7 Shocking Facts About Kris Jenner's Early Motherhood Journey (The Age She Had Kourtney Will Surprise You)

The question of "how old was Kris Jenner when she had Kourtney" is more than just a trivia fact; it's the precise moment the Kardashian-Jenner dynasty began. As of late 2025, with Kris Jenner herself now 70 years old and her eldest daughter, Kourtney Kardashian, well into her 40s, the context of that first birth is a fascinating look back at the matriarch's life before global fame. The definitive answer, straight from the Momager herself, is that she was 23 years old when she welcomed Kourtney Mary Kardashian into the world. This relatively young age for a first-time mother in the modern era sets the stage for a deep dive into the foundational years of the world's most famous family, contrasting sharply with the ages of her children when they became parents. The journey from Kristen Mary Houghton, a newlywed in her early twenties, to the powerhouse "Momager" of six children and over a dozen grandchildren, is one of the most compelling narratives in celebrity culture. Her 1979 birth of Kourtney was the first step in a life dedicated to family, which would later become the foundation of a multi-billion dollar empire. This article explores the timeline, the context of her age, and the lasting impact of her early motherhood.

The Definitive Biography of Kristen Mary Jenner

To fully appreciate the significance of Kris Jenner's age when she had Kourtney, it is essential to understand the timeline of her early life and the foundational entities of the Kardashian-Jenner family tree.

• Full Name: Kristen Mary Houghton
• Date of Birth: November 5, 1955
• Place of Birth: San Diego, California, U.S.
• Mother: Mary Jo Campbell (M.J.)
• First Marriage (The Kardashian Era): Married Robert Kardashian Sr. in 1978.
• Kourtney's Birth Date: April 18, 1979.
• Kris's Age at Kourtney's Birth: 23 years old.
• Children with Robert Kardashian Sr.: Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Rob Kardashian Jr.
• Second Marriage (The Jenner Era): Married Caitlyn Jenner (then Bruce Jenner) in 1991.
• Children with Caitlyn Jenner: Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner.
• Current Role: Matriarch, executive producer, and "Momager" of the Kardashian-Jenner media empire, starring in *The Kardashians* on Hulu.

The marriage to Robert Kardashian Sr. in 1978, at the age of 22, and Kourtney's arrival less than a year later, cemented the traditional family structure Kris Jenner had always dreamed of.

The Surprising Age Gap: Why 23 Was Considered 'Early' for Kris Jenner

In the late 1970s, having a first child at 23 was not uncommon, but the context of Kris Jenner's entire family planning is what makes her journey unique and a point of fascination for fans today. She has openly discussed her desire for a large family from a young age.

Starting the Family in Her Twenties

Kris Jenner herself has stated that she considers having a child at 23 to be "a very early age." When Kourtney Mary Kardashian was born on April 18, 1979, Kris had just turned 23 five months earlier. She was a young, newly married woman starting her life in Los Angeles with Robert Kardashian Sr., a successful attorney.

This early start meant that by the time she was 30, she was already a mother to three daughters and a son: Kourtney, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, and Robert Kardashian Jr. This rapid expansion of the family in her twenties and early thirties laid the groundwork for the tight-knit, fiercely loyal family unit that would eventually become the subject of *Keeping Up with the Kardashians* (KUWTK) and *The Kardashians*.

The Contrast: Motherhood in Her Forties

What makes Kris Jenner's age at Kourtney's birth particularly noteworthy is the stark contrast with her later pregnancies. After her divorce from Robert Kardashian Sr. and subsequent marriage to Caitlyn Jenner, she had two more children, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner, well into her forties.

• The Unseen Story Jessica Simpsons Battle For Privacy And Body Image In A Digital Age Mlvqa

• She welcomed Kendall Jenner when she was 40 years old.
• She welcomed Kylie Jenner when she was 41 years old.

Kris has revealed that having children in her forties was considered "taboo" at the time, highlighting how much societal norms around family planning have shifted. This personal experience gives her a unique perspective on motherhood across different decades, from the late 1970s to the early 2000s, a journey spanning almost two decades of continuous child-rearing.

The Birth of the Dynasty: Kourtney's Arrival and the Robert Kardashian Era

Kourtney Kardashian's birth in 1979 was the genesis of the Kardashian family as the world knows it. It was the first of four children with Robert Kardashian Sr., a relationship that was central to Kris Jenner's identity as a young woman.

The First Marriage and The First Four

Kris married Robert Kardashian Sr. in 1978. Their life together, which began with the birth of Kourtney, was a period of high society and raising a family in the affluent communities of Southern California. Kourtney's arrival meant the new mother had to quickly transition from a young woman to a dedicated parent, a role she embraced fully.

The four Kardashian children—Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Rob—were all born within a relatively short period, creating the close sibling bond that is a hallmark of their reality television success. This early, hands-on experience in her twenties gave Kris the foundational skills in family management and scheduling that would later be rebranded as her "Momager" business acumen.

• The Enduring Legacy Of Haylor 5 Shocking Facts About Harry Styles And Taylor Swifts Relationship 10 Years Later Sf662

A Full-Circle Moment with Kourtney's Recent Motherhood

The significance of Kris's age at Kourtney's birth is amplified by the fact that Kourtney herself has now gone through multiple pregnancies, including her most recent with husband Travis Barker. Kourtney, now in her mid-forties, is having children at an age that mirrors Kris's later pregnancies with Kendall and Kylie, not her early one with Kourtney.

This generational shift in family planning—from Kris having her first at 23 and her last at 41, to her daughters having their children across their 20s, 30s, and 40s—is a recurring theme in the family's reality shows. It highlights the changing landscape of modern motherhood, a topic that Kris Jenner, as the ultimate matriarch, has navigated across her entire adult life.

From Young Mother to Momager: The Evolution of Kris Jenner's Motherhood

Kris Jenner's entire career, from her early days managing her first husband's career to her current role as a global brand architect, is rooted in her identity as a mother. The unexpected early start with Kourtney, followed by five more children, taught her the discipline, organization, and fierce protectiveness that defines her public persona.

The Momager Mentality

The term "Momager" is synonymous with Kris Jenner, and it's a role that required the logistical planning of a mother of six. Her experience with Kourtney's birth at 23 meant she was a young, active parent who grew up alongside her children to some extent. This allowed her to maintain a unique closeness to her children, a factor that helped her understand and market their careers when they became adults.

• 5 Shocking Facts About Anna Congdon Penn State Sweetheart To Nfl Fiances Social Media Firestorm Cc90e

Her ability to manage the lives of Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Rob, and later Kendall and Kylie, stemmed from years of running a large household. The skills she honed in Calabasas—negotiating, scheduling, mediating, and promoting—were simply transferred from the domestic sphere to the business world.

The Legacy of the Kardashian Dynasty

The foundation laid in 1979 with Kourtney's birth is the reason the family is known today. The six children—Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Rob, Kendall, and Kylie—represent a powerful, multi-generational brand. Kris Jenner's decision to embrace motherhood at 23, and her subsequent commitment to raising a large, close-knit family, is the untold story behind the television shows, the beauty empires, and the fashion lines.

Ultimately, Kris Jenner was 23 when she had Kourtney Kardashian. It was a young age that began a journey far more impactful than anyone could have predicted, not just for the family, but for the entire landscape of reality television and celebrity branding.