Why Kylie Jenner Stands By Her "Self-Made" Billionaire Label

Kylie Jenner defended being labeled as the "youngest self-made billionaire" by Forbes, arguing that "none of the money I've ever made is inherited" from her parents or the Kardashian family.

By Gabrielle Chung Aug 28, 2026 9:28 PM
| Updated Aug 28, 2026 11:49 PM
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Watch: Why Kylie Jenner Stands By Her "Self-Made" Billionaire Label

Kylie Jenner is keeping her title of "Youngest Self-Made Billionaire."

Seven years after Forbes sparked controversy for dubbing her as such due to the success of Kylie Cosmetics, the Kardashians star argued why she feels she deserves the recognition.  

"None of the money I've ever made is inherited, so it's technically true," Kylie contended in a Who What Wear interview published Aug. 27, "but people just feel like the privilege I've had was a major stepping stone."

It's a defense the 29-year-old has put up before.

“There’s really no other word to use other than self-made because that is the truth," Kylie told Interview Germany in 2019. "That is the category that I fall under."

In fact, the makeup mogul noted that she "did not get money from" her parents Kris Jenner and Caitlyn Jenner "past the age of 15," two years before launching her beauty label.

"I am a special case because before I started Kylie Cosmetics, I had a huge platform and lots of fans," she continued. "I used 100 percent of my own money to start the company."

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"Not a dime in my bank account is inherited," Kylie added, "and I am very proud of that."

That's why the Keeping Up With the Kardashians alum said in her recent Who What Wear profile that Kylie Cosmetics is "definitely the thing I care about the most."

"I learned so much, and I'm just so happy that I'm still doing it," shared Kylie, who is mom to kids Stormi, 8, and Aire, 4, with ex Travis Scott. "If I had to choose—you can just do one thing—it would be Kylie Cosmetics because it's just such a real passion."

Karwai Tang/WireImage

But that's not to say Kylie is without regrets. Looking back at the "enormous life" she had when she was crowned a billionaire, she admitted, "I changed my mind about that."

"When I was younger, I got really excited, and I got the craziest house I could in Beverly Hills, and I just kind of went for it," Kylie shared. "I've realized that my life got too big, and I said, 'Yeah, never mind.'"

She added, "I think I lost control of my life a little bit for a while there."

For a closer look at Kylie's evolution through the years, keep reading...

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