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Kris Jenner Biography: The ‘Momager’ Who Built the Kardashian-Jenner Empire

Daniel Reed
Kris Jenner headshot

Kris Jenner is the American media personality and businesswoman who turned her family into one of the most valuable brands in entertainment. As the “momager” of the Kardashian-Jenner family, she manages the careers of her six children, executive-produces the reality shows that made them famous, and takes a reported 10 percent cut of their deals. She turned 71 on 5 November 2026, the same day a new episode of The Kardashians showed her supporting daughter Kim through a health scare.

Quick facts

  • Full name: Kristen Mary Jenner (née Houghton, formerly Kardashian)
  • Born: 5 November 1955, San Diego, California, USA
  • Nationality: American
  • Occupation: Media personality, businesswoman, television producer, manager
  • Known for: Keeping Up with the Kardashians, The Kardashians, managing the Kardashian-Jenner family
  • Spouses: Robert Kardashian (1978–1991); Caitlyn Jenner (1991–2015)
  • Partner: Corey Gamble (since 2014)
  • Children: Six — Kourtney, Kim, Khloé and Rob Kardashian; Kendall and Kylie Jenner

Early life and background

Kristen Mary Houghton was born on 5 November 1955 in San Diego, California, to Mary Jo “M.J.” Shannon, who owned a children’s clothing store, and Robert True “Bob” Houghton, an engineer. She was the elder of two children; her only sibling was her younger sister Karen Houghton. Her parents divorced when Kris was seven, and she and Karen were raised by their mother. Her mother later remarried businessman Harry Shannon, who helped raise the girls.

Kris worked at Shannon & Company, her mother’s children’s clothing store in San Diego, and attended Clairemont High School, graduating in 1973. Her father died in a car crash in Mexico in 1975, when she was 19. In 1976 she worked for a year as an American Airlines flight attendant. In 2004 she opened the children’s boutique “Smooch” with her eldest daughter, Kourtney.

Marriages and family

Kris married lawyer Robert Kardashian on 8 July 1978. They had four children — Kourtney (born 1979), Kim (born 1980), Khloé (born 1984) and Rob (born 1987) — before their divorce was finalised in March 1991. The two remained close friends until Robert’s death from oesophageal cancer on 30 September 2003, aged 59.

One month after the divorce, in April 1991, she married retired Olympic decathlete Bruce Jenner. They had two daughters, Kendall (born 1995) and Kylie (born 1997). The couple announced their separation in October 2013; Kris filed for divorce in September 2014 and it was final on 23 March 2015. Bruce publicly came out as a transgender woman in 2015, taking the name Caitlyn. Even after the divorce, they continued to co-star on Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

Since 2014 Kris has been in a relationship with talent manager and business executive Corey Gamble, whom she met at the 40th birthday party of mutual friend, fashion designer Riccardo Tisci. The two are not married. On her daughter Khloé’s podcast in April 2026, Kris shut down breakup rumours and, asked about marriage, said “You never know. I’m full of surprises.” She has also spoken about their 25-year age gap, saying “age is just a number.”

Her younger sister, Karen Houghton, died unexpectedly on 18 March 2024, aged 65; Kris announced the death on Instagram the next day. Her mother, Mary Jo “M.J.” Shannon, died on 16 July 2026, aged 91.

The “momager” and the Kardashian empire

Keeping Up with the Kardashians premiered on E! on 14 October 2007. Kris starred in the show and was its executive producer across 20 seasons and 285 episodes until it ended in 2021. The family then moved to Hulu, where The Kardashians premiered in April 2022, with Kris again starring and executive-producing. Forbes reported that Hulu called the debut the most-watched series premiere in the United States.

Kris coined the term “momager” — mother plus manager — for her role managing all six of her children’s careers. She takes a reported 10 percent management fee from her children’s earnings and deals, and runs her Los Angeles-based production and management company, Jenner Communications, as its founder and CEO. Forbes estimated she earned about $100,000 per episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

Beyond television, she has built the family into a business portfolio. She manages the children’s brands, including Kim’s SKIMS, Kylie Jenner‘s Kylie Cosmetics, Khloé’s Good American, Kendall’s 818 Tequila and Kourtney’s Poosh. She wrote the autobiography Kris Jenner… and All Things Kardashian, released in November 2011, and the cookbook In the Kitchen with Kris, released in October 2014. In March 2021 she co-founded the plant-based home-care line Safely with Emma Grede. In 2022 she was named to Forbes’ second annual 50 Over 50 list, for building the family empire after the age of 50.

2026: a 71st birthday and a family health scare

Kris turned 71 on Thursday 5 November 2026. Her partner Corey Gamble, 45, marked the day with an Instagram tribute calling her his “lil wife” — “Happiest Birthday to the Holy Grail …. Love you forever!! Keep being Great. You’re the greatest mother, Lovey & Honey to all your kids and im blessed to have you in my life lil wife …..” Kris replied “I love you.” The wording sparked marriage speculation online, but the couple have never publicly confirmed a marriage.

The same day, a new episode of The Kardashians showed Kris accompanying Kim, 46, to a follow-up appointment at the UCLA Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health, the centre Kim and her sisters founded in 2019 in honour of their late father. Kim had been diagnosed with esophagitis, inflammation of the oesophagus, and doctors were checking whether medication had improved the irregularities found in her oesophagus. Kris said on camera: “I don’t want to tell her I’m scared, but it’s very worrisome. We just pray for the best.” The scare revived memories of Robert Kardashian, who died of oesophageal cancer in 2003, just eight weeks after his diagnosis.

A preview for the 12 November episode, shown the same week, featured a confrontation over Citizen Kim: The Woman Who Created the Future, Jonathan Van Meter’s tell-all book about Kim, released in October 2026. In the preview, a visibly upset Kris tells Kim: “You have just given our rights to our lives away to some stranger,” before walking off.

Net worth snapshot

Kris Jenner’s net worth is estimated at between $170 million and $200 million in 2026. The $170 million figure is the 2026 consensus across wealth outlets, while Forbes estimated $200 million in October 2022 and $190 million in 2020; no single current Forbes figure for 2026 exists. The fortune rests on her 10 percent management fee, television earnings and equity stakes in her daughters’ companies. Read the full breakdown in Kris Jenner’s net worth.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Kris Jenner?

Kris Jenner was born on 5 November 1955 in San Diego, California. She turned 71 on 5 November 2026.

Who are Kris Jenner’s children?

She has six children: Kourtney, Kim, Khloé and Rob Kardashian, from her marriage to Robert Kardashian; and Kendall and Kylie Jenner, from her marriage to Caitlyn Jenner.

Is Kris Jenner married to Corey Gamble?

No. Kris Jenner and Corey Gamble have been together since 2014 but are not married, despite Gamble calling her his “lil wife” in a 71st birthday tribute in November 2026.

What is a “momager”?

“Momager” is Kris Jenner’s term for mother plus manager. She manages all six of her children’s careers through her company Jenner Communications and takes a reported 10 percent management fee on their deals.

What is Kris Jenner’s net worth?

Her net worth is estimated at between $170 million and $200 million in 2026. The $170 million figure is the 2026 consensus; Forbes estimated $200 million in October 2022. No current Forbes figure for 2026 exists.

Sources