Having traded her privacy for a fortune, Kimberly Noel Kardashian perfectly defines our time. The socialite and reality star, who has close to 350 million followers on Instagram, documents every part of her personal life, family and relationships, and entrepreneurial journey.

In the post-truth world, where we become a product on social media, Kardashian West somehow manages to be uniquely unreal. Is the master of publicity losing her work-life balance in pursuing social media fame? Read on to find out.

The Stylist Who Turned into an Entrepreneur

Kim Kardashian, the godmother of fame and fortune, has been an integral part of the pop culture scene since 2007, when her show "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" put most of the Kardashian-Jenner blended family on the map.

Starting her career as a stylist for stars like Paris Hilton, she later attained fame and success as a reality star, a socialite, and an entrepreneur. In her reality show, Kim discussed her work ethic: striving much harder than the average person.

She Has Her Nose to the Grindstone

Kim has tried her hand at a bunch of business ventures to date. While not all succeeded, some have massively increased her bank balance. Kardashian Kard, Kardashian Beauty, and Belle Noel Jewelry are some start-ups that had a promising start but fizzled out later.

She's been raking in cash with brands like SKIMS and KKW Fragrance for years. Kim disclosed on the show that she's perpetually caught up with her ventures, works round the clock, and advised other women to be more like her.

Her Advice for Women Sparked Backlash

Kim was advising women not to sit idle and work harder to be an entrepreneur like herself, but she had to face backlash for this. Many pointed out the pre-career privilege she has had, being the daughter of well-known advocate Robert Kardashian, and why Kim shouldn't preach.

Her critics say that Kim is well short of being an 'entrepreneur,' while some still appreciate her efforts. Some experts believe that many of her inspired business ventures have hit the bull's eye.

Such a Workhorse

No matter what her critics say about her entrepreneurial achievements, Kim never fails to assume a heavy workload. On non-shooting days, she wakes up at 5.30, reaches the gym by 6 a.m., and comes back to make meals for the day.

However, she only sleeps for five hours throughout the day, which isn't recommended for good health, so she's got some catching up to do. The mother of four kids reportedly shuffles between several mood boards on a typical workday.

Kim's Workaholism Became a Problem for Her

At the SKIMS launch party dinner table, Kim revealed to the dinner guests that she had become a workaholic, describing it as a problem. She's reportedly so engrossed in work she can't even take her sisters and friends out.

Moreover, staying away from her kids is draining her out. Even on holiday, she can't think of anything else except work. In one way or the other, it seems Kim's jam-packed schedule has been getting out of her control day by day.

She Has Bigger Dreams about SKIMS

Kim's been busy with the launch of her bodysuit and lingerie line, SKIMS. The brand has come up with loungewear, underwear, and shapewear for the next generation, emphasizing body positivity and inclusivity.

Kim thinks the company's journey has just begun. The co-founder of SKIMS has joined hands with a fair market treatment factory to ensure the perfect quality for seamless shapewear. She is involved in everything from choosing the fabrics, materials, and designs, but some naysayers find her ambitions unrealistic.

Wait a Moment! What?

It is natural for Kim to be obsessed with SKIMS, which is a category-disruptive brand. However, she ruffled some feathers by comparing SKIMS to two of the world's most popular brands, Nike and Apple!

During the launch of SKIMS Swim, the swimwear collection from the brand, Kim mentioned SKIMS with Apple and Nike in the same breath. While some have said it's a delusional statement, others think SKIMS has a long way to go before anyone can make such comparisons.

The Brand Has Surely Come a Long Way

The shapewear brand was already valued at a little over $3 billion by 2022. Kim says she has devoted her time, energy, and money to the brand as she considers SKIMS her baby. Seeing her friends and well-wishers united in support has also meant the world to her.

The brand, launched in 2019, has gradually expanded from original shapewear to sweatpants and pajamas. Shapewear now accounts for even less than 20% of its sales, and underwear represents most of it.

The Journey Has Just Started

Although SKIMS has taken up most of her time and energy, Kim feels she is ready for more. The prospect of taking the company to higher levels stops her from focusing on almost everything else. On the show, she clearly outlines how her life revolves around her work.

Seeing her company cross the three-billion-dollar mark, she is glad that her hard work has paid off. Kim's trying to soak in everything. But not for long, as she claims it's just the beginning.

