GetCelebrity Editorial
2014
Kylie Jenner put $250,000 from her modeling work into a new venture.[1] She teamed up with Seed Beauty, a firm that handles production for beauty brands, and her mother, Kris Jenner, to start the company that would become Kylie Cosmetics.[1][3] The investment covered initial costs for product development and launch plans. Jenner, then 17, drew on her following from the reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians to build the brand around her personal style, with a focus on lip products.[3]
November 30, 2015
The Lip Kits hit the market as the company's debut offering.[1] Orders flooded in right away, clearing inventory fast.[2] Jenner promoted the kits through social media posts that showed her applying the products, pulling in fans who wanted to copy her look.[3] The quick sell-out pointed to strong demand from her online audience, which numbered in the millions by then.[1] Production ramped up to meet the response, leading to wider availability.[3]
February 2016
The company dropped "Lip Kit by Kylie" from its name and became Kylie Cosmetics.[1] Jenner expanded the product range beyond the initial kits.[3] Factories increased output to 500,000 units to handle growing orders.[1] Sales kept pace, with the brand gaining traction in a crowded beauty market through direct-to-consumer sales online.[2] Jenner handled much of the marketing herself, using Instagram and Snapchat to share tutorials and restock alerts.[3]
November 2016
Kylie Cosmetics put out its first family collaboration, Koko x Kylie, a set with Khloé Kardashian.[2][3] The line included lip shades inspired by the sisters' styles.[3] Around the same time, the company switched to new packaging with security features to stop theft from stores and shipping.[2][3] Jenner appeared in videos demonstrating the products, which helped drive sales during the holiday season.[3] The moves broadened the brand's appeal while protecting its goods.[2]
December 2016
Total revenue for the year topped $300 million.[1][2] Lip Kits remained the core seller, but new items like eyeshadows started to appear.[3] Jenner marked the milestone on social media, crediting her fans for the growth.[3] The company operated mostly online, avoiding traditional retail to keep control over pricing and stock.[1] Behind the scenes, Seed Beauty managed manufacturing, allowing Jenner to focus on design and promotion.[1]
April 2017
Monthly revenue passed $13.5 million.[3] A new crème lipstick collection, tied to a project with Kim Kardashian, fueled the surge.[3] The products launched with joint marketing efforts, including photos and videos from the sisters.[3] Jenner used the moment to tease more expansions, like full-face makeup lines.[3] Sales figures showed the brand pulling ahead of some established competitors in the direct-sales space.[2]
2018
Forbes put the company's value at $800 million.[1] Jenner owned nearly all of it, with revenue streams from online sales and limited pop-up shops.[1][2] The brand added glosses and highlighters, building on the lip focus.[3] Jenner invested in bigger production runs and started talks with retailers.[2] Her personal wealth climbed with the business, drawing attention from business publications.[1]
February 2019
Forbes called Jenner the youngest self-made billionaire, with her net worth at $1 billion, most from Kylie Cosmetics.[2][3][4] The title came after a deal with Ulta, the biggest cosmetics chain in the United States, put products in hundreds of stores.[2] Jenner signed the agreement earlier that year, which boosted distribution and sales.[2] The move marked a shift from online-only to physical shelves, exposing the brand to new customers.[3] Revenue reports backed the valuation, with the company hitting steady growth.[1]
March 2019
Forbes raised the company value to $900 million.[1] Ulta shelves started stocking Lip Kits and other items, leading to quick sell-outs in stores.[2] Jenner promoted the rollout with in-store events and social posts.[3] The partnership added credibility in retail circles and pushed annual sales higher.[2] Behind it, Jenner navigated supply chain tweaks to match the brick-and-mortar demand.[3]
November 2019
