Optomen explore The Kardashians: Billion Dollar Dynasty for Channel 4

14 June 2022

The Kardashians are arguably the most influential family of the 21st Century and certainly one of the most profitable. Their sagas have kept us gripped for the past 15 years, now this two-part series will explore how they have defied their critics to build a family brand that has changed the face of social media and earned the stratospheric wealth.

Commissioned by Channel 4 from Optomen, The Kardashians: Billion Dollar Dynasty, will lift the lid on the family’s finances to tell the story of how this astute family have worked to exploit every potential setback and turn these into money making opportunities.

In turn, their genius and guile has put them at the forefront of a world where social media is monetised, where influence is king and where social platforms are used to turn people and products into profitable brands.  

Featuring rarely seen archive and candid insight from close friends and former colleagues, the films will reveal the deals and decisions that have increased the family’s finances and the changing dynamics of the family as they grew from reality stars to billionaire business owners.

Joint CEO of Optomen, Nick Hornby, said: “These films will offer a new perspective on this famous family, revealing just how a closet organiser catapulted to fame by a sex tape ended up on the Forbes billionaire list and the cover of Vogue, and question just how a 21-year-old Kylie Jenner became so influential she could wipe $1.3 billion off a Snapchat’s stock price with a single tweet.”

Ian Dunkley, commissioning editor at Channel 4, said: "The story of the Kardashians is entwined with the rise of social media and the changing face of fame, power and influence. These films will uncover how family were among the very first to monetise and make use of social media to market and control their own narrative. A look back at the rise of the Kardashians is also a look back at our own recent history."

The Kardashians: Billion Dollar Dynasty was commissioned for Channel 4 by Ian Dunkley. Nick Hornby and Tina Flintoff will Executive Producer for Optomen.