Jeffree Star is a makeup artist, YouTuber, and cosmetics founder whose career runs from MySpace fame in the mid-2000s to a beauty empire and a yak ranch in Wyoming. Born Jeffrey Lynn Steininger Jr. on November 15, 1985, in Los Angeles County, California, he is 40 years old as of October 2026. He founded Jeffree Star Cosmetics in November 2014 and earned $18 million from YouTube in 2018, per Forbes. Celebrity-finance sites estimate his net worth around $200 million, but no authoritative source has confirmed a figure.
As of late 2026, Star’s YouTube channel holds roughly 14.5 to 15.5 million subscribers, with millions more followers across Instagram and TikTok. He splits his time between the Jeffree Star Cosmetics operations in Los Angeles and Star Yak Ranch, his agricultural property outside Casper, Wyoming, which has become his primary residence and a second business.
Early Life
Jeffrey Lynn Steininger Jr. was born on November 15, 1985, in Los Angeles County, California, and grew up in Orange County. His father, Jeffrey L. Steininger, died by suicide when Jeffree was six years old. He was raised by his mother, Marra Shubyann Lindstrom Steininger, who worked as a model.
As a child, Star began experimenting with his mother’s makeup and eventually wore it to school during his junior year of high school. He attended Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, California, graduating in 2002. After high school, he adopted the professional name Jeffree Star and moved to Los Angeles, supporting himself with makeup, modeling, and music work. He has described spending weekends at Hollywood clubs, where celebrities began hiring him as a personal makeup artist.
MySpace Fame and Music Career
Before YouTube, Star was one of MySpace’s most-followed personalities. He used the platform to publish music, fashion photography, and commentary, building an audience that supported his touring and recording career. In 2009, he released his debut studio album Beauty Killer, an electropop record that included “Lollipop Luxury,” which got a remix featuring Nicki Minaj. The album peaked at number 122 on the US Billboard 200.
Star embarked on several world tours to promote the album and signed with Akon’s Konlive label in 2010. He left the music industry by 2013, citing legal issues involving the label’s owner.
In September 2024, Star returned to music with a 15th anniversary re-release of Beauty Killer featuring three new songs, announced in a YouTube video. The reissue included a country-inspired version of the title track and arrived alongside a companion makeup collection with a mini eyeshadow palette named after the Nicki Minaj collaboration. The 2024 limited edition arrived under his Pink Religion branding.
Jeffree Star Cosmetics
In November 2014, Star founded Jeffree Star Cosmetics, funding the launch with his savings. The brand debuted with three shades of Velour Liquid Lipstick and expanded into eyeshadow palettes including Blood Sugar and Blue Blood, highlighters, and later a full color cosmetics range. The products became known for bold pigmentation and long-wear formulas, and the brand grew into one of the best-known independent cosmetics companies in the industry.
Star promoted the brand through his YouTube channel, filming reviews, shade launches, and behind-the-scenes factory content that gave viewers a direct look at the business. In 2018, he earned $18 million from YouTube, making him the fifth-highest-paid YouTuber that year, per Forbes.
The company sells direct to consumers through its own website and has sold through retailers including Morphe stores. On February 25, 2022, he launched Jeffree Star Skin, a dedicated skincare line and his first major category expansion beyond color cosmetics.
The Move to Wyoming and Star Yak Ranch
In 2020, Star left California and bought property outside Casper, Wyoming, eventually expanding to a 70-acre ranch where he raises Tibetan yaks. The move followed his step back from daily YouTube uploads and marked a deliberate shift toward a more private life.
Star Yak Ranch operates as a working agricultural business. He began selling yak meat in 2021, supplying local stores and restaurants by 2022, and on July 14, 2023, he opened a Casper retail store in the former Hall on Ash building, branded as Jeffree Star The Store. The ranch and his real estate holdings give his wealth stability beyond the creator economy.
The yak meat business drew criticism online from commenters who felt it betrayed the animals he featured as pets.
Content Style and Influence
Star’s YouTube format shaped beauty content for years. His marathon review videos, in which he tested full new releases from brands across the industry, could move product overnight. A positive review from Star sent items selling out; a negative one could stall a launch. Brands sent him PR packages routinely, and his unboxings drew viewers who never wore makeup themselves.
Beyond reviews, his channel carried luxury shopping vlogs, mansion tours, and collaborations with other large creators. In 2019, he was the subject of Shane Dawson’s documentary series “The Secret World of Jeffree Star,” which followed his daily life and the cosmetics operation and pulled tens of millions of views. The series cemented his status beyond beauty YouTube, making him recognizable to general YouTube audiences.
He has also used his platform for philanthropy, including giveaways and charitable donations tied to product launches. His openness about his upbringing, his father’s death, and his early struggles gave his content a confessional edge that kept viewers invested in his personal story as much as his products.
