What The Kardashians Were Like Before They Became Famous

The Kardashians have collectively cracked the family business code to the tune of billions, thanks to the genius of the matriarch, Kris Jenner. "I'm the one who can help [my kids] identify what it is that they want to do, help them create a business, build an infrastructure and help them focus," Jenner said in an interview with Forbes.

Time and again, the Jenner-led brood has made headlines. When the public isn't scrutinizing a controversial magazine cover, the Kardashians' adventurous love lives take center stage. With the world watching their every move, Kylie Jenner disclosed a downside to having a mega-following. "I wake up every morning at, like, seven or eight because I think that there's a bad story about me, and I have to check. My worst fear is waking up and finding something bad about me on the internet," she shared in a conversation with Interview.

Asked how their lives would have turned out had they not found themselves on television, Kris had two words for "CBS Sunday Morning": "Maybe boring." Of course, the family had a life prior to mainstream media's takeover. Was it really dull? Let's find out.

In her memoir "Kris Jenner... and all things Kardashian," Jenner reveals that she met her would-be husband Robert Kardashian at a horse racing event. She was in her late teens. At the time of their meeting, Jenner was in a relationship. "[Robert Kardashian] had begun calling again," Jenner wrote. "I didn't know what to do. I was still engaged to Anthony and I didn't know how to juggle the two." Jenner eventually made her choice, and the pair had a 13-year-union that bore their four famous children. Long before fans were keeping up with Jenner and her family on television, there were Kardashian home videos such as one of little Khloé Kardashian's baptism, shared on Kim Kardashian's YouTube channel.

During her marriage to the Beverly Hills attorney, who would later gain popularity for the O.J. Simpson trial, Jenner was financially dwarfed. "My husband paid the bills," part of her memoir reads. "He wrote the checks, he handled the money. I had no money — not one dollar — to my name. He controlled everything." 

Kardashian died following an eight-week esophageal cancer diagnosis in 2003. "I will always remember him as the world's greatest father, whose first priority was his kids," Jenner told the Los Angeles Times when news of his death broke.

In 2017, it was reported that Kris Jenner had trademarked the term "momager." In a conversation with Forbes, Jenner revealed that she was getting 10% of the gross income from each deal, which was way below what her industry peers made.

Way before the careers of her children became her responsibility, however, she was handling the family's first major public figure, Olympic athlete, Caitlyn Jenner (formerly Bruce Jenner), with whom she moved on after divorcing Robert Kardashian.

"Bruce didn't have a press kit, a business card, or even a piece of stationery with his name on it," Kris wrote in "Kris Jenner... and all things Kardashian." She'd since transitioned from active competitions to speaking, and Kris had to build her new career from the ground up, with the aid of Kardashian's former assistant. "We knew Bruce was good at what he did; we just had to make sure everyone else realized that too," Kris further revealed. Soon enough, Caitlyn went from living by the paycheck to swimming in hard cash.

Caitlyn and Kris Jenner's big break came from Jack Kirby, who owned a docutainment company. "How would you like Bruce to do an infomercial about sunglasses?" Kirby asked, per Kris' memoir. Within no time, the pair was selling exercise equipment like they meant it, including multi-purpose power toners and striders that allegedly burn fat in 20 minutes. The fit couple also advertised power walking as a lifestyle.

Kris took things a notch higher with a candle promotion that has since done rounds on the internet. "These are 'wicks of wisdom,'" Kris declares in the footage, "And it's the special formulas added to these unique candles that make them so amazing!" She proceeds to showcase testimonials from people whose lives have been changed by the candles in question.

Her approach set a precedent for what became a thriving Kardashian vocation — marketing — now made possible by the click of a smartphone. "I think that when we first started our show, there was no Instagram, there was no Snapchat, there was no TikTok," Kris said in an interview with Forbes. "There was barely Twitter, and Kim was really the first one who got on Twitter and taught the rest of us."

Prior to SKIMS, Good American, Kylie Cosmetics, and the numerous businesses the Kardashian-Jenners have launched over the years, the fashionistas — albeit lesser-known — were in the retail business. "The girls opened a store in Calabasas called Dash, and it became very successful," Kris Jenner revealed in a chat with Interview. "Kourtney and I had a children's store called Smooch. That was always my dream: to have a chain of stores."

The Kardashians, who have since moved on to a Hulu show that bears the same name, used their first show as an avenue to market their already existing businesses. "I thought 'This will be so fabulous because people will know about our store. It will create an awareness of this Dash brand,'" Jenner further disclosed. The idea of a retail chain wasn't one that was so far-fetched since Jenner's own mum had charted the path earlier. "Before we ever had the shows, my mom had a store for 40 years in La Jolla, and I grew up working there," the momager told Interview.

During the 13th season of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," Kim Kardashian was of the opinion that Dash had run its course, while Kourtney Kardashian was still holding on. In the end, the announcement that Dash would be closing its doors came through Kim's app.

