Member-only story
Who Isn’t “Self-Made”
There are a slew of words that are misused, or fail to grasp the full significance or meaning of a word. Such is the case with “self-made”. The word self-made describes a person who successfully builds their wealth or business through their own efforts.
Calling Kylie Jenner the “youngest self-made millionaire” is a misnomer. But going further, it’s also a misnomer to label white people “self-made” in general. This word is being used to make white people believe they’ve faced incredible odds and somehow overcame insurmountable obstacles which is rarely the case.
Keeping Up With The Lie
Maybe because of the sales that a Kardashian/Jenner name brings, Forbes decided to inaccurately give Kylie the “self-made” title to cash in. Or maybe Forbes is just desperate to have an American wear the crown as their last “winner” was Mark Zuckerberg.
However, Kylie’s success did not come solely from herself, but from the wealth and infamy of her family which came via Kim Kardashian West’s sex tape. None of them were a household name before then. And fame before launching a brand, especially in today’s ‘stan’ culture, ensures sales.
Kylie, and her family, did not make something from nothing. They cashed in on scandal and continue to do that with the Jordyn/Khloe/Tristan drama.