You can't escape them. Even if you’ve never watched a single minute of reality TV, you know the names. You know the silhouettes. It’s been nearly two decades since they first landed on E!, and yet the question of who are the Kardashian sisters still brings up a mix of genuine curiosity and, let’s be honest, a little bit of confusion for those who haven’t kept up.
They aren't just "famous for being famous" anymore. That's a tired trope from 2007. Today, they are CEOs, criminal justice reform advocates, and the literal architects of modern social media marketing. They changed how we look, how we shop, and how we consume "celebrity."
Basically, the family tree is split into two main branches under the matriarch, Kris Jenner. First, you have the three "OG" sisters from Kris’s marriage to high-profile attorney Robert Kardashian: Kourtney, Kim, and Khloé. Then, you have the younger half-sisters, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, from Kris’s later marriage to Caitlyn Jenner.
Kim Kardashian: The Blueprint
When people ask who are the Kardashian sisters, Kim is usually the first person they picture. She’s the middle child of the original trio and, arguably, the engine that started the entire machine. It’s wild to think she started as Paris Hilton’s closet organizer.
Kim is a study in evolution. She went from being a tabloid fixture to a woman who successfully lobbied the White House for the clemency of Alice Marie Johnson. She’s currently a billionaire, thanks to SKIMS and her now-shuttered KKW Beauty. Honestly, her work ethic is what people often miss. While critics were busy making fun of her 72-day marriage to Kris Humphries, Kim was busy building a tech empire with her "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood" mobile game, which reportedly made over $160 million in its lifetime before closing down in early 2024.
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She’s also the one who leaned hardest into the "high fashion" pivot. After her marriage to Kanye West, Kim’s aesthetic shifted from "SoCal glam" to avant-garde Balenciaga and Mugler. She’s not just a TV star; she’s a legitimate power player in the fashion industry who can move the needle on an entire season’s trends with one Instagram post.
Kourtney: The Reluctant Reality Star
Kourtney is the oldest. She’s often the one who seems most "done" with the cameras. For years, her storyline centered on her turbulent relationship with Scott Disick, the father of her three children: Mason, Penelope, and Reign.
These days, Kourtney has rebranded herself as a wellness mogul. She launched Poosh, a lifestyle platform that feels like a more accessible version of Goop. She also recently married Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, which birthed a whole new "rockstar girlfriend" aesthetic that took over the internet. Kourtney is the sister who will tell you she’d rather be in pajamas at home than at the Met Gala, yet she’s essential to the family dynamic because she provides the dry, sarcastic counter-balance to Kim’s intense drive.
Khloé: The Transformation and the Heart
If Kim is the brain and Kourtney is the vibe, Khloé is the heart. Growing up, she was often cruelly compared to her sisters by the media. She was taller, had a different build, and the tabloids were relentless about it.
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Khloé used that pain to fuel Good American, a denim and apparel brand focused on size inclusivity. It was a massive success because it felt authentic; she knew what it was like to not fit into the "standard" sizes at high-end boutiques. Her life has been marked by high-profile public struggles, specifically with her ex-husband Lamar Odom and the father of her children, Tristan Thompson. Despite the constant drama, she’s widely considered the most relatable sister. She’s the one who says what the audience is thinking.
The Jenner Shift: Kendall and Kylie
You can’t talk about who are the Kardashian sisters without including the Jenners. While they have a different last name, they are inextricably linked to the Kardashian brand.
- Kendall Jenner: She took a different path. She’s the "quiet" one. Kendall moved away from the reality TV drama early on to pursue high-fashion modeling. She’s walked for Chanel, Versace, and Victoria’s Secret. She also launched 818 Tequila, which has become a major player in the spirits industry.
- Kylie Jenner: The "baby" of the family who changed everything. Kylie used her lip-filler controversy to launch Kylie Cosmetics. At one point, Forbes named her the youngest "self-made" billionaire, a title that sparked a massive debate about what "self-made" actually means when you’re born into a million-dollar platform. Regardless of the semantics, her influence on Gen Z is unparalleled.
Why the World Stays Obsessed
It’s easy to dismiss them. People do it every day. But if you look at the business of being a Kardashian, it’s a masterclass in attention. They’ve managed to stay relevant through the shift from cable TV to streaming, from Blackberrys to TikTok.
They understand the "leak and pivot" strategy better than most PR firms. When a scandal breaks, they don't hide; they film it. They turn personal trauma into season finales, which sounds cynical, but it’s also why they’ve outlasted every other reality family of the mid-2000s (remember the Osbournes or the Hogans?).
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The Business of Influence
Most people don't realize that the sisters own a massive portion of their own supply chains. They aren't just licensing their names to products anymore. They are founders.
- SKIMS: Valued at roughly $4 billion.
- Kylie Cosmetics: Coty Inc. bought a 51% stake for $600 million back in 2019.
- Good American: A massive player in the "body positivity" fashion space.
- Lemme: Kourtney's recent foray into vitamins and supplements.
Common Misconceptions
People think they don't work. That's probably the biggest myth. While they aren't working a 9-to-5 in a cubicle, their "work" is the constant curation of their lives. It's a 24/7 job of being a brand. There is no "off" switch.
Another misconception is that they all hate each other because of the fighting seen on The Kardashians on Hulu. In reality, their bond is their biggest asset. They operate like a literal corporation. Kris Jenner, the "Momager," ensures that while they might bicker over "who stole whose wedding vibe" (a real plot point between Kim and Kourtney), they never truly break the family unit. The unit is what provides the safety net for their individual ventures.
How to Follow the Sisters Today
If you're trying to keep up, the landscape has changed. They aren't on E! anymore.
- Watch the Show: They are currently on Hulu with The Kardashians. It’s more cinematic and documentary-style than the old show.
- Social Media: This is where the real-time news happens. Instagram is their primary "billboard," but TikTok is where you see the "unfiltered" (or at least, less filtered) versions of their lives, especially through North West’s account or Kylie’s "get ready with me" videos.
- The Brands: If you want to understand their impact, look at what people are wearing. SKIMS has fundamentally changed the loungewear and shapewear industry.
Ultimately, the Kardashian sisters represent a specific era of American culture. They are the intersection of the "American Dream" and the "Attention Economy." Whether you love them or find them exhausting, their footprint on business, beauty standards, and entertainment is permanent.
Next Steps for the Curious:
If you want to understand the business side of their empire, look into the specific Case Studies published by Harvard Business Review regarding their marketing tactics. Or, if you're just here for the fashion, check out the archives of Kim’s Met Gala appearances—they serve as a timeline for her rise from reality star to a legitimate icon of the industry. Don't just watch the show; watch how they use the show to sell the products you'll see in your targeted ads tomorrow.