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With Forbes recently releasing a feature on how Kylie Jenner was able to build a $900 million fortune in less than 3 years, it shocked the public that the Kardashian/Jenner clan have been able to accumulate so much. While Kim Kardashian definitely made headlines for the incredible lifestyle she has been able to afford in recent years, people aren't always exactly sure where all of that money really comes from amongst the entire family. Their reality series, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, introduced the family to the world back in 2007 and it seemed like they were already living the high life. From their massive home to their lavish vacations and their designer brands, it was obvious that this was no ordinary family.

With the increasing popularity of the series, the family seemed to continue to grow their fortune and they continue to break the mold when it comes to how to cash in on their 15 minutes of fame. Forbes named Kylie Jenner one of America's richest self-made women and toppled her big sister, Kim Kardashian, as the new richest in the Kardashian/Jenner clan. While there are a few things the public might be able to name as a business venture that has added to the family's fortune, there are definitely some surprising ways the Kardashians make money that might be quite surprising.

Their Reality Show Pays A Surprising Amount

It seemed like ever since the very first season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians premiered in 2007, it became an instant hit with viewers. With the popularity of the series continuing to grow with each new season, it's not surprising that the pay rate for the various family members depicted on the show has continued to rise. In 2014, TV Guide reported that the series brought in a whopping $10 million per episode.

At the time, Kim, Kris, Caitlyn, Kourtney, Khloe, Kendall, Kylie, and Scott were each paid $500,000 per episode.

Yet, there's still some leeway in today's figures since even Kourtney Kardashian also has an executive producer title and the show has since become one of the most-viewed reality shows on television.

Kourtney’s Little-Known Brand Endorsements

While their are some brand endorsements that definitely seem to be front and center in the Kardashian/Jenner clan, there are others that don't really get the attention like the others.

In the case of Kourtney Kardashian, people might be surprised at the money she's receiving from endorsing various products that somehow seem to remain under the radar.

Hollywood Reporter released an estimate on Kourtney's earnings for 2016 and around $1 million came from products endorsements. During that year, Kourtney was an official brand ambassador for SugarBearHair vitamins, Flat Tummy Tea, Pretty Little Things clothing and Manuka Doctor.

Astounding Amount From Spin-Off Shows

While everyone is aware of the Kardashian reality series, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, people might be shocked to realize just how much has been made from the spin-off shows. The true Kardashian fan has undoubtedly watched every episode of Kourtney & Kim Take Miami, Kourtney and Kim Take New York, Kourtney and Khloe Take The Hamptons and, of course, Khloe & Lamar, and Rob & Chyna. It seems like the Kardashians have constantly been on the air in some form or another. With appearance and executive producer roles, these spin-off shows have been the biggest bulk to add to their overall fortune.

Sears Kardashian Collection

In 2011, Kourtney, Khloe, and Kim banded together to collaborate with Sears for the official Kardashian Kollection. Yet, it didn't have the same sort of success as Jessica Simpson's $1 billion clothing and accessory brand.

While Simpson created pieces that were mall-friendly and adhered to her accessible persona, the Kardashians were known to wear high-end couture and designer brands that weren't affordable to those that would be shopping at Sears. This ultimately led to huge markdowns on the Kardashian Kollection and Sears ultimately stopped selling the collection in 2015.

Yet, that didn't mean that the Kardashians took a loss from their fashion endeavor since the family reportedly made $30 million from the line in 2013 alone.

Brand Endorsement Via Social Media

While regular folks may use their social media accounts to share photos of their kids or connect with old schoolmates, the Kardashian clan has made their social media accounts into a booming business that really adds to their fortune.

While it would be nice to think that they just go onto their social media accounts to connect with their fans and talk about their favorite new products, the truth is that they're being paid to promote certain products because of their vast number of followers.

Kim Kardashian actually got into some trouble in July 2015 when she took to social media and promoted a prescription pill, which was promptly taken down.

Income From Fragrances

It seems like every big name celebrity has either endorsed a fragrance or come out with their very own fragrance collection while at the peak of their popularity. Yet, people might be shocked at how much income the Kardashian clan has made from their various fragrances. While people tend to think harshly on the for the major flop from Khloe and Lamar's unisex fragrance, that doesn't mean that all of them have failed.

Kim Kardashian's KKW Beauty line released its first scent, Crystal Gardenia, and sold out in six days.

Her three Kimoji-inspired scents was released to a huge amount of intrigue and reportedly made $1 million a minute.

Various TV Spots

While people are aware of the Keeping Up with the Kardashians reality series, it's interesting to note that there have been a number of other television hosting jobs that have fallen their way over the years. From Kris Jenner's talk show to Kim's run on Dancing with the Stars, the family has definitely added to their fortune with small roles in various shows over the years.

Khloe Kardashian also starred as the co-host of season 2 of The X-Factor and even appeared in The Apprentice.

