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Benjamin Kapelushnik
Benjamin Kapelushnik, wearing a red shirt and gold chain, authenticating a pair of sneakers in 2017
Kapelushnik authenticating a pair of sneakers in 2017
Born (1999-10-14) October 14, 1999 (age 25)[1]
Brooklyn, New York, US
Other names
  • Benjamin Kickz
  • Sneaker Don
OccupationEntrepreneur
AwardsShorty 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]

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

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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b Ovalle, David (March 23, 2022). "New arrest in South Beach robbery involving celebrity sneaker seller Benjamin Kickz". Miami Herald.

Further reading

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