She Made It On Her Own

Kim has always disliked that people have ignored her hard work and called her famous because of her family. She believes that having a significant social media presence or being a part of a reality show doesn't make someone famous overnight.

She mentioned that setting up a successful business is challenging, and one needs to work hard. An entire episode of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" showed how hard she worked, how little she rested, and the resulting problems in her life.

Poor Work-Life Balance

Kim's tirelessly stressed why she wants to work harder than an average individual. She and her sister, Khloe, were in Miami to let their hair down. However, people found her, all decked up, sitting and approving photographs for a SKIMS campaign.

Khloe, on the other hand, waited endlessly with her friends for Kim to finish work and go on a girls' night out. A self-proclaimed workaholic, Kim's response was wondering what's wrong with someone working harder to achieve their dreams.

She Can't Relax

Kim's obsession with her work was evident when she returned to the subject time and again in an episode of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." When asked if she was finding time for herself, she replied negatively.

Emphasizing yet again the hard work she puts in daily, Kim mentioned that she is not into relaxing and stuff. Work is everything to her, and that gives her satisfaction. But is it just work, or does the rewards she reaps spark joy? We think both.

A Jet-Setter Whose Life Is Under Public Scanner

Kim's life has always been under public scrutiny. For instance, when she returned home from the Milan Fashion Week in her private jet worth a whopping $95 million, people couldn't resist joining this 'hot' topic of discussion.

Even some of her public statements, such as this controversial piece of advice, have come under scrutiny. Fans pointed out her privilege since childhood. But you can't deny her striking the right deals has also worked for Kim, for example, "Keeping Up With The Kardashians."

The KUWTK Deal

The Kardashian clan has spent over 15 years in the entertainment industry, shifting from television to social media apps and streaming platforms. Kim would never disclose how much she earns from the Hulu show, "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," but insiders reveal the family rakes in a nine-figure salary.

Dana Walden, the entertainment chairman at Walt Disney Television, has confirmed they command astronomical paychecks while adding that the Kardashians deserve the staggering amount. That doesn't give Kim a right to abuse fans, though.

She Has Done It Before

Kim's already been at the center of controversy for her offensive statements. A few years back, she appeared as Pamela Anderson at a party and used the R-word for some people who couldn't recognize her outfit. Ultimately, she had to apologize for hurting the sentiments of the special-needs community.

Again in 2022, her advice to women in business had consequences. Kim might have a point saying it's not her privilege but hard work that has catapulted her into stardom, but that's only half true.

A Super-Privileged Life

Kim has claimed she is an underdog on many occasions. She feels empowered by people underestimating her. But is she an underdog and has struggled her way up? It's time for a fact-check.

She grew up in a posh suburb of Los Angeles. Kim's father, Robert Kardashian, was one of the attorneys that defended O.J. Simpson. Born to wealthy parents, Kim got a heady start to her career. If someone has such an affluent background, it's normal for them to face some criticism.

She Had Her Share of Struggles Though

The fallout between Kim and her husband of eight years, Kanye West, was a much-publicized one. In her own words, the socialite and television personality felt a lack of intimacy in their married life and was lonely in the relationship.

There were many issues in their lives that somehow left a bad taste in their mouths. With no reconciliation in sight, Kim and Ye agreed to part ways; that said, some people found her response to the entire issue quite dignified.

She Made It A Point to Roast Him on SNL

"Saturday Night Live," the late-night sketch comedy show, received a record boost in its ratings when Kim made her hosting debut in 2021. Before she arrived, SNL had hit rock bottom with some all-time low figures for the 47th season.

Kim sportingly took a dig at her sister and didn't leave the opportunity to 'roast' her former husband, Kanye West. She and her former beau Pete Davidson also puckered up as Jasmine and Aladdin in a Disney-themed sketch, which became the show's highlight.

Frankensteined Beauty

Kim's trainer, Gunnar Peterson, stated that the former's success comes from her work ethic. However, when she faced backlash for her 'insensitive' comments about women on social media, Jessica DeFino, a former editor and a ghostwriter for Khloe and Kendall's apps, came out in the open.

She accused the sisters, Kim included, of emphasizing a standard of beauty usually beyond the average woman's capacity. The girls utilized that as a weapon to sell their beauty products and never felt satisfied with their success.

How Critics React

She is raking in millions in her bank account owing to her success as a social media and TV personality. But many people, like famous journalist Barbara Walters, consider Kim and her sisters talentless.