All of these small and almost forgettable TV jobs may not seem like much but they have definitely added up and increased their fortune.

Base Fortune From Robert Kardashian

Something that people often forget about the Kardashian clan is the fact that they had long been seen as incredibly wealthy, even prior to when the very first episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians aired on television. While Robert Kardashian's career is best remembered for the headline-making O.J. Simpson trial, he had already solidified himself as a hugely successful lawyer even before the infamous chase with the white Bronco. Robert Kardashian reportedly left $100 million estate in trust for his family upon his passing of esophageal cancer in 2003. This base fortune was actually a huge spark to the family continuing to earn, from interest to real estate holdings.

Exorbitant Payment For Appearances

The Keeping Up with the Kardashians reality series has touched on the fact that Scott Disick made a huge amount of money for appearances at various nightclubs. Yet, it was portrayed on the show in not the best light since he was often seen as a slacker in comparison to the others in the Kardashian/Jenner clan and often had issues. However, people might be surprised to learn that the other members of the Kardashian/Jenner clan also earn an incredible amount for their public appearances.

While it would be nice to think that Kim Kardashian actually wants to go to these hotspots, she was paid $50,000 to help open Topshop LA and earned $300,000 to celebrate New Year's Eve at 1 Oak in Las Vegas.

If only we could get paid to party and shop.

$500,000 to meet Austrian Businessman

In 2014, Kim Kardashian was seen on Keeping Up with the Kardashians in an episode that showed her flying to the Vienna Ball in an ultra-lavish trip that seemed like just another occasion to show off her glamorous lifestyle. The episode garnered a huge amount of attention because of a man in blackface pretending to be Kanye West and a television personality using a questionable word during an interview with her. That seemed to take the whole focus of the incident but they glossed over the fact that Kim was actually there as a date of Richard Lugner, an Austrian businessman that reportedly paid her $500,000 to accompany him.

Selling Used Clothing And Accessories Online

When Kim Kardashian was solely the daughter of a prestigious lawyer, she found out that she could use her father's status to help get her hands on some sought-after clothing pieces. She wound up selling them on eBay and made quite a little business for herself. After obtaining fame as a reality star, she didn't hang up her eBay business. In fact, she got the rest of the Kardashian clan on the band wagon. Cosmopolitan reported, "Between February 2013 and February 2014, the Kardashian clan sold just under 2,000 pieces successfully on eBay, raking in $277,469.60 from auction items."

Millions From the App

When Kim Kardashian: Hollywood was released as an app for the iPhone and iPad in July 2014, no one could have guessed how incredibly successful it would become. While some people may know that she made a pretty penny from the app and the in-app purchases, it's surprising to hear the actual numbers. In 2015, the app generated $71.8 million in revenue and Forbes stated, "Kardashian banked a remarkable $52.5 million pretax between June 2014 and June 2015." Kardashian released a tongue-in-cheek comment on Twitter to address the app's success and stated,

"Sorry I'm late to the party guys I was busy cashing my $80 million video game check and transferring $53 million into our joint account."

Well, that sounds like a nice way to spend an afternoon.

Kim’s Selfie Book

In 2015, Kim Kardashian released a selfie book that was supposedly spawned from a pursuit to get a really great gift for her husband, Kanye West. There was a huge amount of hype surrounding this 352-page selfie book but a report from Nielsen Bookscan put a bit of a damper on it when it reported that the book had only sold around 30,000 copies.

Yet, new reports showed that the numbers were a bit inaccurate and the number was actually more like 125,000 copies within that first year.

With the price of the book starting out at $19.95, it's surprising to think that it is $2.4 million for just a collection of selfies.

Novelty Merch

The Kardashian/Jenner clan is no stranger to putting their branding stamp on novelty merchandise since their Las Vegas location for Dash was all about putting Kardashian catchphrases on anything and everything to cash in. Kylie Jenner made headlines when The New York Times estimated that she brought in $10 million from her branded products in 2016. From phone cases with her picture to bomber jackets and the infamous 2017 calendar shot by the famed photographer, Terry Richards, the Kardashian/Jenner clan sure knows how to cash in on their 15 minutes of fame.

Khloe’s Brand Endorsements

While people often get hung up on the brand endorsements from Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian, they aren't the only ones cleaning up from saying that they absolutely can't live without a certain product.

Khloe Kardashian reportedly made $15 million in profits from her product endorsements online and her role with Good American in 2016.

Hollywood Reporter reported $1 million in sales on their very first day of business, which many attributed to Khloe's endorsement of the jeans. In a 2016 interview with Forbes, Khloe stated, "If I'm claiming I used a product I want you to really see that I do, I don't want it to be just for show."