Coty Inc. bought 51 percent of Kylie Cosmetics for $600 million, setting the full value at about $1.2 billion.[1][3] The deal gave Coty control over manufacturing and global reach, while Jenner kept creative input and the rest of the stake.[3] Jenner announced it as a step to grow the brand internationally.[3] Products stayed in Ulta and online, but Coty's network opened doors to Europe and Asia.[1] The sale locked in Jenner's wealth from the business she started small.[2]
April 8, 2020
Forbes listed Jenner as the world's youngest self-made billionaire, with $1.2 billion in net worth tied to the cosmetics line.[1] The ranking followed the Coty transaction and steady Ulta sales.[2] Jenner shared the news on social media, framing it as proof of her work ethic.[3] The company released new shades and tools, keeping momentum through the early pandemic months.[3] Forbes based the figure on revenue estimates and the recent valuation.[1]
May 2020
Forbes issued a statement saying Jenner forged tax documents and faked revenue numbers for Kylie Cosmetics.[1] The outlet pulled her from the billionaire list after reviewing filings that did not match earlier claims.[1] Jenner responded through representatives, calling the report inaccurate, but Forbes held to its findings.[1] The dispute cast doubt on the company's financial reporting, even as products continued to sell.[3] Coty stood by the deal, with no changes announced.[1]
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Kylie Jenner partners with Seed Beauty and her mother Kris Jenner to found Kylie Cosmetics, investing $250,000 from her modeling earnings.[1][3] |
| 2015-11-30 | Kylie Cosmetics launches its first Lip Kits, consisting of liquid lipstick and lip liner, which sell out immediately.[1][3] |
| 2016-02 | The company is renamed from Lip Kit by Kylie to Kylie Cosmetics, with production increased to 500,000 kits.[1] |
| 2016-11 | Kylie Cosmetics releases its first collaboration, Koko x Kylie with Khloé Kardashian, and changes packaging to combat theft.[2][3] |
| 2016-12 | Kylie Cosmetics reaches over $300 million in total revenue by year-end.[1][2] |
| 2017-04 | Kylie Cosmetics reports over $13.5 million in revenue, driven by the crème lipstick collection with Kim Kardashian.[3] |
| 2019-02 | Kylie Jenner is named the youngest self-made billionaire by Forbes with a net worth of $1 billion, largely from Kylie Cosmetics.[2][3][4] |
| 2019-11 | Coty acquires a 51% stake in Kylie Cosmetics for $600 million, valuing the company at $1.2 billion.[3] |
What we couldn't confirm goes to the heart of the company's rapid rise: whether Kylie Cosmetics hit a $1 billion valuation in under three years from launch, or if the Lip Kit website crashed under traffic on debut day. Claims that the brand holds vegan or cruelty-free certifications lack backing in public records. Exact revenue breakdowns and profit rates stay private, as do deeper terms of the Seed Beauty tie-up beyond the basic partnership. The Forbes dispute leaves questions about past financial claims open, with no full resolution in sight.
Sources
- [1] Reported Kylie Cosmetics - Wikipedia — en.wikipedia.org
- [2] How Kylie Jenner Built a $1B Empire in Just 3 Years | Takes On — youtube.com
- [3] The Making of a Billionaire: How Kylie Jenner Parlayed Her Makeup... — cub.club
- [4] Kylie cosmetics Timeline | PPTX - Slideshare — pt.slideshare.net
- [5] A Deep Dive Into The Net Worth of Kylie Jenner - Andsimple.co — andsimple.co
- [6] Kylie Jenner's Business Journey | PDF | Cosmetics - Scribd — scribd.com
- [7] Kylie Cosmetics' Rise and Fall Timeline #kylie # Kylielip #makeup — youtube.com
- [8] How Kylie Jenner Transformed from Reality TV Teen to Beauty Mogul — lofficielusa.com
- [9] Kylie Jenner Revealed The Real Reason She Started Kylie Cosmetics — elitedaily.com
- [10] Kylie Jenner Insists She Is 'Self-Made' Because Her Parents Cut Her... — businessinsider.com
Frequently asked questions
How much money did Kylie Jenner initially invest in her cosmetics venture?
Kylie Jenner invested $250,000 from her modeling work into the new venture.
When did Kylie Jenner release the first Lip Kits from Kylie Cosmetics?
Kylie Jenner released the first Lip Kits on November 30, 2015.
Which company did Kylie Jenner team up with to handle production for Kylie Cosmetics?
Kylie Jenner teamed up with Seed Beauty, a firm that handles production for beauty brands.
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