Real Estate
Star’s property portfolio has been widely covered. In 2016, he bought a 10-bedroom home for $3.62 million and sold it four years later. In December 2019, he spent $14.6 million on a Hidden Hills, California estate with 8 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms across 25,000 square feet on just under three acres. He has since centered his life in Wyoming while maintaining the Los Angeles cosmetics operation.
Personal Life
Star was in a long-term relationship with Nathan Schwandt, a model and social media personality, from 2015 until their split in early 2020. Their relationship featured heavily in his content during those years. Since the split, Star has kept his dating life mostly private, though he occasionally references relationships in videos and podcast appearances.
His father died when he was six, and he was raised by his mother. He has spoken about his mother working as a model and supporting his early interest in makeup. He has no children.
Controversies
Star’s career includes several public feuds and controversies. He had a long-running public conflict with fellow beauty YouTuber Tati Westbrook and with James Charles, taking Westbrook’s side during the 2019 “Bye Sister” episode that cost Charles millions of subscribers. The feud dominated beauty YouTube coverage for weeks and pulled Star into the largest creator drama of that era.
He has also faced criticism over past remarks, including disparaging comments that resurfaced from his MySpace era. In April 2021, Star and a friend were hospitalized after a car accident in Wyoming that left both seriously injured.
In 2020, Star stepped back from regular YouTube uploads, keeping a lighter schedule since, punctuated by launches and the 2024 music re-release. His reduced posting schedule marked a shift from daily creator life to business owner.
Business Ventures
| Venture | Details |
|---|---|
| Jeffree Star Cosmetics | Founded November 2014; Velour Liquid Lipsticks, Blood Sugar and Blue Blood palettes, highlighters |
| Jeffree Star Skin | Skincare line launched February 2022 |
| Star Yak Ranch | 70-acre Wyoming ranch; yak meat sales from 2021; Casper retail opened July 2023 |
| Music | Beauty Killer (2009); 15th anniversary re-release with 3 new songs (2024) |
| Real estate | Hidden Hills estate ($14.6M, 2019); Wyoming ranch property |
| Merchandise | Branded apparel and accessories |
Follower Counts (as of 2026)
| Platform | Followers | Date of figure |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube | ~14.5-15.5 million subscribers | Late 2026 tracker data |
| ~12.7-12.8 million followers | Sep 2026 tracker data | |
| TikTok | ~8.3 million followers | Sep 2026 tracker data |
Star came up in the same YouTube beauty generation as James Charles, and their 2019 falling out became one of the most covered creator feuds of the decade. The TikTok era brought a new wave of beauty stars, including personalities like Jen Affleck, Whitney Leavitt, and Mayci Neeley, who found fame through Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives rather than makeup tutorials. Star’s move from creator to company owner set a template many later influencers have tried to follow.
2024 to 2026 Developments
September 2024 brought the Beauty Killer 15th anniversary re-release with three new songs and a companion makeup collection, Star’s first music release in over a decade. The ranch business expanded through 2024 with direct-to-consumer yak meat sales and the Casper retail location. Jeffree Star Cosmetics continued releasing new collections, and Star’s social media presence stayed active even as his YouTube upload schedule remained lighter than his peak years.
By 2026, Star had settled into a pattern: Wyoming as home base, the cosmetics company running in Los Angeles, and periodic returns to YouTube for launches and announcements. His wealth rests more on company equity and property than on platform income, which is why his reduced posting has not dented his financial standing. Celebrity-finance sites estimate his net worth around $200 million, but no authoritative source has confirmed a figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Jeffree Star?
He was born Jeffrey Lynn Steininger Jr. on November 15, 1985, in Los Angeles County, California. He is 40 years old as of October 2026 and turns 41 in November 2026.
What is Jeffree Star’s net worth?
Celebrity-finance sites estimate his net worth around $200 million as of 2026, reflecting Jeffree Star Cosmetics equity, real estate, and the Wyoming ranch. No authoritative source such as Forbes has published a verified figure.
What is Star Yak Ranch?
Star Yak Ranch is Jeffree Star’s agricultural property outside Casper, Wyoming, spanning about 70 acres. He raises Tibetan yaks there and began selling yak meat in 2021, expanding to direct-to-consumer sales through 2024. The ranch also connects to his retail location in Casper.
Why did Jeffree Star leave California?
In 2020, Star moved from his California mansion to Wyoming, seeking a more private life after stepping back from daily YouTube uploads. Wyoming is now his primary residence, while the cosmetics company continues operating in Los Angeles.
Is Jeffree Star still making music?
He returned to music in September 2024 with a 15th anniversary re-release of his 2009 album Beauty Killer, adding three new songs. He has teased the possibility of more music but has not confirmed a full return to the industry.
What happened between Jeffree Star and James Charles?
Star publicly sided with Tati Westbrook against James Charles during the 2019 “Bye Sister” controversy, ending his friendship and collaboration with Charles. The falling out played out across YouTube videos and social media and became one of the most covered feuds in beauty community history.
