When it comes to reality TV stars, it’s safe to say that the Kardashians reign supreme. And although little sis Kylie comes in a close second these days, the most famous Kardashian is arguably the one who first put the famous family on the pop culture radar: Kim Kardashian. It’s hard to believe the quiet girl who got her start as a stylist to bigger celebs like Brandy Norwood and Paris Hilton is now one of the world’s biggest (and richest) celebrities — and while she was in her early 20s when we first met her, Kim celebrates her milestone 41st birthday on Oct. 21.
Even if you aren’t a fan of reality TV, you’ve gotta give Kim props. Sure, she was born into an already wealthy family. However, she could have simply coasted on that. Instead, she’s built a veritable empire for herself. Did you know that she actually developed the idea for her and sisters Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian to start their retail chain Dash when she was still in high school? It turns out Kim has always been an entrepreneur at heart and, over the years, she’s worked hard to diversify herself. She’s found success doing so, too… to the tune of an estimated $780 million net worth.
In addition to her reality TV stardom and retails endeavors, Kim has also found time to squeeze in — oh, you know — marrying billionaire rap and fashion mogul Kanye West, having four beautiful children, fighting for the freedom of the wrongly incarcerated and much, much more. So, in honor of the reality TV-personality-turned-global-superstar’s 41st birthday, let’s take a look at her evolution.
A version of this article was previously published in October 2020.
A Stylish Start (2006)
Kim first started pinging radars when she popped up on Paris Hilton’s reality show The Simple Life in 2006. She’d been referred to Hilton as a stylist by singer/actress Brandy, but she soon became Hilton’s bestie (and that led to her Simple Life cameo).
The First DASH (2006)
In 2006, Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney opened their first DASH store in their hometown of Calabasas, California.
Officially on the Scene (2007)
Prior to 2007, Kim was a relative unknown. However, a sex tape she and ex-boyfriend Ray J made leaked that year, catapulting her to celebrity status.
The Birth of a Reality TV Dynasty (2007)
When Keeping Up With the Kardashians debuted in 2007, the family initially imagined it as great PR for their DASH stores. Kim was 27 at the time and had no idea it would become a global phenomenon.
The Awards Show Experience (2008)
Kim dipped her toes even further into celebrity waters in August 2008 when she attended the Teen Choice Awards.
Her First Feature Film (2008)
Hollywood really came knocking when Kim snagged her first feature film role in Disaster Movie alongside Carmen Electra. She competed on Dancing With the Stars in 2008, too.
Cameos Galore (2009)
The acting gigs continued to roll in for Kim in 2009, with cameos on How I Met Your Mother, Beyond the Break, America’s Next Top Model, CSI: NY and WrestleMania XXIV. She also landed a role in the movie Deep in the Valley.
The Kim K Workout Plan (2009)
Pump it up! Kim released a three-DVD workout plan called Fit in Your Jeans by Friday, a move she says was inspired by so many people asking about her curves.
The Award Show Big Leagues (2009)
Kim’s first major award show appearance as a celebrity came in 2009 at the 51st annual Grammy Awards.
Bush and the Tush (2009)
Fans were convinced for a while that Kim was going to marry her longtime boyfriend, NFL’er Reggie Bush. Affectionately known as “Bush and the Tush,” the couple called it quits over the summer of 2009.
Beauty Metamorphosis (2009)
Is that you, Kim? The reality TV star shook things up in a major way when she ditched her signature dark locks for a caramel-colored blonde at the Teen Choice Awards.
Kimmie Gets Waxed (2010)
You know you’ve made it when Madame Tussaud’s commissions a wax likeness of you! And that’s exactly what happened for Kim in 2010.
‘Kardashian Konfidential’ (2010)
In 2010, Kim, Khloe and Kourtney penned an autobiography titled Kardashian Konfidential.
You’re Fired! (2010)
Long before Donald Trump was POTUS, he was firing people left and right on The Apprentice. Kim appeared on Season 10 of the show and, spoiler alert, got the ax from Trump before season’s end.
Hello, Endorsement Deals (2010)
By 2010, Kim was a bonafide influencer, so it’s no big surprise that brands came calling. Her endorsements that year alone included major names like Carl’s Jr. and Shoedazzle.
Building a Perfume Empire (2010)
Would a Kardashian by any other name smell as sweet? In 2010, Kim launched the first of what would become many successful perfume scents.
Her Music Debut (2011)
What a treasure this is! In 2011, Kimmie released her first (and only) single, “Jam (Turn It Up).” You can find it in all its glory here.
Happily Ever… 72 Days (2011)
The media went wild in 2011 when Kim married NBA star Kris Humphries, an affair that was broadcast via the special Kim’s Fairytale Wedding: A Kardashian Event. Alas, their union only lasted 72 days.
Sister Style (2011)
Although it was short-lived (yet, longer than her marriage to Humphries), Kim, Khloe and Kourtney launched a collection of clothes at Sears dubbed the Kardashian Kollection.
