Who Is Kylie Jenner?
Kylie Jenner is an American television personality, beauty entrepreneur, and fashion businesswoman. Born on August 10, 1997, in Los Angeles, California, she is the youngest daughter of Kris Jenner and Caitlyn Jenner, and the younger sister of model Kendall Jenner [citation:18].
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kylie Kristen Jenner [citation:18] |
| Date of Birth | August 10, 1997 [citation:18] |
| Place of Birth | Los Angeles, California [citation:18] |
| Profession | Television personality, entrepreneur, businesswoman |
| Major Brands | Kylie Cosmetics, Kylie Skin, Khy |
For context on the wider culture that shaped her career, our guide to baddie culture provides useful background on female empowerment in entertainment.
Kylie Jenner and the Kardashian-Jenner Family
Kylie Jenner is part of the Kardashian-Jenner family, one of the most recognized entertainment families in modern pop culture. Her mother, Kris Jenner, served as her business manager and helped guide the launch of Kylie Cosmetics [citation:3][citation:18].
Her sisters include Kourtney, Kim, and Khloé Kardashian, as well as her full sister Kendall Jenner. Her brother Rob Kardashian also appeared on the family’s reality shows [citation:18]. The family’s existing media presence created an environment where Kylie developed her public profile from a young age.
Kylie Jenner’s Reality TV Career
Kylie Jenner first appeared on Keeping Up with the Kardashians when the show premiered in 2007. She was 10 years old at the time [citation:18]. The series followed the lives of the Kardashian-Jenner family and aired on E! Entertainment Television until 2021.
In 2017, she starred in her own spin-off show, Life of Kylie, which aired for one season [citation:18]. The family later moved to Hulu with The Kardashians, which premiered in 2022 [citation:13]. Her television appearances provided the platform that she later leveraged for her business ventures.
How Kylie Jenner Built Her Social Media Influence
Kylie Jenner’s social media presence became a central part of her commercial strategy. Before launching Kylie Cosmetics, she had already built a substantial following through her appearances on reality television and her personal content [citation:8].
She used platforms like Instagram and Snapchat to communicate directly with her audience and promote her products. In a Forbes interview, she stated: “It’s the power of social media. I had such a strong reach before I was able to start anything” [citation:8].
The Beginning of Kylie Cosmetics
The idea for Kylie Cosmetics originated from Jenner’s own experience with lip products. She has cited her insecurity around her lips as the catalyst for creating her makeup line [citation:18].
In November 2015, she launched Kylie Lip Kits, a product that included matching liquid lipstick and lip liner. She used $250,000 from her modeling income to fund the initial 15,000 kits [citation:2][citation:7]. The lip kits sold out in less than a minute [citation:15].
In February 2016, the company was renamed Kylie Cosmetics, and production increased from 15,000 to 500,000 kits [citation:7]. The brand expanded to include eye products, highlighters, and other cosmetics.
Kylie Cosmetics and the Coty Deal
In November 2019, Coty Inc. announced an agreement to acquire a 51% stake in Kylie Cosmetics for $600 million. The transaction valued the company at approximately $1.2 billion [citation:9][citation:20].
The deal was completed in January 2020 [citation:2]. Under the terms of the agreement, Coty assumed responsibility for portfolio development, distribution, and licensing, while Jenner retained creative control and led product and communication initiatives [citation:20].
Following the transaction, Jenner retained an estimated 44% ownership stake in the company and received approximately $540 million pretax from the sale [citation:8][citation:13].
The Billionaire Story: What Happened?
In March 2019, Forbes named Kylie Jenner the youngest self-made billionaire in history, estimating her net worth at $1 billion. The designation was based on the reported value of Kylie Cosmetics and her ownership stake [citation:3][citation:14].
The “self-made” label was controversial from the beginning. Critics noted that Jenner grew up in a wealthy, famous family with access to significant media exposure and business resources [citation:2][citation:13]. In a 2019 interview with The New York Times, Jenner acknowledged: “I can’t say I’ve done it by myself” [citation:13].
In May 2020, Forbes withdrew the billionaire designation after reviewing financial disclosures from Coty Inc. The magazine stated that the company was “smaller and less profitable” than previously claimed and adjusted Jenner’s net worth to just under $900 million at the time [citation:2][citation:13].
Jenner denied the allegations, calling the report a collection of “inaccurate statements and unproven assumptions” [citation:2]. As of June 2025, Forbes estimated her net worth at $670 million [citation:8].
Kylie Skin and Expansion Beyond Makeup
In May 2019, Jenner launched Kylie Skin, a skincare line that expanded her beauty portfolio beyond color cosmetics. The initial products sold out within the first 10 hours, and the line was on track to reach $25 million in sales by the end of the year, according to Coty [citation:20].
The skincare line complemented her existing makeup business by offering products for skin preparation and maintenance. This expansion demonstrated the brand’s ability to grow beyond its original product category.
Kylie Jenner’s Fragrance Business
Jenner entered the fragrance market with Cosmic Kylie Jenner, which launched in 2024. According to Kylie Cosmetics, it became the bestselling fragrance launch in the USA and UK that year [citation:15].
The fragrance expanded her beauty portfolio into a new category and complemented the existing makeup and skincare lines. In February 2025, the Cosmic 2.0 fragrance generated $3.1 million in media impact value in just one week, according to WWD [citation:13].