As grown-ups, Kourtney Kardashian and her sister Kim Kardashian would go at it on "Keeping Up With the Kardashians." One moment, the pair were butting heads over Kourtney's appearance on Kim's mobile game, and the next, they'd trade blows after a heated argument over Kourtney's work ethic. Not even a conversation about Kim's nanny could be had without the mood becoming belligerent.

As it turns out, a callous streak existed when the Kardashians had no audience. Chatting with The Wall Street Journal, Kim revealed that they'd role-play as children, with Kim assuming the position of an aide to a superior Donna Karan. "I was tortured as Donna Karan's assistant," revealed Kim. "Kourtney would just make me do anything she said. She would do things on purpose to me and embarrass me in front of her friends."

Similarly, Kim recounted an incident on "KUWTK" when she was a kid, where Kourtney and a friend pelted Kim with fruit when she wanted to hang out.

Back when she couldn't afford to walk red carpets in designer wear, Kim Kardashian had an interest in fashion that was encouraged by Kris Jenner. "As my girls grew up, they wanted to study fashion in college — Kourtney did that, and Kim was a stylist and a closet-organizer," Jenner said in a sit-down with Interview.

Kim earned the nickname "Queen of the Closet Scene," according to a conversation with Cardoza. Her list of clients? The who's who in Hollywood: Cindy Crawford, Serena Williams, and, of course, her childhood friend, Paris Hilton. "I had to organize and color-coordinate [Paris' closet], and help her with my styling advice, what she needs to get rid of, what she needs to fill back in, you know, do personal shopping," Kim told the publication.

Following her appearance on Hilton's show "The Simple Life," Kim gained wider publicity — and she doesn't shy away from giving credit where it's due. "I really would wanna do anything for her. She literally gave me a career," Kim told Khloé Kardashian during an episode of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians."

"Kim, there's people that are dying." This was Kourtney Kardashian's famous one-liner in response to her sister's cry over a lost earring worth $75,000. Kim Kardashian appeared to be a spoilt brat in the moment, a reflection of the affluent childhood she had. "We were really privileged," said Kim in an interview with Harper's Bazaar. Her revelation was echoed by Khloé Kardashian, who dished out details of their suburban upbringing in a conversation with You Magazine. "My father was incredibly wealthy. We had a mansion in Beverly Hills and Rolls-Royces," said Khloé. "My parents would have extravagant parties. We had ponies and Ferris wheels. It was a beautiful life."

It wasn't all roses in the Kardashian household. Robert Kardashian, a self-made man, taught his children the value of earning every dime. The sisters (and brother Rob Kardashian) worked during summer breaks. Khloé doubled as an assistant in Robert's office and a clothing store worker.

Robert's strictness conveyed itself when 16-year-old Kim was involved in a car crash. The pair had a prior written agreement, as Kim disclosed to The Wall Street Journal, in which she would bear the costs of repairing any car damages. Kim had to work to fulfill her end of the bargain.

Top model Kendall Jenner was born in 1995. On a trip to Wyoming, aired on the 17th season finale of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," Kim Kardashian let out a covert family fact. "Did you know your name was going to be Juliet?" she asked Kendall. "Juliet Jenner." Kendall, on the other hand, had "Cameron" off the top of her head.

She was right. When "Extra" caught up with Caitlyn and Kris Jenner a few months in the anticipation of Kendall's birth, theirs was a smooth sailing pregnancy. Except they had no baby name figured out. "Names, oh my gosh!" exclaimed Caitlyn. "You know what? We've got so many names. We would like the people from 'Extra' to write in to 'Extra' and find out what great names [to give]. Something... Jenner." According to the Jenners, boxer George Foreman wanted the baby to be named after him, which wasn't such a strange request, given that five of his own children are called George.

In the second season of the all-new Hulu Kardashian show "The Kardashians," Kris Jenner gave a rundown of her sophisticated naming system. "I love the name Noel, and that was gonna be maybe [Kim's] name. But then it didn't start with a K, and Koel sounded really weird, so it was Kimberly Noel," she explained. "Kendall was gonna be Kennedy, or Cameron with a K."

Raising six children is no mean feat. Despite their well-to-do upbringing, the Kardashian children brought in a fair dose of trouble, with Khloé Kardashian being the most notorious of them all.

"Khloé would sneak out at night — she was a teenager — and, I don't think she could even drive yet, " Kris Jenner revealed during an appearance on "Live with Kelly and Ryan," also adding, "she would stuff the bed so that if we peeked into the room, it looked like her." Khloé's stubbornness could perhaps be the reason Kris swore like a trooper. In a 2014 episode of "Kourtney & Khloé Take the Hamptons," Khloé, who was in the company of Scott Disick, alluded to Kris' cursing getting her confused about her real name. "I thought my name was 'f**k,'" she divulged.

Unlike Khloé, however, Kendall Jenner was the easiest child to parent, as Kris let out at the "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" final reunion. "[Kendall was] also the kid when she was seven would put herself to bed every night and say, 'I'm done for the day, mommy!'"

