Forbes Faces Social Media Backlash For Calling Kylie Jenner A 'Self-Made' Billionaire

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Forbes is the place to go for numbers — but maybe not for words. Many people are taking issue with the magazine's definition of 'self-made', after it placed Kylie Jenner on its latest cover.

The publication branded her the 'cosmetics queen', declaring on the cover: 'At 21, she's set to be the youngest-ever self-made billionaire. Welcome to the era of extreme fame leverage.'

According to the publication, Kylie - who is set to turn 21 on August 10 - is currently worth an estimated $900million thanks to her cosmetics line.

The Internet immediately lit up with reaction, with even Dictionary.com appearing to throw shade.


On Wednesday it tweeted the definition: 'Self-made means having succeeded in life unaided.

'Used in a sentence: Forbes says that Kylie Jenner is a self-made woman,' it added, posting a link to the Forbes article.

Many more on Twitter took umbrage, with one pointing out that 'calling kylie jenner a ‘self-made billionaire’ is like claiming you made soup from scratch because you opened a can and reheated it.'

'For the love of God, I seriously want to break something when I see the very epitome of privilege described as "self-made". For f*** sake, if you start the 40-yard dash on the 39-yard line, you are NOT self-made,' a second posted.

'“Self-made”? Really? It’s easy to become a billionaire when you’re parents are millionaires...It’s called generational wealth + nepotism. Try Oprah Winfrey, who was raised on a small Mississippi farm by her grandmother, for self-made *whispers Kylie also isn’t a billionaire yet*' a third tweeted.

A fourth asked: 'Does Forbes know what Self Made means?

Another claimed 'Calling Kylie Jenner self made is like saying cardi b spelled "kulture" right.'

The daughter of Kris Jenner, 62, gave her low-cut gowns a rest to pose for the cover, opting instead for business chic in a dark blazer with her long locks pulled back.