Jeffree Star is one of the top beauty gurus on YouTube, with his videos pulling in millions of views and his eponymous makeup line selling out in mere minutes every time it has a launch. Due to his seemingly sudden rise to fame and success, many people might be wondering if Jeffree Star is a billionaire.
Jeffree Star is not a billionaire, though he is well on his way. However, his makeup brand, Jeffree Star Cosmetics, is estimated to be worth $1.5 billion. Along with the profits from his YouTube channel, it is likely that Star will become a billionaire at some point in his career.
Read more below to learn how Jeffree Star started his career, rose to internet superstardom and launched one of the most successful makeup brands of the last decade.
Model Mother to a Myspace Music Career
Jeffree Star was born and raised in Southern California. After his father’s suicide, he was raised soley by his mother, who was a former model.
Intrigued by his mom’s makeup collection and former modeling photos, Star began experimenting with makeup. Though his makeup brand was still years away, Jeffree was already creating bold cosmetic looks, as can be seen in this photo Jeffree shared on Myspace of his high school days.
After graduation, Star moved to Los Angeles, where he became a fixture on the club scene, while trying to kick start his musical career. With his fierce sense of style and makeup, Star quickly gained a large following on the once iconic social media platform, Myspace, where he blogged and promoted his music
Following successful stints on the Vans Warped Tour two years in a row, Star released his first album, Beauty Killer, in 2009. Despite a positive reception for his album, Star still continued to work as a makeup artist and at a MAC location to supplement his income.
Jeffree Star eventually signed a record deal with Akon’s label, but ultimately left the music industry before he could release a second album. During an interview with Cosmopolitan, Star commented on his time with Akon’s label, saying, “It was almost like they were dimming my light and they weren’t letting me be me.”
YouTube Fame and Jeffree Star Cosmetics
With his music career in the past and the popularity of Myspace quickly fading, Star moved his social media presence over to YouTube, dedicating his channel to makeup tutorials and product reviews. Star’s channel quickly took off, with fans intrigued by his no holds barred commentary on the items he reviewed and the beauty world in general.
In 2014, Star launched his eponymous makeup line, Jeffree Star Cosmetics, which was a hit right out from the gate. Due to his success on YouTube, Star had a built-in customer base and he heavily promoted his own products on his various social media platforms.
Since that time, Jeffree Star has released numerous makeup products and merchandise, most famously his eye shadow palettes, which are loved by fans for their amazing quality and the unique asthetique packaging of each line. Star routinely posts stunning photos of his products and finished looks to his company’s Instagram.
Makeup Mogul
Not only does Star deliver a good product, but he also has a great mind for business. Jeffree Star is very involved in the day to day business of his cosmetics company, consistently uploads on his YouTube channel (where he currently has over 18 million subscribers) and wisely partners with other social media titans, which not only increases ad revenue for his channel, but also promotes his makeup line.
Jeffree Star makes a fortune off his YouTube channel and his makeup company, but he also invests in real estate and other companies, noting, “I own an entire shipment and fulfillment center, I own a merchandise company, I print and manufacture everything myself. So I have about 10 businesses that I’m currently running besides my brand which is the giant cosmetics company.”
Despite his busy schedule, Jeffree knows how to enjoy some of his hard earned money, often taking his entourage on expensive trips, buying multiple cars and most recently, trading in his old mansion for a new one, to the tune of $14.6 million.
You can watch a video tour of Jeffree Star’s new home in the YouTube video below.
Though Jeffree Star is not currently a billionaire, he is certainly on his way to being one, with neither Star, nor his company, showing any signs of slowing down.