Kendall Jenner’s Instagram Posts

When Kendall Jenner first started garnering attention as an up-and-comer in the modeling world, people were instantly taken by her striking beauty and how different she seemed in comparison to all of her sisters. She became a prime target for companies looking for someone young and influential to reach out to potential customers. Hollywood Reporter stated that

she reportedly charges around $370,000 for a paid Instagram post.

While it would be nice to believe that she just felt like taking to Instagram to show off a new makeup product or lip shade, the fact is that these posts bring on a huge part of her income.

Kendall’s Modelling Contracts

When Kendall Jenner first started to embark on the modelling world, people were a bit skeptical at first. Yet, it didn't take long for her to dominate in the world of fashion, from walking in runway shows to the numerous brands that wanted her to be the new face for their products. In 2016, Forbes' placed Kendall Jenner on the list of top-earning models and estimated that she earned around $10 million from modelling contracts. In 2017, Forbes estimated that she took in $22 million in total.

Kendall Jenner’s Real Estate Profit

With supermodels constantly having to travel around the globe for various fashion shows, it's not surprising that Kendall Jenner was living in a condo in Los Angeles. While it was quite lavish at $1.39 million, there didn't seem to be enough room for her and she went shopping for a Hollywood Hills mansion. She wound up getting a great deal when Emily Blunt and John Krasinski listed their home for $6.95 million and Kendall purchased it for $6.5 million. After only about a year, Kendall relisted the home and sold it for $6.85 million.

Kylie Jenner’s Real Estate Profit

When Kylie Jenner was shown on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, people were taken aback at the thought of her purchasing her own home. She seemed incredibly young to be a new homeowner and even Caitlyn wondered whether or not she was up to the responsibility. Yet, she proved all of her naysayers wrong when she not only purchased her first home but purchased three California homes between June 2016 and October 2016.

The first home was purchased for $2.7 million and sold for $3.15 million, the second home was purchased for $4.5 million and sold for $5.4 million.

She clearly has an eye for it.

Kim’s Makeup Line

While there has been a huge amount of attention on Kylie's beauty brand, Kylie Cosmetics, and her infamous Lip Kits, some people might be surprised to hear about the incredible success of Kim Kardashian's beauty line. KKW Beauty came after Kylie had already started on her journey as the new cosmetics queen but that didn't stop Kim from starting her own line of cosmetics. Business Insider reported that KKW Beauty sold 300,000 contour and highlight kits within the first day of launching and that amounted to $14.4 million.

Personal App Income

After Kim Kardashian had a huge amount of success with her game app, it seemed like the entire Kardashian/Jenner clan wanted in on this new untapped source of income. Proving that the family really knows how to capitalize on their fame, Whalerock Industries created an outlet for them to have a personal app. Instead of an app that lets people play a game of being a Kardashian, these personal apps are like diaries that include everything from videos to behind-the-scenes looks for die-hard fans. Apptopia reported Kylie's app was downloaded 1.75 million in the first week. Apptopia reported Kylie's app to bring in over $400,000 in the first week and Khloe's was at $150,000 the first week.

Kim’s Fairytale Wedding: A Kardashian Event

When Kim Kardashian first started dating the professional basketball player, Kris Humphries, there were some that criticized whether or not it was a real romance. The public had already been hugely invested in some of her previous romances and it was difficult to truly get on board with the story of her finally finding her Prince Charming. Yet, that didn't stop her from going all-out in promoting her whirlwind romance and quick trip to the altar. Her wedding was a two-part special entitled, Kim's Fairytale Wedding: A Kardashian Event, and NBC reported that it netted her $18 million in licensing, endorsement, and broadcast deals.

Kourtney Kardashian’s Tweets

Kourtney Kardashian is often seen as one of the lesser driven members of the Kardashian/Jenner clan but that doesn't mean that she doesn't have a number of side projects that bring in a ton of income. While some people are aware of some of her endorsement deals, they might be surprised by her social media profits. The public doesn't usually get big news headlines about Kourtney Kardashian's tweets but that doesn't mean that she's not taking to Twitter to rack up some profit. NBC reported that Kourtney Kardashian makes around $15,000 per tweet.

Kylie Cosmetics Rakes In More Than Imagined

When Kylie Jenner was first shown as the youngest in the Kardashian/Jenner clan, she wasn't exactly seen as a key part of the Keeping Up with the Kardashians series. Yet, things started to change as she grew up in front of the cameras and evolved her public persona. When she released her Lip Kits through her company, Kylie Cosmetics, it became a huge hit around the world. In 2018, Forbes used Kylie for their cover when they released their America's Women Billionaires issue and proclaimed her the $900 million cosmetics Queen. The cosmetics company made more than $630 million in just two years and it doesn't look like it's slowing down any time soon.

References: Forbes, People, Business Insider, Daily Mail, Forbes, TMZ, MSNBC, Fortune, Washington Post, OK! Magazine, Cosmopolitan, US Magazine, NY Times, NBC