Benjamin Kapelushnik facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benjamin Kapelushnik
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Kapelushnik authenticating a pair of sneakers in 2017
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| Born | October 14, 1999 |
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| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Awards | Shorty Awards finalist (2018) |
Benjamin Kapelushnik (born October 14, 1999), also known as Benjamin Kickz or the Sneaker Don, is an American entrepreneur and sneaker reseller. When he was just 16 years old, Benjamin earned almost $1 million from his own sneaker business. He became known for having many famous clients, like DJ Khaled and Odell Beckham Jr.. In 2016, Fortune magazine put him on their "18 Under 18" list. The Guardian also included him on their "teen power list."
Contents
How Benjamin Started His Sneaker Business
Benjamin Kapelushnik was born in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in Miami, Florida. His parents moved to the US from Russia. Benjamin went to Fort Lauderdale High School. Later, he was homeschooled.
Discovering a Passion for Sneakers
Benjamin first became interested in sneakers in middle school. His mom bought him a pair of Nikes. Soon after, he used some money from his bar-mitzvah to buy more sneakers. He started reading sneaker magazines. He also learned about the sneaker resale market.
Building a Sneaker Empire
Benjamin used the money he earned from his first sales. His parents also helped him. He began to buy shoes in large amounts. For example, he bought 85 pairs of Air Jordan 1s. Benjamin says he found friends who knew people at Nike and Adidas. These contacts helped him get sneakers before they were officially released. He also partnered with a sneaker store in another state.
Benjamin's Rise to Fame
In 2014, Benjamin's business grew a lot. A customer introduced him to the famous music producer DJ Khaled. Benjamin and Khaled became good friends. Benjamin often appears on Khaled's Snapchat.
Working with Celebrities
After meeting DJ Khaled, Benjamin's list of clients grew. He started selling sneakers to many famous rappers, athletes, and celebrities. These included Drake, Travis Scott, Floyd Mayweather, and Kevin Hart. Benjamin has said that P. Diddy is his biggest customer.
Media Appearances and Future Plans
Benjamin has been featured on many media platforms. These include Complex, Great Big Story, Closing Bell, Business Insider, The Daily Show, and CNN. In 2018, he was on an episode of Most Expensivest with rapper 2 Chainz.
Benjamin was a finalist for the 10th annual Shorty Awards. This award was for the Best in Fashion category. He is signed with Brillstein Entertainment Partners. In 2020, Benjamin released a song called "Let You Go." It featured the rapper Gunna.
Benjamin's Personal Life
Benjamin has a younger brother. He often shows his brother on his social media. Benjamin follows kosher dietary laws. His father works as a real-estate broker. His mother stays at home to care for the family.
In 2022, there were reports that Benjamin moved out of his apartment. This was at a luxury building called Ten Thousand in Los Angeles.
See also
- Jordan Geller
- Sneaker collecting
- StockX – An online marketplace mainly for sneakers
