Benjamin Kapelushnik | |
---|---|
![]() Kapelushnik
authenticating a pair of sneakers in 2017 | |
Born | [1] | October 14, 1999
Other names |
|
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. [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]
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]
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]
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]
In 2022, Kapelushnik was reportedly evicted from his luxury apartment building at Ten Thousand in Los Angeles over claims of unpaid rent. [34]
Benjamin Kapelushnik | |
---|---|
![]() Kapelushnik
authenticating a pair of sneakers in 2017 | |
Born | [1] | October 14, 1999
Other names |
|
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. [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]
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]
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]
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]
In 2022, Kapelushnik was reportedly evicted from his luxury apartment building at Ten Thousand in Los Angeles over claims of unpaid rent. [34]