The Kardashians have long been considered reality TV royalty, with every inch of their luxurious lives making it to screens, whether that’s on their own show or via the millions of articles written about them in the media.
Their original programme, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, propelled them to fame in 2007 and ran for an impressive 20 seasons until its finale in 2021. But the Kar-Jenner’s weren’t done yet – they revamped their looks, their storylines and, most crucially, their broadcasting platform, raking in a whopping nine-figure salary along with it.
Reflecting on their earnings in 2022, when their new series The Kardashians premiered on Hulu, Khloé Kardashian expressed: “We’re all equals.”
Insiders divulged to Variety that the family secured a lucrative nine-figure deal for the show, which aired on April 14 that year. Kris Jenner, the renowned ‘momager’, hinted at the numerous offers they had received before settling on their new network home, playfully stating: “I’m not one to kiss and tell.”
The budget and production costs for Keeping Up With The Kardashians were modest when it first aired on E! in 2007, but nearly two decades and nine spin-offs later, the financial landscape for the Kardashian-Jenner clan has dramatically transformed, reports the Mirror.
By the time they renewed their last contract with E! in 2020, the family’s income was just shy of $100 million. The reported nine-figure deal only accounts for a fraction of the family’s net worth – with each member of the clan running successful businesses across clothing, fragrance, beauty, and even alcohol.
Their 20-season run on E!, came to an end in January 2021, with Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ final air date in June 2021. Kris Jenner didn’t miss a beat as she began exploring new opportunities for the celebrity family, ultimately securing a deal with Disney’s streaming service Hulu for their next venture.
Discussing the lucrative transition, Kris candidly stated: “Money always matters. I think that anybody would be foolish to say that”. And Khloé was quick to justify the deal: “It definitely played a factor because we give so much of our personal lives up for entertainment”.
And there was strength to be had in their family closeness, said Khloé: “We always have our private family conversations, and we’re pretty brutal, me and my sisters, with what we will settle for or not settle for”.
The entrepreneur and reality TV star emphasized the importance of a good fit versus just a pay-out: “But not all money is good money. It has to be a good fit, and Hulu was just the perfect fit for us. It can’t just be for monetary gain. That doesn’t seem to work for us”.
Khloé, also known for her role in the fashion brand Good American, was clear about keeping up with the times, and expressed that they had perhaps outgrown a cable channel. She remarked: “It sounds so old fashioned, but we are people who applaud ourselves in so many other facets of our life that we are ahead of the time. We wanted to be with someone that’s tech forward, so we’re with the times. For us to be still on cable was just not so on brand for us”.
And when it comes to her mum and the business side of things, Khloé believes there’s no better fit: “My mom deals with all the negotiating, and we let her do that because it is uncomfortable. She fights like a pit bull. She loves to do it and we let her do it”.
Dana Walden, chairperson of Walt Disney Television, acknowledged the hefty price tag that came with securing the Kardashians, but was very happy with the acquisition, stating, “We stepped up to a great deal that they very much deserve”.
Walden further explained the strategic fit of the Kardashians within their programming, adding: “Who would you want more for your unscripted slate than the Kardashians? ” and “They perfectly symbolize our strategy, which is taking big shots, but the right shots, and betting on incredible talent and best-in-class opportunities in each genre”.
The show has taken a new direction, adopting a documentary-style format that has resonated well with audiences. Now gearing up for its sixth season, fans can look forward to the series’ return on February 6, available on Hulu and Disney+.
The Kardashians is now available to watch on Hulu and Disney+