Kim Kardashian is set to testify in the Paris trial starting Monday, where several elderly suspects — dubbed the “grandpa robbers” — are accused of stealing $10 million worth of her jewelry during a 2016 heist. The robbery occurred during Paris Fashion Week, when masked men allegedly tied her up at gunpoint in her hotel suite.
Although the suspects reportedly didn’t recognize her celebrity status at the time, Kardashian’s high profile and frequent social media posts about her lifestyle are believed to have made her a target. The thieves specifically demanded the $4 million diamond ring she had flaunted online — a gift from then-husband Kanye West.
A Life in the Spotlight
Now 44, Kardashian has spent most of her life close to fame. Her father, Robert Kardashian, was one of O.J. Simpson’s lawyers in the 1995 murder trial. Her step-parent, Olympic gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner (formerly Bruce Jenner), added to the family’s public profile. Early associations with socialites like Paris Hilton gave Kardashian a media foothold, but it was the leak of an explicit video in 2007 that catapulted her into global fame — just before the premiere of Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
The reality show ran for over a decade and made the Kardashian-Jenner family household names. It also fueled a business empire, helping Kim launch ventures like KKW Beauty and KKW Fragrance, later followed by her billion-dollar shapewear brand, Skims. Her net worth is now estimated at $1.7 billion.
Marriage and Divorce with Kanye West
Kardashian’s celebrity status was further amplified by her marriage to rapper Kanye West in 2014. Their lavish, globally followed wedding included events at the Palace of Versailles and a ceremony in Italy. The couple had four children before divorcing in 2021, following West’s increasingly erratic behavior, including a failed 2020 presidential run.
Since the split, Kardashian has spoken publicly about co-parenting and the emotional toll of divorce on children. She’s also been linked to comedian Pete Davidson and NFL star Odell Beckham Jr., all while continuing to update her 357 million Instagram followers about her personal and professional life.
Her testimony in the Paris robbery trial marks a return to one of the most traumatic moments of her public life — a stark contrast to her carefully curated image of glamor and control.