed a lawsuit against Vivid Entertainment for distributing the tape, but later settled for $5 million and let them release it.
Despite her beginnings, many don’t know that Kim Kardashian is a businesswoman at heart. The year before the sex tape was released, she had opened a boutique store called D-A-S-H in Calabasas, California with her two sisters. Although these stores closed in 2018, this was just the beginning of her business ventures. Her family’s reality TV show began later that year and she slowly rose to the queen she is now.
Kim Kardashian’s Business Ventures
The social media star is the epitome of financial freedom. She could never work another day in her life and still be able to afford luxuries! Even so, she continues to pursue businesses that she’s passionate about.
Keeping Up with the Kardashians
The Kardashian family has a hit reality TV show about the family that has filmed 17 seasons. This follows the lives of all the Kardashians and is fueled by drama (plus the luxury lifestyles they show off). The cast makes an incredible $500,000 per episode. In 2015, Kim was reported to be the highest-paid reality television personality of the year (her estimated total earnings were over $53 million). The success of KUWTK has led to a couple of spin-off shows, including Kourtney and Kim Take New York and Kourtney and Kim Take Miami.
The reality TV show is only the beginning of Kim Kardashian’s net worth.
Taking Advantage of Social Media
When Kim grew a following on social media, she didn’t hesitate to monetize off it. She is currently at nearly 150 million Instagram followers and 60 million Twitter followers. With such a huge platform, it’s not a surprise that she charges hundreds of thousands of dollars for each sponsored post.
She also advertises her makeup, perfume, and clothing lines on her social media.
Apps + Books
In 2014, Kim released a mobile game for iPhone and Android devices called Kim Kardashian: Hollywood. The game was a hit, earning $1.6 million within just five days of release. It’s free to download and play, but there are extra charges for in-game items.
This wasn’t the only app Kim decided to release. In 2015, Kim released an emoji pack for iOS devices called Kimoji. It was a best-seller and was one of the top 5 most purchased apps during the week it was released.
Kim released her Selfish book in 2015. It was a collection of 314 photographs taken by Kim.
Since Kim is considered the queen of selfies, why not make a book full of selfies? This coffee table photobook was released by Kim Kardashian in 2015. It features a variety of selfies in different locations (and a few nude photographs).
This isn’t the only book Kim has written. Along with her sisters Kourtney and Khloé, Kim wrote an autobiography titled Kardashian Konfidential. This was released in stores on November 23 and appeared on the New York Times’ Best Seller List.
Fashion Lines
For a long time, one of the largest contributors to Kim Kardashian’s net worth is her partnership with Sears for the Kim Kardashian Kollection. The collaboration began in 2011 and reportedly ended in 2015.
In June 2019, West launched a new range of shapewear called Skims. When first released, the line nearly sold out in minutes. They sold $2 million of products right off the bat! The company sells products like waist trainers.
Much of her income includes wholesale earnings of the Sears line, the Kardashian Kollection, which brought in $600 million in 2013.
KKW Beauty + Perfume Line
It’s no secret that Kim’s sister, Kylie Jenner, is the world’s youngest billionaire because of her makeup line. Kim must’ve seen this success and wanted to hop on the train! She started KKW beauty in 2017 and has made quite a profit. Her first products were contour kits for $48, and they sold out within 2 hours.
The company has made over $100 million in revenue, which explains why Kim Kardashian’s net worth has skyrocketed. She owns 100% of the company!
In addition to her makeup line, Kim started a fragrance line in November 2017 called KKW Fragrance. She has released a total of five fragrances.
Movies & TV
Aside from her family’s reality show, Kim has acted in a few movies and TV episodes as well. She has appeared in the films Disaster Movie (2008), Deep in the Valley (2009), and Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013).
She has also appeared in reality shows Dancing with the Stars, America’s Next Top Model, WrestleMania XXIV, and others. Before she rose to fame, Kim often appeared as a guest on Paris Hilton’s TV series The Simple Life during 2003–2006.
Other Ventures
It’s hard to keep up with all of Kim’s products. If you’re wondering who is the richest Kardashian, you might be surprised to hear it isn’t Kim after learning about everything she has sold. Aside from the above products, Kim has also released a workout DVD series through her television production company Kimsaprincess Productions, LL. In addition, there is a Kardashian-branded tanning product on the market.
Family + Kids
Kim Kardashian’s kids and family is the next hot topic. She is currently married to 42-year-old rapper Kanye West (net worth of $160 million). Together, they have accumulated over $500 million! They’re one of the richest couples in the entertainment industry. Kim and Kanye were married in 2014. Since then, they have had four children.
