5 celebs with billion-dollar empires: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West rule the shapewear and sneaker markets with Skims and Yeezy, but how did Jessica Simpson and Jessica Alba make the list?

Sep 27 , 2021

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Oprah Winfrey and Jessica Alba all have their own business empires that are worth billions of dollars. Photos: @skims, @oprah, @jessicaalba/Instagram; @raptvcom/Twitter

Kim K’s business portfolio includes the successful Skims shapewear brand, valued at US$1.6 billion, and cosmetics line KKW Beauty, worth US$1 billion

The US$1 billion Jessica Simpson Collection is sold at Nordstrom and Macy’s while Oprah Winfrey has raked in the cash from smart investments

These days, we no longer even bat an eyelid when we hear about celebrities making a foray into business. In fact, some celebrities even end up more successful in the market than with their original entertainment careers. Their new skills often account for more of their fortune than whatever it is that led them to first gain celebrity status too.

So who are these successful celebrities-turned-entrepreneurs?

Kim Kardashian: Skims (US$1.6 billion) and KKW Beauty (US$1 billion)

Kim Kardashian in Skims’ cotton rib bodysuit in kyanite. Photo: @skims/Instagram

The richest Kardashian member launched her shapewear brand Skims in 2019, just a few months before the Covid-19 pandemic led to the bankruptcy of many companies. However, Skims, offering “your go-to basics” like bras, underwear, bodysuits, shorts, slips and pregnancy support in a range of sizes, not only survived the pandemic but also became a billion-dollar business, making Kardashian herself a billionaire this year.

Kim Kardashian introduced KKW Fragrance. Photo:@kimkardashian/Instagram

The two-year-old clothing brand recently raised US$154 million in new funding from Josh Kushner’s Thrive Capital, as well as from existing investors, Imaginary Ventures and Alliance Consumer Growth, to reach a valuation of US$1.6 billion, according to Insider.

Kim Kardashian in a Skims piece. Photo: @skims/Instagram

But Skims is not Kardashian’s only billion-dollar empire. KKW Beauty, introduced in 2017 following the success of her half-sister Kylie Jenner’s Kylie Cosmetics, also has a net worth of US$1 billion, after its 20 per cent stake was sold for US$200 million to Cosmetics company Coty Inc. this year, according to Forbes. But the beauty line has been temporarily closed since August to prepare for a new brand that is “more modern, elevated, and sustainable”, according to its website. Another billion-dollar name under Kim K will come soon, we’re sure.

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