Kris Jenner: American television personality, manager and family matriarch

Kris Jenner (born November 5, 1955) is an American television personality, producer and business manager best known as the matriarch of the Kardashian–Jenner family and executive producer of Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

Overview

Kris Jenner (born Kristen Mary Houghton on November 5, 1955) is an American television personality, producer, business manager and author. She rose to international prominence as the central figure and executive producer of the reality television series that documented her extended family's life. Over more than a decade in the public eye she has been credited with helping to shape the careers of her children and turn family notoriety into a multi‑platform business enterprise.

Early life and family

Jenner was born and raised in Southern California and later adopted the surname of her first husband. She has six children from two marriages: four children—Kourtney, Kim, Khloé and Rob—with her first husband, attorney Robert Kardashian, and two daughters—Kendall and Kylie—with her second husband, the athlete known today as Caitlyn Jenner. Her role as a parent and manager became a defining feature of her public identity.

Career and public profile

Jenner became widely known through the long‑running reality program Keeping Up with the Kardashians, where she appeared as both cast member and behind‑the‑scenes executive producer. The show, which premiered in the late 2000s, introduced television audiences to the family’s personal and commercial ventures and produced multiple spin‑offs and branded opportunities. Jenner has negotiated endorsements, licensing deals and branded projects for family members and has often been referred to in the media by the portmanteau "momager" for combining maternal and managerial roles.

Notable activities and works

Executive producing and appearing on reality television and related spin‑offs.
Managing and consulting on fashion, beauty and lifestyle business endeavors for family members.
Authoring a memoir and participating in public speaking, interviews and brand partnerships.

Personal life and public events

Jenner's personal life, including two high‑profile marriages and subsequent separation and later divorce, has been covered extensively in the press. She was married to Robert Kardashian from the late 1970s until their separation and eventual divorce, and later married Caitlyn Jenner. The family’s relationships, separations and reconciliations have often been part of their televised narrative and public discourse. For additional context on these events see coverage of the family’s public statements and reporting about their relationships and legal separations.

Legacy and cultural impact

As a public figure, Kris Jenner is credited with transforming a high‑profile family into an enduring media brand. Critics and supporters alike note her role in shaping modern celebrity culture: she has helped popularize direct‑to‑audience merchandising, influencer partnerships and reality television as a vehicle for building cross‑industry enterprises. The family members she manages—among them Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian—have each pursued independent businesses and public activities that have amplified the group's collective influence. Her early life and upbringing in San Diego, California remain a background detail in profiles that otherwise focus on her role in the entertainment and business spheres.