Their daughter North was born in 2013, their son Saint was born in 2015, their daughter Chicago was born in 2018, and their son Psalm was born in 2019. They hired surrogates for Chicago and Psalm when they found out her final pregnancies would be risky.
Kim had two previous marriages before Kanye. She had eloped with music producer Damon Thomas in 2000 when she was 19 years old. They were divorced in 2003. In May 2011, Kim was engaged to NBA player Kris Humphries. Their marriage was broadcasted as a two-part TV special on E! News. However, their marriage lasted just 72 days.
Where Does Kim Kardashian’s Money Go?
As portrayed on social media and their TV show, the Kardashians live a lavish lifestyle of extravagant vacations, designer clothes, huge mansions, and luxury cars. Kim is no exception!
Vacations + Clothes
It seems like Kim and her family are always jetting off somewhere new. Although it’s hard to keep track, the multi-millionaire has traveled all over the world. A few recent vacation spots have included Punta Mita, the Bahamas, Paris, and Costa Rica.
As for the money she spends on clothing, a peek into her multiple walk-in closets should give you a good idea.
Looking Good
Despite Kim Kardashian’s age of nearly 40, she looks much younger. Much of her income is invested in how she looks.
Has Kim received plastic surgery? Kim is especially famous for her large backside – although she denies it, critics believe she has received a Brazilian butt lift or similar procedure. She even provided an x-ray to prove she hasn’t had surgery! However, this didn’t rule out the possibility of a Brazilian butt lift and critics still think she has altered her body.
She is also rumored to have received a boob job, lip injections, liposuction, a lifted hairline, cheek fillers, and even rib removal. The only procedures she has admitted to are fillers and some Botox. Kim also spends money on her nails, hair, a personal stylist, and a personal trainer.
Cars
Kim Kardashian loves her cars. She has been seen driving a black Rolls Royce Ghost, a white Rolls Royce Ghost, Mercedes-Benz G63, Porsche Panamera, Ferrari 458 Italia, Bentley Continental GTC, Cadillac Escalade, Mercedes SLR, Mercedes Maybach, Aston Martin D89, Maserati Coupe, black Range Rover, Prombron Red Diamond, and a white Range Rover. Kim also purchased a Lamborghini Aventador for Kanye!
She has been seen driving all of these cars over the past few years, but it’s hard to say if she still owns all of them. It wouldn’t be a surprise considering Kim Kardashian’s net worth!
Home Sweet Home
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West currently live in a Hidden Hills mansion they purchased for $20 million in 2014. It’s a total of 8,000 square feet and has a private vineyard, eight bedrooms, ten bathrooms, and a pool.
Pregnancies
Hiring a surrogate isn’t cheap. Since Kim and Kanye have hired two, they’ve likely spent over $200,000 on surrogates (including the high agency fees). It barely put a ding in Kim Kardashian’s net worth though.
Kim Kardashian’s Iconic Purchases
- Kanye West’s 38th birthday party – $110,000
- Renting a Bahamas island for Kanye’s 40th birthday – $440,000
- Gold plated toilet seats – $750,000
- Savoir Royal State beds – $1 million for 6 beds
- Swarovski encrusted fridge – $1 million
Awards + Recognition
- In 2018, Kardashian was listed on Forbes’ list of Self-Made Women
- Five different Teen Choice Awards for reality TV categories
- People’s Choice Awards: Favorite TV Celeb Reality Star (2011)
- Time magazine included West on their 2015 list of 100 most influential people.
- 2011 Glamour Award for Entrepreneur
Net Worth of Each Kardashian
Kylie Jenner – $900 billion (See how Kylie went from being the world's youngest billionaire to the world's youngest "almost" billionaire.)
Kim Kardashian – $350 million
Caitlyn Jenner – $100 million
Kris Jenner – $60 million
Khloe Kardashian – $40 million
Kourtney Kardashian – $35 million
Kendall Jenner – $30 million
Scott Disick – $16 million
Rob Kardashian – $10 million
Bottom Line
Overall, Kim Kardashian is a very successful businesswoman that has become one of the richest women in the world. Kim Kardashian's net worth has skyrocketed in the past few years from her beauty, perfume, and fashion companies. We can only imagine how high it will reach in the next few years!
So, one reason so many people love reading articles like this - about people who've created massive, life-altering wealth - is curiosity. We want to know how'd they get so rich? What are they doing with all that money? What's their life like? It's almost as if there's this invisible wall we want to peer over, to see how "the other half" lives. It's as if the ultra-rich have secrets most people don't know. They DO! And that's good news, actually, because we can all learn them. Once we begin learning what they know, we can do what they did, and create the kind of life most people only wish they had. If you've got that same curiosity about "the other half" you should check this out.