In a 2019 video shared on Kylie Jenner's YouTube channel, Kris Jenner surprised her granddaughter Stormi Webster with a white giant playhouse. According to Kylie, the toy house was a replica of one she had in her childhood. "I used to have a house like this when I was Stormi's age," she told her followers.

Kris' present was a trip down memory lane for Kylie, complete with a very familiar "Welcome Friends" sign. "This makes me wanna cry," exclaimed Kylie. Kris did the tearing up, instead, telling Kylie, "I want you to have the same memories with your daughter."

Some of the family's pre-fame memories were also made on the red carpet ahead of Kylie and Kendall's televised upbringing. A picture taken in the year 2000 shows the Jenners at "The Emperor's Groove" premiere. The family is all smiles, while Kylie, who's spotting the same dress as Kendall and an additional pink bow, is carried by Caitlyn.

Named after his father, Robert George Kardashian, Rob Kardashian is the most reserved person in his famous family. This is partly due to the fact that fame knocked on his door a little too early, as revealed by Scott Disick in a since-deleted interview by "Kyle & Jackie O" (via People). "Listen, things are difficult sometime, especially when you become in the spotlight very quick — overnight — and your whole life changes very quickly," Disick told the duo."He was just getting out of college, and then he became famous quickly — I think it was a lot for him to handle."

Kardashian went with the flow until he opted to live away from the glare of the cameras. During this tim, he was inwardly struggling with mental health and weight loss issues.

He would make a comeback with the help of his then-fiancée Blac Chyna, and retreat yet again after an online fight with Chyna. As of this writing, Kardashian's official Instagram handle is managed by Jenner Communications.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

In 1998, Kim Kardashian crossed paths with music producer Damon Thomas at a recording studio. "I met Kim when I worked on 3T but I but I didn't know who she was," Thomas revealed on "Vlad TV." The pair would see each other again at singer Michael Jackson's famed residence, Neverland. According to Thomas, Kardashian made the first move. A year later, they ran off to Las Vegas and tied the knot. The couple eloped because of Kardashian's strained relationship with her folks at the time.

A 19-year-old Kardashian was in her wild phase, as she gave away in the 15th season of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians." Seated at a dining table with Kendall Jenner —who'd gotten wind of Kardashian's shenanigans through the grapevine — and Scott Disick, Kardashian dished out a wedding day secret. "I got married on ecstasy ... I did ecstasy once and I got married. I did it again, I made a sex tape. Like, everything bad would happen."

Following her confession, Thomas told "Vlad TV": "I don't remember that at all ... I think it's unfair to make those kind of blanket statements, because we have kids." Coincidentally, their children now attend the same school.

Kim Kardashian grew notoriety following her leaked sex tape with "One Wish" singer Ray J (real name Ray Norwood Jr.). The latter would eventually accuse momager Kris Jenner of plotting the leak in a since-deleted Instagram post.

According to singer Brandy Norwoord's appearance on "The Tyra Banks Show," the pair were a couple who often walked the red carpet together. "He was with Kim. That was his girlfriend. They were very much in love," said Brandy. Before things went south between the Kardashians and Norwoods, the two families had a professional relationship – Kim worked as a personal stylist for Brandy. In 2008, People reported that a lawsuit had been filed against the Kardashians for fraudulently using Sonja Norwood's [Brandy and Ray J's mother] credit card. The amount in question; a whopping $120,000.

Kim, Khloé Kardashian, and Rob Kardashian responded to the charges in a statement that read in part: "Both Kim and Khloe were employed by the Norwoods and never used their credit cards without their express authorization. The Kardashian family looks forward to proving the absurdity of these claims in a court of law."

Although the Kardashians have built a name that's tabloid gold, there was a time when Kim Kardashian, whose sex tape thrust the family into the spotlight, was only somewhat familiar. In an interview with Cardoza, she shared a mantra she lived by at the time: "Find what you love to do, figure out a way to make money at it, and you'll be happy."

Kardashian seemed to want more than vacationing with her gossip-magnet friends in the South of France. As such, the services of Sheeraz Hassan allegedly came in handy. "My name is Sheeraz Hassan. I am the founder of Fame by Sheeraz, and I make people famous." This was Sheeraz's introduction on ABC's "20/20." Sheeraz had mastered the art of fame with one secret ingredient: drama.

"Because when there's drama, there's controversy, there's viewers. When there's viewers, there's advertisers. When there's advertisers, there's cash," explained Hassan. The fact that Americans were fed with Kardashian news on a daily basis was, according to Hassan, no accident. Hassan, also behind the upward trajectory of the careers of Jennifer Lopez and Paris Hilton, gave himself a pat in the back for creating a spectacle around the Kardashians in an age where social media hadn't kicked in. "I said, 'I'm gonna make the entire world sick of the word Kardashian.'" he declared to "20/20." That he has lived up to his vow is not a nuanced fact.