If you’ve spent any time on the internet over the last twenty years, you know the name Kardashian. It’s basically unavoidable. But before the Skims empire, the Hulu cameras, and the billion-dollar net worths, there was a different kind of fame attached to that surname. Most people asking who is the dad of the Kardashians are looking for the man who started it all: Robert Kardashian Sr.
He wasn't a reality star. Honestly, he’d probably be baffled by TikTok. Robert was a high-powered attorney and businessman who became a household name during one of the most polarizing moments in American legal history.
The Man Behind the Name
Robert George Kardashian was born in 1944 in Los Angeles. He was a third-generation Armenian-American, and that heritage was a massive deal to him. It’s something you still see reflected in his kids today—Kim, Kourtney, Khloé, and Robert Jr. often talk about their roots. Robert didn't just stumble into wealth; his family owned a successful meatpacking business, but he carved his own path in law and entrepreneurship.
He met Kris Houghton (now Kris Jenner) when she was quite young. They married in 1978. For a while, they were just another wealthy, socialite couple in Beverly Hills. They had four kids and lived a life of country clubs and designer clothes. It was a world of privilege, sure, but it wasn't "famous" yet.
Then came 1994.
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The O.J. Simpson Trial and the Public Eye
You can’t talk about Robert Kardashian without talking about O.J. Simpson. They were best friends. Like, "O.J. was the best man at Robert’s wedding" kind of friends. When Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were murdered, Robert hadn't practiced law in years. He actually reactivated his legal license specifically to join O.J.'s "Dream Team" of defense attorneys.
It changed everything.
Suddenly, the Kardashian face was on every television screen in America. There’s that famous image of Robert carrying O.J.’s garment bag away from the house, a bag that people still speculate about to this day. The trial didn't just bring fame; it brought a weird, heavy kind of notoriety. It also allegedly caused huge friction in the family. Kris Jenner was best friends with Nicole Brown Simpson. Imagine that dinner table tension. It was a house divided by one of the most brutal crimes of the century.
Robert believed in his friend. Or at least, he did his job as a lawyer. But the trial took a toll. Friends of Robert have suggested in various interviews and biographies that his relationship with O.J. was never quite the same after the "Not Guilty" verdict. The weight of the world's scrutiny is a lot to carry.
Clearing Up the Rumors
People love a conspiracy theory. If you hang out in the darker corners of celebrity gossip forums, you've probably seen the "Who is Khloé's real dad?" threads. It's a persistent, somewhat mean-spirited rumor that has followed the family for decades.
Let's be clear: Robert Kardashian Sr. is the father.
Despite the tabloid noise suggesting everyone from O.J. Simpson to Kris’s former hairdresser might be the "real" dad, the family has addressed this repeatedly. Kris Jenner admitted to having an affair during her marriage to Robert in her memoir, Kris Jenner... and All Things Kardashian, but she has always maintained that Robert is Khloé’s biological father. Khloé even took a DNA test on an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians to put the rumors to bed regarding her maternal heritage, and the sisters have joked about the absurdity of the speculation for years. Robert loved his kids fiercely. To him, there was never a question.
A Legacy Cut Short
The world didn't get to see Robert Kardashian Sr. react to his children's meteoric rise to fame. In July 2003, he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. It was aggressive. Shockingly fast.
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He passed away just eight weeks later, in September 2003, at the age of 59.
The timing is poignant. Keeping Up With The Kardashians didn't premiere until 2007. He missed the sex tape scandal, the reality TV contracts, the fashion lines, and the birth of his many grandchildren. There is a frequent sense of melancholy in the family’s social media posts whenever his birthday or the anniversary of his death rolls around. They often wonder what "Dash" (his nickname) would think of the chaos they’ve built.
The "Other" Dad: Caitlyn Jenner
When people ask who is the dad of the Kardashians, sometimes they are actually thinking of the person who raised them for the latter half of their lives. After Robert and Kris divorced in 1991, Kris married Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner (now Caitlyn Jenner).
Caitlyn is the father of Kendall and Kylie, but for the older four—Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Rob—she was their stepfather for over 20 years.
The dynamic here is complex. Caitlyn was a staple on the reality show and played a massive role in their upbringing. However, following the transition and the release of Caitlyn's memoir, The Secrets of My Life, the relationship between Caitlyn and the Kardashian siblings (especially Kim and Khloé) became incredibly strained. They felt she spoke unfairly of their mother and, by extension, their father's memory.
Why Robert Sr. Still Matters in 2026
It’s easy to dismiss the Kardashians as just "famous for being famous." But the legal and business acumen Robert instilled in his children—specifically Kim—is a huge part of why they’ve stayed relevant while other reality stars faded away.
Kim’s recent pivot into law and prison reform is a direct homage to her father. She’s literally using his old law books. It's a full-circle moment that grounds the glitz of their current lives in the more serious, academic world Robert inhabited.
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He gave them the name. He gave them the initial connection to the elite circles of Los Angeles. But more than that, he gave them a sense of family loyalty that, for better or worse, is the bedrock of their brand.
What to Remember About Robert Kardashian Sr.
- Legal Powerhouse: He was a key member of the O.J. Simpson defense team, which was his primary claim to fame during his life.
- Armenian Heritage: He was deeply proud of his roots, a trait he passed down to all four of his children.
- Business Mind: Beyond law, he was involved in several ventures, including Juice Inc. and a trade publication called Radio & Records.
- Tragic Passing: His death from esophageal cancer in 2003 happened just years before the family became a global phenomenon.
To truly understand the Kardashian phenomenon, you have to look at the man who provided the blueprint. Robert Sr. was a complex figure caught between his loyalty to a friend and his responsibilities to his family. While the world watches his daughters, his influence is the invisible thread running through their entire empire.
Next Steps for Deep Divers
If you're interested in the legal side of his legacy, research the Kardashian Bill, a piece of California legislation inspired by his role in the O.J. trial regarding the "attorney-client privilege" of evidence. You can also watch the FX series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story, where David Schwimmer portrays Robert, capturing the intense pressure he faced during the "Trial of the Century." For a more personal look, the early seasons of Keeping Up With The Kardashians often feature the kids visiting his grave or sharing home movies that show a side of him the public never saw during the trials.