Kylie Jennerwants to make one thing clear: Her massive fortune is entirely of her own making.
“There’s really no other word to use other than self-made because that is the truth,” says the 21-year-old creator and owner of Kylie Cosmetics. “That is the category that I fall under.”
Jenner does acknowledge that her family’s fame gave her a platform, but she says she’s beenfinancially independent for the last six years.
“I am a special case because before I started Kylie Cosmetics, I had a huge platform and lots of fans,” she says. “I did not get money from my parents past the age of 15. I used 100 percent of my own money to start the company, not a dime in my bank account is inherited… and I am very proud of that.”
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“I never thought that this could happen. I believed in Kylie Cosmetics but I didn’t even know what I was getting myself into,” she says. “It feels amazing, it’s wild, and being the youngest ever to do it is a blessing. I now want to focus on giving back to people and doing things that I’m passionate about.”
She says she hopes she’s remembered as someone who “pushed boundaries, inspired them, worked incredibly hard, set trends, and made history with my business — all at a young age.”
“I hope to inspire other young women to know that there are no limits and to work hard for what you believe in,” she adds.
Forbesfirstpredicted Jenner’s fortuneahead of her21st birthdaylast August, diving into her then-$800 million cosmetics empire and estimating that she was on track to become the “youngest self-made billionaire ever, male or female” — surpassing even Facebook founderMark Zuckerberg, who became a billionaire at age 23.
Earlier this month, Jenner wasofficially bestowed the titlein the magazine’s annualBillionaires ranking.
But Jenner’s billion-dollar-empire also stems from her other earnings: She also rakes inproduct endorsements, cashes in herKUWTKpaychecks, and boasts clothing lines and brand deals.
“I didn’t expect anything. I did not foresee the future,” Jenner toldForbes. “But [the recognition] feels really good. That’s a nice pat on the back.”
Overall, the businesswoman credits her success to the internet (she has over 129 million Instagram followers alone).
“It’s the power of social media,” she said. “I had such a strong reach before I was able to start anything.”
Jenner revealed earlier this year that her parents,KrisandCaitlyn Jenner, “cut her off at the age of 15.”
“My parents told me I needed to make my own money, it’s time to learn how to save and spend your own money, stuff like that,” shetoldPAPERmagazinein February. “What I’m trying to say is I did have a platform, but none of my money is inherited.”
That said, the reality star and mother of 1-year-old daughterStormisays her wealth doesn’t define her.
source: people.com
