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]
Benjamin Kapelushnik | |
|---|---|
 Kapelushnik authenticating a pair of sneakers in 2017 | |
| Born | October 14, 1999[1] |
| Other names |
|
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Awards | Shorty Awards finalist (2018) |
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]
In 2022, Kapelushnik was reportedly evicted from his luxury apartment building at Ten Thousand in Los Angeles over claims of unpaid rent.[34]
See also
- Jordan Geller – American sneaker collector
- Sneaker collecting
- StockX – Online marketplace primarily dealing with sneakers
References
Further reading
- Smith, Nicholas (May 2018). Kicks: The Great American Story of Sneakers. New York: Crown. ISBN 978-0-451-49811-3. OCLC 1000251158.
- Tatum, Alfred W., ed. (August 28, 2019). "Texts, Entrepreneurship, and Identities: Cultural Capital and Cultural Capitalism". Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy. 63 (2). Wiley-Blackwell: 229–233. doi:10.1002/jaal.998. ISSN 1081-3004. S2CID 242773529.