Ka-ching — it's the Kardashians!
The new issue of The Hollywood Reporter goes in depth with Kardashian mom and manager Kris Jenner about the inventive — and controversial — ways she's monetized reality fame for her family since their arrival on E! in 2007.
Last year, THR reveals, the tightknit family made more money than what Angelina Jolie, Sandra Bullock, and Tom Cruise are estimated to have earned combined: a staggering $65 million (a source close to the family confirms the figure).
Below, a round-up of the shocking amounts of money they've scored:
- The family splits a six-figure paycheck per E! episode. The shows might provide a steady paycheck, but their larger purpose is to serve as a marketing platform for their endorsements and best-selling products, which include book, fragrance and clothing lines. "These shows are a 30-minute commercial," admits Khloé, co-star of the first spinoff, "Kourtney & Khloé Take Miami," which focused on the opening of a Florida outpost of their clothing store, Dash.
- Kim now charges as much as $25,000 to simply mention and link to a brand or company in a tweet. It's so effective a tool that businesses have begun including Twitter clauses in their contracts with the family, committing the girls to a set number of tweets about their product.
- Kim commands a personal appearance fee of $100,000 to $250,000 per event, and can even demand up to $1 million internationally, according to a high-profile talent wrangler. It's been rumored that she signed a seven-figure deal with a Las Vegas club owner for a handful of 2011 appearances. (Kris will not confirm.) "Kim sells," a nightlife source says.
[Photos: Hollywood's Highest-Grossing Actors]
- Kourtney sold news of her 2009 pregnancy to Life & Style magazine for a cool $300,000. That included multiple stories: the pregnancy announcement, sex of the baby, birth announcement, first baby photos and body-after-baby reveal. (Life & Style declined comment.)
- Khloé and husband Lamar Odom scored nearly $300,000 from OK! magazine for their wedding. Kris also had everything from the Lehr & Black custom invitations to Khloé's 9-carat engagement ring "donated" for the lavish affair; sources say she promised vendors massive product promotion that would come from the media circus surrounding the wedding. In the event that an item wasn't gifted, E!, it is believed, picked up the tab (E! declined comment).
- Certain paparazzi agencies also have agreements with the family to stage photos, sell them and split the profits. Kourtney and beau Scott Disick recently earned $7,500 for an afternoon laying poolside in Cancun.
- The Kardashian Kard, a prepaid credit card the sisters launched in November with financial service company Mobile Research Card, also was to give the Kardashians $3 for every card activated or sold, 25 percent of fees, a $75,000 advance on royalties and a $37,000 signing bonus. But when then-Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal castigated the card for its predatory hidden fees (of which the family, as stated by the contract, would receive a percentage), Kris attempted to quietly terminate the agreement. The card's issuer is suing the family for $75 million.
[Photos: THR's 80th Anniversary Issue]
The Kardashians have no plans to slow down. "My fantasy is to have 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians,' season 26," Jenner, 55, tells THR. "Who knew it would be this profitable? I should have had more kids."