The Rise of Kimye (2012)
Enter, Kimye. The reality TV star was still legally married to Humphries in 2012 when she started dating rapper Kanye West.
She Said ‘Yes’ (2013)
Kanye put a ring on it on Kim’s 33rd birthday, less than a year after they officially began dating. Hey, when you know, you know!
Belly in Bloom (2013)
By 2013, Kim was pregnant with the couple’s first child, famously rocking her beautiful baby bump at MET Gala that year.
Meet Little Miss North West (2013)
Mama Kimmie is on the scene! In 2013, she gives birth to North West, a daughter, with Kanye.
Dream Nuptials (2014)
World, say hello to Mr. and Mrs. Kanye West. The famous pair said “I do” on May 24 at Fort di Belvedere in Florence, Italy.
Apps & Emojis & Games, Oh My! (2014)
Proving she’s a total pro at diversifying her portfolio, Kim released her iPhone and Android game “Kim Kardashian: Hollywood” in 2014. An immediate success, it grossed $1.6 million in its first five days. She would later go on to launch an app and wildly popular “Kimojis,” which reportedly crashed Apple’s App Store when they dropped.
Breaking the Internet (2014)
Really, need we say anything about Kim’s Paper magazine cover? It speaks for itself.
Selfies on Bookshelfies (2015)
You may not think a book of selfies would be a hit, right? But in 2015, Kim published a coffee table book filled with 448 pages of just that. Called Selfish, it quickly made the New York Times bestseller list.
Another Baby on the Way (2015)
Kimmie spent 2015 preggers with her second child, and she made bank in the process by creating a sponsored IG post about a morning sickness pill. Her profit? $500k.
Ice Queen (2015)
The world wasn’t ready when Kim went platinum for Fashion Week in 2015. Although the look received generally rave reviews, there were quite a few Draco Malfoy memes, too.
Robbed in Paris (2016)
In what may be the most traumatic experience the public has ever seen Kim face, the star was robbed at gunpoint in her rented apartment while attending Paris Fashion Week. The gunmen reportedly stole $10 million of jewelry, although some have accused Kim of fabricating the event for publicity.
Saint’s Arrival (2016)
Kim welcomed her second child, a son named Saint, on Dec. 5, 2016. She and Kanye would go on to have two more children, Chicago (Jan. 15, 2018) and Psalm (May 9, 2019), through surrogacy.
The Bounceback (2016)
Following the birth of son Saint, Kim made her first big public appearance in a skintight and see-through dress at the 2016 VMAs. ‘Twas the outfit that launched the waist-trainer trend.
Beauty Mogul (2017)
While she was already undoubtedly raking in major money, Kim upped her entrepreneur status another notch in 2017with the launch of KKW Beauty. Her first product, a $48 contour kit, sold out in minutes and racked up more than $13 million in sales.
Crowning ‘KUWTK’ (2018)
Watch out, Real World, they’re closing in on you. In 2018, Complex ranked KUWTK the second-best reality TV show of all time behind the MTV staple.
The Biggest Movie Cameo Yet (2018)
It may have been a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, but Kim made her most prestigious cameo yet in 2018’s Ocean’s 8. The blockbuster hit stars a ton of acting A-listers, including Sandra Bullock, Sarah Paulson, and more.
On Another Stage (2018)
Now that she’s a multi-millionaire beauty influencer and global brand, Kim routinely does speaking engagements. Here, she charms the crowd at the 2018 Beautycon in LA.
That MET Gala Dress (2019)
Wowza! Kim floored everyone at the 2019 MET Gala in an iconic figure-hugging corset-style Thierry Mugler dress.
Lawyer in Training (2019)
When Kim announced in 2019 that she’s studying to take the bar exam in 2022, some saw it as a departure for the reality star. But she’s basically following in her late father’s footsteps. And she was also inspired to study law after helping to get Alice Marie Johnson released from prison in 2018. The 62-year-old grandmother had been serving a life sentence for nonviolent drug offenses before the release that Kim facilitated.
SKIMS Is a Hit (2019)
Who knew bodywear could be so lucrative? In 2019, Kim launched her immensely popular SKIMS Solutionwear line.
Happy 40th, Kimmie (2020)
To celebrate her milestone birthday, Kim appeared on the cover of Grazia for their October 2020 issue. In the interview, she candidly discussed everything from Kanye West’s ‘scary’ coronavirus battle to how she feels about turning 40.
The End of a Marriage (2021)
After weeks of speculation, Kim Kardashian officially filed for divorce from her husband of nearly seven years, Kanye West, on February 19, 2021. The proceedings were quite amicable, and neither party contested the prenup they’d signed prior to their 2013 nuptials. For Kardashian, this moment was all about putting her children first. And with so many changes in their lives — the end of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, a failed presidential run — perhaps it felt like the right time for the two to go their separate ways.
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