Benjamin Kapelushnik

Last updated

Benjamin Kapelushnik
Benjamin Kapelushnik.png
Kapelushnik authenticating a pair of sneakers in 2017
Born (1999-10-14) October 14, 1999 (age 24) [1]
Brooklyn, New York, US
Other names
  • Benjamin Kickz
  • Sneaker Don
OccupationEntrepreneur
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. [2] [3] [4] At 16-years-old, Kapelushnik amassed nearly US$1 million in sales through his self-made sneaker business and attracted high-profile clients such as DJ Khaled and Odell Beckham Jr. [5] [6] In 2016, Kapelushnik was included in Fortune's "18 Under 18" list and The Guardian 's "teen power list." [7] [8]

Contents

Early life and career

Kapelushnik was born in Brooklyn, New York [9] and grew up in Miami, Florida. He is the son of Russian immigrants. [10] Kapelushnik attended Fort Lauderdale High School but was later homeschooled. Kapelushnik first gained an interest in sneakers after his mother purchased him a pair of Nikes in middle school. Shortly after, Kapelushnik used some of his bar-mitzvah money to purchase additional sneakers and began consulting sneaker magazines and the sneaker resale market. [10] Using the profit from some of his initial sales and from his parents, Kapelushnik began to buy shoes in bulk, including 85 pairs of Air Jordan 1s. [11] [12] According to Kapelushnik, he managed to find friends with contacts to Nike and Adidas, often referred to as "plugs," and formed a partnership with an out-of-state sneaker store in order to acquire sneakers before their release date. [13]

In 2014, Kapelushnik's reselling business gained momentum when a customer introduced him to record producer DJ Khaled. [11] Kapelushnik began a close relationship with Khaled and is frequently featured on Khaled's Snapchat. [10] [11] After meeting Khaled, Kapelushnik's clientele went on to include a number of prominent rappers, athletes, and celebrities, including Drake, Travis Scott, Floyd Mayweather, Kevin Hart and others. [11] [14] Kapelushnik acknowledged that P. Diddy is his biggest customer. [15] In an interview with New York magazine, Kapelushnik noted that he planned on signing up for a reality TV show and that he desired to open his own brick and mortar stores. [2] [10]

Kapelushnik has been featured on Complex, [13] Great Big Story, [16] Closing Bell, [17] Business Insider, [15] [18] The Daily Show, [19] [20] and CNN. [21] In 2018, Kapelushnik appeared on an episode of Most Expensivest, hosted by rapper 2 Chainz. [22] [23]

Kapelushnik was a finalist for the 10th annual Shorty Awards for the Best in Fashion category. [24] [25]

Kapelushnik is signed with Brillstein Entertainment Partners. [26] In 2020, Kapelushnik released a single titled "Let You Go," featuring Gunna. [27] [28]

New Year's Eve altercation

On January 7, 2021, Kapelushnik was arrested for strongarm robbery, a second-degree felony, according to the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office. [29] [30] Prosecutors allege that on New Year's Eve, Kapelushnik and his entourage were in the lobby of the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. [31] In the lobby, Kapelushnik and his entourage allegedly accused a 19-year-old male of taking of a picture of Kapelushnik without his consent. [30] The man denied taking the photo, and Kapelushnik allegedly grabbed the phone from the man's hand, then a member of Kapelushnik's entourage allegedly attacked the man. [31] [29] Prosecutors said that the man was punched and kicked in the head and subsequently required hospitalization and surgery. [32] State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle stated on Twitter: "Internet fame or celebrity grants no one the right to violate the law. The actions that put a young man in the hospitals are crimes, plain and simple. The accumulated evidence, once placed before our criminal court, will make that point clear." [32] Records show that Kapelushnik submitted his $7,500 bond. [32] Following the incident, Kapelushnik entered a diversion program for first-time offenders. His charges will be dropped if he completes the program. [33]

A year after the altercation, a member of Kapelushnik's entourage was arrested in connection to the incident in Indianapolis on a fugitive warrant. The man is charged with aggravated battery and strong-arm robbery and is awaiting extradition to Miami-Dade. [33]

