Sure, today is St. Patrick's day. But it's also Robert Kardashian Jr.'s birthday! The Kardashian clan's token male turns the big 2-9 today. We'd say he doesn't look a day over some random specified age as a joke, but there's not really a point to that, is there?You see, not only is Rob the youngest of Kris Jenner's (née Houghton, formerly Kardashian) children with Robert Kardashian Sr., he's also the most publicity and fame-averse. While his sisters Kourtney, Kim, and Khloé; and half-sisters Kendall and Kylie chase the spotlight like they're plants who need the sun for photosynthesis (as in, they're the plants, and the ever-present glare of today's 24/7 news cycle is the sun), Rob has never really courted the fame that now comes with his name.
Instead, Rob has a love/hate relationship with the same social media platforms that are his sisters' lifeblood. He ducks from the paparazzi's lenses. He doesn’t give many formal interviews. When he does, they’re usually to promote his business ventures, not himself.
We're not saying that Rob Kardashian is perfect, of course. We just think that in honor of this special occasion — and the final year of his 20s — the youngest and sole male Kardashian deserves another look. Because once you start to investigate the life and times of one Robert Kardashian Jr., you discover that there have been many occasions when he was the most fascinating Kardashian (and even Jenner) of the whole bunch.
He’s a sock designer.
According to The Arthur George website, “The Arthur George brand, the name a combination of Robert’s middle name — Arthur — also his grandfather’s name, and his father’s middle name — George — was born from Robert’s life-long passion for men’s accessories and his observations of the growing trend in vibrant streetwear, and lack of colorful, unique socks for men. Robert started working on stand-out, spirited, slogan-centric sock designs and the Arthur George statement sock was born.”
Pictured: Rob Kardashian unveiling new Arthur George socks at Neiman Marcus in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 25, 2013.
Here’s a pair of those statement socks.
One could say that these “Fuck Me” socks, which retail for $15, send a strong message.
He has a tattoo of his dad.
Robert Kardashian Sr., died in September 2003, when Robert Kardashian Jr., was 16 years old. Rob Jr. paid tribute to his late father in the form of a tattoo of Rob Sr.'s face on his left forearm.
He doesn’t care about Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
In a September 2013 interview with the Wall Street Journal, Lee Hawkins asks Rob point-blank, “What do you do and what is your job?”
“Literally, my job is I make socks; that’s all I do," Kardashian responds. "I don’t necessarily care about the show. I would rather film this — me doing what I do — than being around my family. But thank god I have that opportunity to be with my family and work with my family. Not everybody even gets to live with their own family, because they’ve gotta go to L.A. or New York or wherever to work and find a job and leave their family back home. Every day, I get to work with my family...if I want to. I’m all about family, that’s how I was raised. We all got each other’s backs, and thank god I have the opportunity to do what I love, which is my family, and work on a business, and try and make it the best that it can be.”
He’s not afraid to choose favorites.
In his Us Weekly“25 Things You Don’t Know About Me” list, Rob says that his youngest sister Kylie Jenner is his favorite.
Pictured: Rob Kardashian and Kylie Jenner walk in the Human runway show during Philippine Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013 on October 27, 2013, in Manila, Philippines.
He brings out the silly side in Kylie.
They danced to “Titanium” together — and it’s on YouTube! 2012 really was a simpler time.
He has strong opinions about candy.
The correct opinions. Another gem from those “25 Things” in Us Weekly? “I feel that Sour Patch Watermelons are the best candy.” HERE for that declaration.
He’s a decent movie critic.
It’s true; Allen is kind of a psycho. One small note, though: The character’s name is spelled Alan.
He played in the 2011 Celebrity All-Star Game.
But he has a really unique definition of what constitutes a legend. Is Justin Bieber a basketball legend, Rob?
His support of Caitlyn Jenner.
In April 2015, Bruce Jenner told Diane Sawyer that, “For all intents and purposes, I am a woman.” Rob immediately tweeted his support of his stepfather, who would later transition to Caitlyn.
He’s a sweet uncle.
Look at him reading to his nephew Mason! Just look at it.
He attended to USC’s Marshall School of Business.
Rob graduated from USC in in 2009. “Go Trojans,” he tells Lee Hawkins of the WSJ. He also adds that he started a skin-care line, which never took off, after he finished college.
He helps his sisters out.
Rob sent Kim a voice note to help her with her morning sickness. We don’t know what the note said, but hey, he tried.
He speaks life’s truth.
Who among us has not ascended just slightly toward heaven while biting into a taco? Who, I ask you, who?
He knows good ideas when he sees them.
He retweeted this brilliant pitch from his sister Kourtney. Billy Eichner, please make this happen.
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