Jessica Simpson's $750 million empire

When you think "Jessica Simpson," do you think "billionaire businesswoman"?No, not immediately.

Truth be told, Simpson is far more famous for who she's dating -- and what she's cooking for Thanksgiving -- than for her amazing business acumen. But alas, wipe those smirks away! Because Jessica Simpson, Inc. (not her real brand) is poised to break the $1 billion mark.

Crazy, right? From shoes to bags to jeans to perfume, Simpson-branded products are a massive commercial success. And the star herself is said to be worth $100 million, according to WWD.com.

You heard that: $100 MILLION. Not bad for the recipient of John Mayer's most infamous diss. It's almost like her ho-hum singing and acting careers are go-nowhere, just-for-fun side projects; her new holiday album "Happy Christmas" is a dismal No. 123 on the Billboard 200 chart. And her last film that had a theatrical release, "Blonde Ambition," grossed just $6,422.

But with her lucrative entrepreneurial endeavours, Simpson could retire TODAY if she so desired. Surprisingly, the Texas native's celebrity brand when it comes to fashion and fragrance is more powerful than we gave her credit for -- and the numbers talk. Camuto Group, the company that makes Simpson's wildly popular footwear line, has licensed her name on other merch, which amassed a combined grand total of $750 million in retail sales this year. Simpson's moniker has even outlasted and outperformed product ventures by Jennifer Lopez and similarly glammed-up celebs, WWD.com said.

"She is the girl next door and has great product that surrounds her," exec Vince Camuto told the fashion-news outlet. "People like her. People look at her as a style icon."

Cue the arrival of Jessica Simpson Sportswear, hitting stores in Fall 2011. The line will be sold in junior's departments, and includes jackets, knits and dresses -- all under $150. It will likely sell like hotcakes.

"Her celebrity has created a brand that is more sustainable than many others," said Jack Gross, CEO of jeanswear for The Jones Group, which licenses Simpson's denim collection.

Simpson's fiance Eric Johnson is very, very lucky. No wonder her dad-ager wanted a pre-nup.

[Edited 12/8/10 11:53am]

I just can't believe I live in a world where Jessica "I know it's tuna but is it chicken" Simpson is worth a billion dollars.

yep, some of her things are quite popular in spite of the buyers not even caring about her. It's the designs and price.

Never let it be said that dumb blondes with big boobs are an oppressed ethnic group

ufoclub said:

yep, some of her things are quite popular in spite of the buyers not even caring about her. It's the designs and price.

yes, true, I doubt George Foreman really designed that grill either

NDRU said:

Never let it be said that dumb blondes with big boobs are an oppressed ethnic group

I like her

from the fine ass, dingy blonde version

to the thicker, mom jeans wearing version

she's hot

this is one of the greatest photographs

of anyone

E V E R ! ! !

she could be selling

$20 shit sandwiches

and I'd take 2

orger said:

I like her

from the fine ass, dingy blonde version

to the thicker, mom jeans wearing version

she's hot

this is one of the greatest photographs

of anyone

E V E R ! ! !

she could be selling

$20 shit sandwiches

and I'd take 2

I'd pay double for another shot of that camel toe.

I've never bought anything of hers but she has cute stuff....and the price isn't outrageous.

CarrieLee said:

...but she has cute stuff....

yes, lawd

CarrieLee said:

I've never bought anything of hers but she has cute stuff....and the price isn't outrageous.

yeah, I'd say she has cute "stuff" also.

JerseyKRS said:

CarrieLee said:

I've never bought anything of hers but she has cute stuff....and the price isn't outrageous.

yeah, I'd say she has cute "stuff" also.

we share brain cells

CarrieLee said:

I've never bought anything of hers but she has cute stuff....and the price isn't outrageous.

I agree. I like some of her shoes.

Good for her!

I have a bag of hers and I adore it.

orger said:

I like her

from the fine ass, dingy blonde version

to the thicker, mom jeans wearing version

she's hot

this is one of the greatest photographs

of anyone

E V E R ! ! !

she could be selling

$20 shit sandwiches

and I'd take 2

You stoopid!

CarrieLee said:

I've never bought anything of hers but she has cute stuff....and the price isn't outrageous.

But for her to be worth that much her stuff must be selling like CRAZY! Boggles the mind.

SCNDLS said:

CarrieLee said:

I've never bought anything of hers but she has cute stuff....and the price isn't outrageous.

But for her to be worth that much her stuff must be selling like CRAZY! Boggles the mind.

I always see her stuff on Ideeli and you can get it for cheap cheap cheap! Her dresses are cute, her shoes/boots are cute and even the accessories. She hired some good workers!

SCNDLS said:

CarrieLee said:

I've never bought anything of hers but she has cute stuff....and the price isn't outrageous.

But for her to be worth that much her stuff must be selling like CRAZY! Boggles the mind.

She and Jennifer Aniston have somehow mastered the ability to always be mentioned on Perez Hilton and blurbed in every supermarket magazine that exists.

I read about three or maybe even four years ago that Simpson's dad made $7 million that year managing her and Ashlee. And neither one did a single thing that I knew of - no records, no movies.

Someone in that family is a financial and marketing genius.

