SHE MAKES THE MAGIC HAPPEN

Meet the college dropout who went on to become the business brain behind the Kardashians’ billion-dollar brands

- MAXINE PETERS

THEY started off as reality TV stars who were, well, just famous for being famous. But these days a great chunk of their millions come from big-bucks endorsements and the savvy business deals they’ve set up over the past few years.

Their colossal fame has certainly helped the Kardashian-Jenner clan expand their empire – but it’s their collaboration with a woman with a brain for business and a nose for success that’s helped to turn it into a proper financial success.

London-born Emma Grede may be nowhere near as well-known as the Kardashian-Jenners, but she’s the behind-the-scenes genius who has launched billion-dollar companies with members of the famous family.

The 41-year-old is co-founder and CEO of the clothing line Good American with Khloé Kardashian and the founding partner of Skims, Kim Kardashian’s hit shapewear range. She’s also co-founder of Kris Jenner’s cleaning supplies company, Safely, which launched in 2021.

“Emma is one of the hardest-working people I know,” Khloé says. “She not only immerses herself in every component of the business, she consistently pushes the envelope for what a modern, inclusive brand can and should be.”

And it’s paying off big time. Skims, recently valued at around $3,2 billion (R57,6bn), was named by Time magazine as one of its 100 most influential companies and Good American recently opened its first store in the US.

Emma, who’s worth a cool $320 million (R5,7bn), is on the latest Forbes list of America’s wealthiest self-made women and lives in swanky Bel-Air, Los Angeles, with her Swedish husband and business partner, Jens Grede, and kids Grey (9), Lola (6) and twins Lake and Rafferty (1).