We really, really care what this family is worth (Picture: Getty)
Perhaps rather tragically, I’m more than intrigued about what the Kardashians are up to – but you know what I really don’t give two hoots about?
Whether or not Kim Kardashian is worth $1billion or whether she’s actually worth $900million. And if she is worth the former, what it means for the heady mix of fame and business.
On any given day, you’ll find me spitting my coffee out at the sight of Kim’s latest ridiculous, biologically-impossible selfie, or looking back on Kendall Jenner’s dating history and willing her to reunite with Harry Styles just for the genetically-blessed spawn we could get.
You’re picking up what I’m putting down – I care.
But looking at the receipts of Kim’s businesses and finding it delectably tantalising to debate whether she’s worth that 10-figure sum is just something I don’t want to spend my day doing. Even though, clearly, I feel some way about it in that I’m dedicating this column to it…
The Kardashian family is really quick to celebrate their billionaire status as we’ve seen in the past, after Kylie claimed to have reached the golden monetary pinnacle last year (which ended well).
Kanye West, Kim’s husband has been there and done that before, too.
Now, he has wasted no time in celebrating his wife’s apparent billion-dollar achievement after the businesswoman sold a 20 per cent share of her KKW Beauty brand to Coty – in a deal worth $200million (£160m).
Sure she’s spruiked some bad things, but she’s a businesswoman (Picture: Getty Images/North America)
It was claimed that, once the ink is dry on the contract, the company will be worth a staggering $1billion (£800m). So, naturally, that makes Kim a billionaire, right?
Well, er, hold onto your 14 Friesians there, Kimmy.
According to Forbes, which has evidently been on a roll in dispelling the bank balances of this family, Kim ‘isn’t estimated to be part of the six comma club’ yet. They state her net worth is $900million (£722m) – which still isn’t all that shabby.
Like, I’d quite like $900m and I wouldn’t fight Forbes on the details of whether that made me a billionaire, promise.
But when it comes to Kim, what she’s worth is making people really angry.
This is where my mind splits in two, because I’m all about celebrating that she’s made this much money in essentially 13 years of, as the critics like to say, ‘being famous for being famous’. That’s a pretty brilliant achievement, I don’t care which way you want to peel it.
Started from a sex tape now we here, amiright?
You can’t argue she’s the queen of self-promotion (Picture: Backgrid)
But some have accused Kim of destroying feminism or whatever by becoming a billionaire through ‘debasing’ herself for profit. While others love to throw in the ‘talentless’ tag. And yes, you don’t need Jameela Jamil to tell us all the ridiculous things Kim and Ko have sold in the past to figure the family is driven by those dollars, in a quest to collect them all.
What I think is rather worthy of praise though is that while she was given a leg up by being born into a family that was already, dare I say, comfortable, Kim didn’t inherit any sort of Trumpian empire. And, despite the chorus of ‘but wHaT iS sHe EvEn FaMoUs FoR?’ that still surrounds her, it’s abundantly clear the woman hustles. Hard.
It was her beauty empire, KKW Beauty, that tipped her ever so close to the glorious number, but for more than 10 years she’s fronted an exhausting reality show centred around her life, has created multiple businesses including her pretty popular shapewear line, Skims, and has tried her hand at every other business venture – from attempting a music career, to the rather dangerous endeavour of spruiking well, anything, on social media – to find out what sticks.
You can’t deny her moxie in making sure she’s securing the bags. Even if it’s selling questionable products (we all remember that time she advertised appetite-suppressing lollipops), one seldom remains as relevant as Kim has, for as long as she has, in order to even come close to being a billionaire.
There is a business behind this, and even the critics need to know that every time they’re trying to drag this family down, they’re only, magically, somehow, wizardly, making them stronger. And richer.
I do wonder whether the same, ‘hey we’re really happy for you Kim and we’re gonna let you celebrate, but…’ would be used on a businessman who rose up through reality ranks to financial greatness? (Or, like, became a president, or something.) Or because it’s a Kardashian who’s trying so hard to break into the billionaire club we’re almost allowed to minimise their success.
The Kardashian-Jenner-Wests aren’t known for having the best relationship with the billionaires’ league.
Kanye had apparently been trying to land in Forbes for eons, declaring himself a billionaire well before it did. He finally landed the recognition, however after which he wasn’t satisfied and later said he was worth something closer to $3billion.
Forbes agreed to disagree.
Kanye West ‘splashes $50,000 on Paris dinner’ as Bianca Censori wears most risqué look yet
Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor Who season has one major flaw I can’t get over
Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori suffers wardrobe malfunction in barely-there tape outfit
Bukayo Saka’s girlfriend Tolami Benson is redefining the British WAG
Same thing happened when Kylie was stripped of her billionaire status not that long ago after her finances were apparently looked into a little closely. She laughed off the claims, but clearly it’s something that affects this family to no end.
But I can’t help but think, who gives a stuff if they’re only 100m shy of a billion (‘only’)?
Club or no club, I find it perpetually fascinating their wealth is still such a heated topic.
One thing I do know is that the fact we’re all sitting around this dumpster-fire of a debate about the effect of Kim’s worth goes to show just how much power this family continues to have over the pop culture conversation.
And the joke’s on us because they’re laughing all the way to the bank.
News
Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori responds to lawsuit claiming she sent porn to Yeezy staff, including minors
Kanye West‘s wife Bianca Censori has denied claims she sent porn to Yeezy staff, including minors. A federal lawsuit filed in California claimed that Censori, 29, sent an employee a link to ‘hardcore’ sexual content after her husband announced the launch of his adult film business,…
Franck Bruno says the ‘best fighter’ he faced is Mike Tyson: ”Mike Tyson had it all, the hunger to win the belts, to fight, to move and determination to take anybody down that crossed him at his peak. He knew the quicker he could get rid of his opponent the less chance he would get caught and he was determined to get rid of his opponents quickly.”
Former heavyweight world champion and British fan-favourite, Frank Bruno, revealed the best fighter that he has ever stepped into the ring with after a forty-five fight career that spanned over fourteen years. Bruno was recognised as one of the division’s…
Iron Mike’s Secret: The Fear That Lurked Behind Boxing’s Most Intimidating Entrance
Mike Tyson is an enigma is every sense of the word. The guy once known as The Baddest Man on the Planet shot to fame after becoming the youngest ever heavyweight champion in history at just 20 years old. With…
Mike Tyson’s five most incredible knockouts revealed including destroying undefeated Michael Spinks in 91 second blitz
MIKE TYSON was so dangerous in the ring that even he is scared of the man he used to be. The American, 54, dominated the world of boxing after he was crowned the youngest heavyweight world champion in 1986, aged…
George Foreman reveals why he never fought Mike Tyson and wanted nothing to do with the ‘monster’ boxer
GEORGE FOREMAN branded Mike Tyson a “monster” as he revealed why he did not want to step into the ring with his rival. The two-time heavyweight champion was tipped to fight the Baddest Man on the Planet when he made…
Mike Tyson believes a normal person can take his punches if they ‘don’t fear death’ and says he was a ‘nervous’ fighter
BOXING legend Mike Tyson has revealed how a “normal person” could take one of his punches if they had no fear of death. Iron Mike was considered one of the most brutal and hardest hitters in the sport after being…
End of content
No more pages to load