And I bet you Aniston is worth nearly as much as Jessica Simpson.

RodeoSchro said:

SCNDLS said:

But for her to be worth that much her stuff must be selling like CRAZY! Boggles the mind.

She and Jennifer Aniston have somehow mastered the ability to always be mentioned on Perez Hilton and blurbed in every supermarket magazine that exists.

I read about three or maybe even four years ago that Simpson's dad made $7 million that year managing her and Ashlee. And neither one did a single thing that I knew of - no records, no movies.

Someone in that family is a financial and marketing genius.

And I bet you Aniston is worth nearly as much as Jessica Simpson.

At least Jennifer Anniston seems to do the occasional movie or two. Jess only seems to be tabloid fodder. Nobody actually buys her records.

SCNDLS said:

CarrieLee said:

I've never bought anything of hers but she has cute stuff....and the price isn't outrageous.

But for her to be worth that much her stuff must be selling like CRAZY! Boggles the mind.

eh, it's just a name on a product. If any of these celebs actually created the perfume or designed the clothes it might be different. Jacklyn Smith, Kathy Ireland, Jessica Simpson...it has nothing to do with them.

It is not like she is Stella McCartney who as far as I know, actually designs clothes

Stella McCartney is the shit.

Kathy Ireland does not create products herself (at all, from what I know), but the way she created her fortune is what the rest of them copy. Her Wiki page is an interesting read. I thought she'd just disappeared post-modeling career, but then I randomly came across an article about her in some money/finance magazine and learned otherwise. She's actually quite the business woman. More than a lot of the others for sure.

Good for Jessica. I hated her singing, but I have no problem with her using her name to make a fortune. We should all be so fortunate.

RodeoSchro said:

SCNDLS said:

But for her to be worth that much her stuff must be selling like CRAZY! Boggles the mind.

She and Jennifer Aniston have somehow mastered the ability to always be mentioned on Perez Hilton and blurbed in every supermarket magazine that exists.

I read about three or maybe even four years ago that Simpson's dad made $7 million that year managing her and Ashlee. And neither one did a single thing that I knew of - no records, no movies.

Someone in that family is a financial and marketing genius.

And I bet you Aniston is worth nearly as much as Jessica Simpson.

This is the shit that has me positiviely BAFFLED as to how this trick is worth a billion . . a gatdamn BILLION!!!???

NDRU said:

SCNDLS said:

But for her to be worth that much her stuff must be selling like CRAZY! Boggles the mind.

eh, it's just a name on a product. If any of these celebs actually created the perfume or designed the clothes it might be different. Jacklyn Smith, Kathy Ireland, Jessica Simpson...it has nothing to do with them.

It is not like she is Stella McCartney who as far as I know, actually designs clothes

I'm talking about how is it possible for her to be PERSONALLY worth that much just from licensing her name on these low-cost products.

SCNDLS said:

RodeoSchro said:

She and Jennifer Aniston have somehow mastered the ability to always be mentioned on Perez Hilton and blurbed in every supermarket magazine that exists.

I read about three or maybe even four years ago that Simpson's dad made $7 million that year managing her and Ashlee. And neither one did a single thing that I knew of - no records, no movies.

Someone in that family is a financial and marketing genius.

And I bet you Aniston is worth nearly as much as Jessica Simpson.

This is the shit that has me positiviely BAFFLED as to how this trick is worth a billion . . a gatdamn BILLION!!!???

She's only worth 100 million. Only. Her name on products is poised to have generated one billion for all parties involved (and that's probably gross, not net).

orger said:

Although I'm not hating that picture (at all!), I don't necesarilly believe it's real, either.

any woman able to wear a white bikini has my vote

Cerebus said:

SCNDLS said:

This is the shit that has me positiviely BAFFLED as to how this trick is worth a billion . . a gatdamn BILLION!!!???

She's only worth 100 million. Only. Her name on products is poised to have generated one billion for all parties involved (and that's probably gross, not net).

Oh, snap! I was finna demand a recount. The headline is very misleading. That sounds MUCH better cuz I know name licensing wouldn't make her that much money.

The world's still coming to an end tho, I just can't blame it on Jessica now.

[Edited 12/8/10 17:41pm]

Cerebus said:

orger said:

Although I'm not hating that picture (at all!), I don't necesarilly believe it's real, either.

where do you think the seams are? It's got details like the hat shadow on the face, and the same shadow going down the hip too.

ufoclub said:

Cerebus said:

Although I'm not hating that picture (at all!), I don't necesarilly believe it's real, either.

where do you think the seams are? It's got details like the hat shadow on the face, and the same shadow going down the hip too.

Just the front of the bikini bottom area. The material doesn't look like it matches the top. And I know people think she's completely daft, but nothing about her in the past has shown her to be the kind of person who would wear something like that in public so casually.

Cerebus said:

ufoclub said:

where do you think the seams are? It's got details like the hat shadow on the face, and the same shadow going down the hip too.

Just the front of the bikini bottom area. The material doesn't look like it matches the top. And I know people think she's completely daft, but nothing about her in the past has shown her to be the kind of person who would wear something like that in public so casually.

True, it doesn't seem like she would wear that, but the bottom is wet and the top is dry!