Who would have ever thought that a disappointing “celebrity” sex tape could be the catalyst that would launch an estimated $300 million empire?
From video games to clothing and makeup to books, the Kardashians have made the most of their unwarranted fame and have become one of the wealthiest families in Hollywood, maybe even the world.
As a result of all this fame and fortune, the general perception of the Kardashians is mixed. Some of us are drawn to the Kardashians like a cat burglar to a jewel, while others hate them more than their in-laws.
If you’re more of the latter persuasion, get ready to hate the Kardashian Klan even more, because I’ve done a little research into the sensationalized family to provide some incredibly frustrating tidbits about the ridiculous amounts of money they’ve earned for doing very little.
1. Kim Kardashian’s Video Game Has Earned Upwards of $100 Million
Kim Kardashian’s mobile app, “Kim Kardashian: Hollywood” (a name which I’m sure she had a ton of creative input), has been downloaded well over 40 million times and has generated stupid amounts of money due to in-app purchases, according to reporting by Forbes.
The app made roughly $72 million in 2015 alone, which is down from the $74.3 million the app made in just six months when released in 2014. While Kim obviously doesn’t pocket all of this money, she does reap a generous 50 percent of the game’s profits.
2. Every Member of the Kardashian/Jenner Family Is a Multimillionaire
According to InStyle, who broke down the net worth of each family member in pounds, this is what each individual in the Kardashian dynasty is worth. I’ve converted the British pounds to American dollars so that these figures are even more frustrating.
Kris Jenner: $104 million
Caitlyn Jenner: $85 million
Kim Kardashian: $53 million
Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian: $16 million (each)
Kendall Jenner: $4 million
Kylie Jenner: $5 million
3. Kim Kardashian Makes $700,000 to Show Up at Places
During the summer, New York gossip source Page Six reports that Kim Kardashian was paid $700K to show up at a party in the Hamptons. For such a grand sum, you’d expect Kim to give a striptease or something, right? NOPE. All she had to do was show up and take selfies with bloggers. That’s it.
The report adds that Kim was accompanied by an entourage of 25 bodyguards as well. You know, in case the entire population of New York wages war against her.
4. A Kardashian Instagram Post Is Worth $400,000
Instead of purchasing advertising space on television or in print, many businesses are instead choosing to pay the Kardashians six figures for a sponsored Instagram post. These figures can reach as high as $400,000, according to reports, as long as the Kardashian associated with the ad authentically believes in the product or service.
Kim’s Instagram account alone boasts 80 million followers. It has gotten so ridiculous that Kris Jenner — the family’s mom and manager — is offering “bundle-buys” to companies who have the option to post across each of the sibling’s separate social media accounts.
5. A Kardashian Tweet Is Worth $10,000
Evidently, Instagram is not the only social media avenue that the Kardashian’s are profiting from. Wet Paint reported in 2013 that Khloe and Kim pull in anywhere from $8,000 – $10,000 for a sponsored tweet (which, in case you weren’t aware, is a mere 140 characters). Since the Kardashians’ collective star has been on a meteoric rise ever since, it can only be assumed that these tweets are worth significantly more now. As a writer who gets paid nowhere close to write something exponentially larger, this is infuriating.
6. Their Deplorable Show Makes a Shit-Ton of Money as Well
“Keeping Up With The Kardashians” is a scripted reality show that, week after week, portrays the same story, more or less. All of them — or most, at least — are grossly overstated and revolve around minor inconveniences that the family faces, like Kim losing her earrings in an ocean on vacation. Yet, we watch. So many of us do, in fact, that the Kardashian’s commanded $80 million (with rating bonuses) for three seasons of the show and an option for a fourth, according to TMZ.
7. Exclusive News Rights Is Yet Another Monetary Avenue the Kardashian’s Profit From
You know how you complain when we release any information about the Kardashians with a vulgar “who the f*ck cares?” statement in the comments?
Well, lot’s of people do because the Kardashians make a killing releasing “exclusive news rights” to bidding publications who want to sell magazines with the Kardashian name in the headline. For example, Kim and Kris Humphries’ wedding photos were sold to People magazine exclusively for $1.5 million.
8. Kim Spends More in a Morning Than You Have in a Week
Obvious plastic surgery aside, Kim spends a shit-ton of money on her face in the a.m. In fact, it’s more money than I probably spend in the span of two to three weeks. Through Snapchat, she revealed that her morning routine consists of four skincare products, which total $1,230. For four products. Are you f*cking kidding me?
9. Kylie Jenner (Who Is 19) Has Seen More Money on Her 18th Birthday Than We Will in a Lifetime
I’m pretty sure for my 18th birthday, I got a gift card for a tattoo I’d been wanting to get. Kylie Jenner, on the other hand, received gifts that People magazine estimated cost upwards of $400,000. Items include: a Mercedes-Benz Maybach, a customized “King Kylie” bouncy castle, and, last but not least, a Ferrari 482 Italia.
10. Kim Earned Bank from Her Sex Tape
You know how we were all lead to believe that the Kim Kardashian sex tape wasn’t meant to be released and that Kim was devastated when the video “leaked” online? In an interview I had with celebrity sex tape broker Kevin Blatt, Kim knew full well that the tape was going to be released. Some even speculate her mother was the culprit.