Walters feels that constant feeding of social media and showing off to the people to create an illusion about their celebrity status have worked wonders for the sisters. However, Kim's secret sauce of success lies in her constant diversification of business activities, such as a mobile game.

The Game Moghul

In 2016, Kim declared on Twitter that she was cashing a check of $80 million, a revenue that her game app 'Kim Kardashian: Hollywood' generated. She also informed her followers about transferring $53 million into her and Kanye's joint account.

However, Forbes revealed she'd garnered $52.5 million before taxes, more than half of which had come from her TV appearances, endorsements, and clothing line. Some claim Kim earned around 45% of the iPhone game's profits; her take-home would have been 30% of that. 

It’s a Pretty Popular Game

Kim regularly promoted the game on her Instagram and Twitter handles. By 2019, it had netted thousands of dollars annually. In October 2022, the game earned an estimated $900K, was downloaded 40K times and was just one small part of her business empire.

Niccolo de Masi, Glu Mobile CEO, the platform that released Kim's mobile game app, revealed some interesting facts in 2016. Within two years of its launch, 'Kim Kardashian: Hollywood' reached over 42 million people with almost 3.29 billion logins.

A Serial Entrepreneur

Using her previous experience in perfumery, Kim introduced Crystal Gardenia, Oud, and Citrus, her collection of scents under her brand, KKW Fragrance, in 2017. Since then, the company has experienced unprecedented growth.

She's now obsessed with SKIMS, which made $275 million in 2021 and is all set to touch the $400 million mark in 2022. A focus on comfort and savvy marketing tactics have been critical to the brand's success. But is Kim's workaholic schedule also one of the factors?

As Busy As a Bee

Kim claims she is a bigger workaholic than her mother, Kris Jenner. She reveals that even when her mom takes a break from work for a drink, she continues to be in work mode. Kim informed her fans that she ensures everyone in her family has equal work hours and get paid equally.

However, being a workaholic implies that she fails to balance her professional and personal life. That leads to work-life conflict, occupational burnout, and disputes within the family.

Sometimes, It Leads to a Fight

At the very beginning of the 15th season of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," there was this big fight between Kim and her sister, Kourtney. The latter had some issues with their holiday shoot schedule as she wanted to spend some time with her kids.

Kim was displeased having her shoot plans at stake. They hurled harsh words at each other in a war of words. Their conflict unresolved, Khloe soon stormed out, vowing not to attend the shoot.

And It Took a Turn for the Worse

Once Khloe left, Kim expressed her annoyance, pointing out that Khloe was the least beautiful anyway, and her absence wouldn't make a difference. Kourtney overheard, which led to more trouble.

She came back to explain herself, Kim gave her a 'lame' apology, and Kourtney called her out on her insincerity. The main issue for Kim was commitment. Once she has committed to a gig, she will never fail to turn up. A great example was the 2022 Sports Illustrated cover shoot.

Speaking about the Photoshoot

Contrary to what Kourtney called her on the show, Kim is not an insincere professional. Despite having a sore throat, she pushed through her Sports Illustrated photoshoot and even shared her happiness via an Instagram post.

It's a different matter altogether that she still faced backlash from her fans; why didn't the sports magazine approach an athlete? However, it wasn't the first time Sports Illustrated featured a non-sports personality on the cover. Secondly, brands roping in influencers like Kim is common.

She Is Serious As A Law Student Too

People have been quite skeptical about her commitment to law studies. Through a tweet in 2019, Kim explained that she registered her name with the California State Bar and how she would have to commit 18 hours a week to study for four years.

Aiming to take the exam by 2022, she signed up for an apprentice program with a San Francisco law firm. Focusing more on her studies and achieving her goal, she's changed her number and disconnected from most people.

Breaking the Stigma

People recognized Kim as a socialite and a wannabe star a few years ago. After "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" went on air and subsequently started streaming on Hulu, people labeled her as just a reality show star. Kim somehow had to break the stigma and prove herself as a force to reckon with.

The fact that people call her the 'underdog' has steered her forward, and she can't stop working to prove her actual potential. KKW Fragrance and SKIMS are her passion projects.

Hard work Pays off

During the 20th season of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," viewers watched Kim taking the Baby Bar exam or the First-Year Law Students' Examination. But we never discover in the episode whether she passed or not. Kim later live-tweeted, claiming that her hard work paid off.