Kylie Jenner and Khy
In November 2023, Jenner launched Khy, her fashion label. The brand initially debuted with a collaboration model, working with designers on seasonal drops. When it first launched online, customers purchased $1 million worth of products in the first hour [citation:10].
In April 2026, Khy was relaunched as a “wardrobe-first” fashion label focused on well-crafted staples. The new direction prioritizes foundational pieces designed for longevity, with prices ranging from $70 to $470 and sizes from XXS to 4X [citation:6]. The brand also expanded into footwear through a collaboration with Italian label Gia Borghini [citation:10].
Jenner serves as founder and creative director of Khy. She has stated: “I want people to know how completely involved I am in this. From original concept, to designing, or co-designing if we’re working with other designers, from picking fabrics, colors, I’ve been in every fit meeting” [citation:10].
Other Kylie Jenner Business Ventures
Beyond Kylie Cosmetics and Khy, Jenner has been involved in other ventures. She launched Sprinter, a vodka soda brand, in 2024 [citation:16]. She also previously collaborated with her sister Kendall on a fashion line with PacSun, Topshop, and Forever New [citation:18].
Her business portfolio reflects a pattern of brand extensions that build on her existing audience and personal brand.
How the Kardashian-Jenner Brand Influenced Her Business Journey
The Kardashian-Jenner family’s existing media presence created measurable advantages for Kylie Jenner’s business ventures. She had an established public profile from childhood, access to a built-in audience, and family members with business experience [citation:3][citation:18].
However, family connections alone do not explain her business success. Her social media strategy, product focus, and direct engagement with her audience were documented factors in Kylie Cosmetics’ early performance. As she has acknowledged, she “did have a platform, but none of my money is inherited” [citation:2].
Kylie Jenner’s Business Strategy
Several elements defined Jenner’s documented business approach:
- Personal branding: She built a recognizable personal identity that translated into product recognition.
- Social media marketing: She used platforms like Instagram and Snapchat to reach audiences directly [citation:8].
- Product-focused launches: Kylie Cosmetics began with a single hero product (the Lip Kit) before expanding [citation:15].
- Beauty positioning: She entered a category where she had personal interest and credibility [citation:18].
- Brand extensions: She expanded from lip products to full cosmetics, skincare, and fragrance [citation:15].
- Corporate partnership: The Coty deal provided distribution and manufacturing resources while she retained creative control [citation:20].
These factors contributed to the brand’s growth, though they do not represent a guaranteed formula for success.
Kylie Jenner’s Career Timeline
| Year | Career/Business Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Born in Los Angeles, California [citation:18] |
| 2007 | Keeping Up with the Kardashians premieres [citation:18] |
| 2015 | Launches Kylie Lip Kits [citation:15] |
| 2016 | Renames brand to Kylie Cosmetics; expands production [citation:7] |
| 2017 | Life of Kylie spin-off airs [citation:18] |
| 2019 | Named youngest self-made billionaire by Forbes [citation:3] |
| 2019 | Launches Kylie Skin [citation:20] |
| 2020 | Coty transaction completed; Forbes withdraws billionaire designation [citation:2][citation:9] |
| 2023 | Launches Khy fashion label [citation:10] |
| 2024 | Launches Cosmic Kylie Jenner fragrance; Sprinter vodka soda [citation:15][citation:16] |
| 2026 | Relaunches Khy as wardrobe-first brand; expands into footwear [citation:6][citation:17] |
Kylie Jenner’s Business Legacy
Kylie Jenner’s business career demonstrates the potential of celebrity-driven, direct-to-consumer brands in the beauty industry. Her use of social media to launch and scale a product line represented a shift in how beauty brands could reach consumers, bypassing traditional retail channels [citation:15][citation:20].
The Coty transaction validated the value of celebrity-founded beauty brands and encouraged other major companies to pursue similar acquisitions [citation:20]. Her business model, combining personal branding, social media marketing, and product-focused launches, has been studied and replicated across the beauty and fashion industries.
What Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Kylie Jenner’s Business Journey
Several documented lessons emerge from her business career:
- Build a recognizable brand identity: Her personal style and public persona created recognition that transferred to her products.
- Understand your audience: She identified a gap in the beauty market through her own experience [citation:18].
- Start with a focused product: The Lip Kit launched as a single hero product before expansion [citation:15].
- Expand strategically: She moved from lip products to full cosmetics, skincare, and fragrance over time [citation:15].
- Develop brand extensions carefully: Khy represents a fashion extension of her personal brand [citation:6].
- Understand ownership structures: The Coty deal allowed her to retain creative control while gaining distribution resources [citation:20].
These lessons are based on documented events and do not guarantee similar results.
Conclusion
Kylie Jenner’s career spans reality television, social media influence, and beauty entrepreneurship. From her first appearances on Keeping Up with the Kardashians at age 10 to the launch of Kylie Cosmetics and the Coty transaction, her business journey has been marked by significant milestones and public discussion.
The “billionaire” label that once defined her public narrative represents a specific moment in 2019 that Forbes later revised. Her current business position includes continued ownership in Kylie Cosmetics, the Khy fashion label, and other ventures. Her career demonstrates how a reality TV platform and social media presence can be leveraged into consumer product businesses, while also illustrating the complexities of celebrity wealth reporting.