Personal life

Kapelushnik has a younger brother who he features on his social media. Kapelushnik keeps kosher. His father is a real-estate broker and his mother is a stay-at-home parent. [10]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Kapelushnik, Benjamin [@Benjaminkickz] (September 18, 2017). "Shoutout to Ye for dropping the yeezys on my birthday 10/14 #yourwelcome" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. 1 2 Schlossberg, Mallory (August 12, 2016). "A 16-year-old started a sneaker company that will sell $1 million in shoes this year". Business Insider . Archived from the original on August 13, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  3. ↑ Shapiro, Bee (May 12, 2018). "How Much Is That Sneaker in the Window?" . The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  4. ↑ Marsh, Calum (May 5, 2021). "Want to Get Rich Selling Sneakers? Start Flipping Bricks". GQ . Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  5. ↑ Desaulniers, Stephen (October 2, 2016). "The 16-year-old 'Sneaker Don' whose clients include Odell Beckham Jr. and DJ Khaled". CNBC . Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  6. ↑ Vassolo, Martin (September 10, 2018). "Miami sneaker boutique shutters store, frustrating resellers who haven't been paid". Miami Herald . Archived from the original on September 10, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  7. ↑ Marinova, Polina (September 15, 2016). "18 Under 18: Meet the Young Innovators Who Are Changing the World" . Fortune . Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  8. ↑ Hayes, Martha; Buist, Erica (December 10, 2016). "'It's not about your age, it's about your ideas': the teen power list". The Guardian . Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  9. ↑ Schlossman, Lawrence (November 16, 2017). "Business Is Boomin Benjamin Kickz for Grailed". Grailed. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Schwartzberg, Lauren (August 11, 2016). "This 16-Year-Old Has Made Millions Selling Rare Sneakers". The Cut . Archived from the original on June 11, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Greig, Dylan (August 12, 2016). "How This Teenage Sneaker Dealer Is Making Millions". GQ . Archived from the original on May 14, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  12. ↑ Paton, Elizabeth (February 4, 2016). "Fashion Industry Scrambles to Find a Use for Snapchat" . The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  13. 1 2 Welty, Matt (December 11, 2015). "Meet the Plug: Benjamin Kickz, The Teenage Sneaker Mogul". Complex . Archived from the original on December 14, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  14. ↑ Besser, Rachel (August 18, 2016). "This 16-Year-Old Sneaker Is Set To Make $1 Million In 2016". Refinery29 . Archived from the original on October 3, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  15. 1 2 Ocbazghi, Emmanuel (January 5, 2018). "Meet the 18-year-old entrepreneur making a fortune selling rare sneakers to celebrities". Business Insider . Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  16. ↑ Fischer, David (April 9, 2016). "Meet The Sneaker Don, the 16-Year Old That Hooks up DJ Khaled and Chris Brown With Sneakers". Highsnobiety . Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  17. ↑ "16-year-old sneaker mogul". CNBC . September 23, 2016. Archived from the original on October 30, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  18. ↑ Gmoser, Justin (September 14, 2016). "This 16-year-old entrepreneur is making a fortune selling rare sneakers to celebrities". Business Insider . Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  19. ↑ Welty, Matt (January 7, 2016). "The Daily Show Trolled Sneakerheads". Complex . Archived from the original on January 9, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Just for Kickz: The Face of the Secondary Sneaker Market - The Daily Show with Trevor Noah". Comedy Central . January 6, 2016. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Teen turns sneaker fetish into million dollar business". CNN . May 22, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  22. ↑ Austin, Boykins (August 1, 2018). "2 Chainz Links up With Benjamin Kicks on 'Most Expensivest'". HYPEBEAST. Archived from the original on August 2, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  23. ↑ Sawyer, Johnathan (August 1, 2018). "2 Chainz Meets Benjamin Kickz on 'Most Expensivest'". Highsnobiety . Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  24. ↑ Ramos, Dino-Ray (January 16, 2018). "Shorty Awards Nominees: Tiffany Haddish, Lena Waithe Among Those Recognized For Social Media Excellence". Deadline . Archived from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  25. ↑ "10th Annual Influencer Finalists – The Shorty Awards". Shorty Awards . Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  26. ↑ Kroll, Justin (September 1, 2016). "Sneaker Mogul Ben Kapelushnik Signs With Brillstein Entertainment Partners". Variety . Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  27. ↑ Staff (March 26, 2020). "Sneaker Plug Benjamin Kickz Is Now Rapping". aGOODoutfit. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Ben Kickz Feat. Gunna - Let You Go (Official Music Video)". March 16, 2020. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021 – via YouTube.
  29. 1 2 "Celebrity Sneaker Entrepreneur Benjamin Kickz Facing Robbery Charge in Miami-Dade". NBC 6 South Florida . January 7, 2021. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  30. 1 2 Deng, Victor (January 7, 2021). "Reseller Benjamin Kickz Charged With Felony Robbery". Complex . Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  31. 1 2 "Officials: Benjamin Kickz charged with stealing phone". Associated Press . January 8, 2021. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  32. 1 2 3 Torres, Andrea (January 7, 2021). "Sneaker reseller Benjamin Kickz faces charge after brutal beating at Fontainebleau Miami Beach". WPLG . Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  33. 1 2 Ovalle, David (March 23, 2022). "New arrest in South Beach robbery involving celebrity sneaker seller Benjamin Kickz". Miami Herald .

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