But on the May 27 episode, she informed us otherwise. Kim also failed the second test but came out with flying colors in the one after. She announced it on December 13 through her Instagram handle.

The Mother Who Wanted to Become a Lawyer

Intending to take the bar exam by 2022, Kim brought sincerity towards her studies. Being completely snowed under during the daytime, she stole time at night after sending her kids to bed. She also planned out her study routine on weekends.

Shawn Holley, her lawyer, said that Kim has everything in her to achieve her dream. As a lawyer's daughter, she has had a great interest in the subject since childhood. Despite her sickness, Kim didn't miss out on a single day.

Not Just Privilege, But Pure Hard Work

Critics have often claimed Kim's success in her law school journey is because she has always been a privileged individual. The social media queen has always maintained that studying law or sitting for the bar exam has had nothing to do with her wealth and celebrity status.

Kim devoted long hours to her studies, leaving no stone unturned to succeed in her examination. She even requested her family not to throw a birthday party for her when she turned 41.

This Is The Same Vintage Kim From Her School Days

It was not the baby bar exam that Kim studied hard for. She studied hard in school too. She might be the biggest reality television star in the world now, but during her school days, things were quite different.

Robert Kardashian made sure that his daughter led an everyday life and worked hard. Her school friend, designer Nikki Lund revealed that Kim never wanted to be famous. She was a quiet child, well-behaved, and academic. The inner self of a person never changes, you see.

She Had Low-Key Celebrations On Her 41st Birthday

Kim returned to her academic self when she joined law school. Her 41st birthday witnessed low-key celebrations as she focused on studying hard instead. Her kids gave her some cute surprises. She even received a gravel made with flowers that referred to her love for the law.

However, Kim still cut the lunch thrown by her friends and family short so that she could resume her studies. Kim has become more mature and responsible, which is evident in many ways.

She Followed Extreme Diet for Her Met Gala Look

Many, including designer Bob Mackie, called it a big mistake when Kim decided to wear the iconic 1962 Jean Louis gown, worn previously by Marilyn Monroe, for the 2022 Met Gala. She tried to fit into the historical gown, but it didn't go over her hips.

Never the one to get intimidated so quickly, she undertook extreme dieting and intense workouts to lose 10 pounds in under two months. Everything fell into place as the world witnessed Kim slipping into the iconic couture creation.

A Tedious Hair Dying Session

Looking gorgeous in the legendary Marilyn Monroe gown, Kim took everyone's breath away at the 2022 Met Gala. However, her fans were in for one more surprise. She had dyed her hair blonde for the event.

On the November 10 premiere of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" on Hulu, Kim confessed that dying her hair was annoying and tedious. She spent 15 hours at a stretch to finish every strand of her hair. Chris Appleton, a celebrity hairstylist, praised her for her commitment level.

A Painful Laser Treatment

Not all beauty treatments are pain-free. Kim's beauty regime is a shining example. The reality television star and social icon shared a photo of her stomach after she went through laser treatment with her fans on Instagram.

She chose a tightening treatment of her abdomen done with a Morpheus8 device. Kim confessed that her treatment was quite painful, and she had to get laser treatments after putting her kids to sleep. Late nights were the perfect time for the busy mother of four.

Struggles in Childhood

Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, true. But Kim's had her share of struggles. With lots of drama and heartaches, her innocence had to bear the brunt of it all.

Right from her mother and father getting separated, her family's friend O.J. Simpson being accused of his wife's murder, to the death of her father and leaving their house for a smaller apartment, tragedies made her childhood difficult. But she chose to break free and live her life.

Time to Accept the Truth

Many people want Kim to acknowledge the privileges she received in childhood. A Twitter user pointed out that some wealthy people make it because of their luck and the push they got at the start of their careers, not necessarily their work ethic.

As nepotism comes under scrutiny worldwide, ultra-rich celebs like Kim can't escape either. Her struggles in childhood notwithstanding, the shapewear mogul can't deny the benefits of having an affluent background. However, she's also worked hard every step of the way.

A Woman of Substance

Born into privilege, she is already a multi-billionaire Hollywood A-lister. From being a social media icon to running a successful reality show and owning big brands, Kim has been there and done that.

The mother of four lovely kids, already in her forties, takes pride in her decisions to date for herself and her family. But Kim needs to slow down and not overburden herself. She has already shown her stripes as an entrepreneur and entertainer. More power to you, Kiki!