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Kylie Jenner is now the world's youngest "self-made" billionaire and everyone is raging about it
6 March 2019, 12:01
Lend us a fiver please, Kylie?
Kylie Jenner is officially a billionaire and it's all thanks to her lucrative makeup business, Kylie Cosmetics. In 2018, Forbes predicted Kylie would be crowned America's youngest self-made billionaire within a year and she's actually done it – but the internet is a little upset she's being labelled "self-made".
Last July, Kylie – who only launched her debut cosmetics line in 2015 – appeared on Forbes' front cover. At the time, the magazine claimed her net worth stood at a measly $900 million. Well, seven long months later and she's achieved billionaire status. Honestly, what took her so long right...
At 21, Kylie has knocked Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg off the top spot, after he bagged the title aged 23. She's now the fifth richest person in the US, tied with JAY-Z, and the only family member in the top 10.
Obviously, the internet had thoughts, especially because Forbes branded her "self-made" without considering she's from the uber-rich Kardashian-Jenner dynasty (worth a collective $625m, btw).
Haven't we gone over this?
— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) March 5, 2019
Self-made: Having succeeded in life unaided.https://t.co/g0ZHDSkVfu https://t.co/3O48zKsInN
Kylie Jenner is proof that all you really need to succeed in life is inherit a few hundred million dollars and already have preexisting international fame from your parents and siblings, and then it’s possible to make something of yourself. Clearly an inspiration to us all.
— David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) March 5, 2019
People are really out here describing Kylie Jenner as “self-made” I pic.twitter.com/LQdzfcfz1B
— sarah (@sarahcantcare) March 5, 2019
I feel like Kylie being labeled a “self made” billionaire is like me saying canned soup is “homemade”. Sure, I put the soup in the pot to cook it, but someone actually had to make that soup and can it before I could get that far, ya know?
— Kat Brady (@KatBrady02) March 6, 2019
Kylie Jenner is self-made!!!!!! Just like the devil's food cake I made!! Just because it came out of a box with Betty Crocker's name doesn't make it any less mine!! My soul and sweat went into that and that's why it tastes so delicious xx
— bolu babalola (@BeeBabs) March 5, 2019
“Kylie Jenner is the youngest self made billionaire”
— Ashar (@AsharPrime) March 5, 2019
Me: SELF MAAADE??? pic.twitter.com/gsr2ScBFBw
Dear Twitter,
— Granddaddy Sandwich (@TySandwich) March 5, 2019
Kylie Jenner is not self-made. She was a child on a reality show, her father is an Olympic gold medalist, her mother came from a family already famous off the controversy. She was raised in the limelight and in wealth. Quit overhyping mediocrity. pic.twitter.com/MJL9Q5KXX9
Kylie Jenner & self made don't go together. pic.twitter.com/GR9XwrH65q
— Local Shibe 🏳️🌈 (@wigsogone) March 5, 2019
Kylie Jenner is NOT A SELF MADE millionaire. #KylieJenner pic.twitter.com/r8rwZ82kyS
— Raquel 🤙 (@quelllzz) March 5, 2019
ah yes self made billionaire kylie jenner, cant believe how far she’s came from that little council estate in the slums of carlisle https://t.co/UO3wDEH9YK
— Callum Markie (@callummarkie) March 5, 2019
However, Kylie has acknowledged she did get an exceptionally good start being born into wealth. Kylie's family-related privileges definitely gave Kylie Cosmetics a leg up on the competition, but she still sees herself as being self-made.
"I had such a huge platform, I had so many followers already and I had so many people watching me," she admitted during an interview with Paper magazine in February. "The self-made thing is true."
"My parents told me I needed to make my own money, it's time to learn how to save and spend your own money, stuff like that. What I'm trying to say is I did have a platform, but none of my money is inherited."
