Jamie Kern Lima Biography: Age, Husband, Children, Net Worth, IT Cosmetics, Books

Jamie Kern Lima, a distinguished entrepreneur, is a celebrated American businesswoman, author, motivational speaker, and philanthropist, widely recognized for co-founding IT Cosmetics, which she sold to L’Oréal for $1.2 billion in 2016.

Profile

• Full Name: Jamie Marie Kern Lima
• Stage Name: Jamie Kern Lima
• Born: July 16, 1977
• Age: 48 years old
• Birthplace: San Rafael, California, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker, Philanthropist
• Height: 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m)
• Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Kern
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Paulo Lima (m. 2007)
• Children: Wonder and Wilder Winston Lima
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $650 million USD

Early Life and Education

Jamie Kern Lima, a distinguished entrepreneur, was born on July 16, 1977, in San Rafael, California, and raised in Des Moines, Washington, by her adoptive parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kern.

As the first in her family to attend college, she graduated as valedictorian with a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Washington State University in 1999.

She later earned an MBA from Columbia Business School in 2004, where her peers chose her as class speaker, highlighting her early leadership qualities.

Career

Jamie Kern Lima, a distinguished entrepreneur, started her career as a television journalist, working as a news anchor and reporter for KNDU in Tri-Cities, Washington, and later for KPTV in Portland, Oregon.

She gained early visibility as a contestant on Big Brother Season 1 (2000), won the Baywatch College Search in 1999, and was crowned Miss Washington USA, competing in Miss USA 2000.

Her struggle with rosacea, a skin condition that affected her on-air appearance, inspired her to co-found IT Cosmetics with her husband, Paulo Lima, in 2008.

Operating from their living room, they created inclusive beauty products with input from dermatologists and plastic surgeons.

After facing rejections from major retailers, Jamie’s 2010 QVC appearance, where she removed her makeup on air to demonstrate her product’s effectiveness, led to a sell-out and propelled IT Cosmetics to become QVC’s largest beauty brand, with $182 million in net sales by 2015.

In 2016, L’Oréal acquired the company for $1.2 billion, and Jamie became the first female CEO of a L’Oréal brand, serving until 2019.

She is now a bestselling author of Believe IT (2021) and Worthy (2024), hosts The Jamie Kern Lima Show, a leading self-improvement podcast, and serves as a guest investor on Shark Tank Season 16, mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs.

Awards and Nominations

• Columbia University Medal of Excellence (2019)
• EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Award
• Fashion Group International Star Award
• CEW Achiever Award
• Look Good Feel Better Dream Ball Award (2019)
• Gracie Award for Best Podcast (Lifestyle) for The Jamie Kern Lima Show (2025)
• Webby Award nominations for Best Host and Best Video Series (2025)
• Forbes America’s Richest Self-Made Women (2017–present)
• Goldman Sachs’ 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs
• WWD’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Beauty
• Regents’ Distinguished Alumni Award, Washington State University (2024/2025)

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @jamiekernlima
• Facebook Handle: Jamie Kern Lima
• Twitter Handle: @jamiekernlima
• YouTube Channel: The Jamie Kern Lima Show
• TikTok Handle: @jamiekernlima

Personal Life

Jamie Kern Lima, a distinguished entrepreneur, is married to Paulo Lima, whom she met during a statistics class at Columbia Business School.

They married in 2007 and have two children, Wonder (born 2018) and Wilder Winston Lima (born 2020), welcomed via surrogacy.

Residing in Los Angeles, California, with their two French Bulldogs, Rainbow and Sunshine, Jamie values her privacy but openly shares her Christian faith, which she credits for her resilience.

Filmography

• Big Brother Season 1 (Contestant, 2000)
• Baywatch (Guest Appearance, 1999)
• The Jamie Kern Lima Show (Podcast Host, 2024–present)
• Author of Believe IT: How to Go from Underestimated to Unstoppable (2021)
• Author of Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life (2024)

Net Worth

Jamie Kern Lima, a distinguished entrepreneur, has an estimated net worth of $650 million USD.

Her wealth primarily stems from the $1.2 billion sale of IT Cosmetics to L’Oréal in 2016, yielding her approximately $410 million after taxes.

She has further grown her fortune through investments in over 15 companies, including Dutch Bros Coffee and Duckhorn Portfolio, as well as earnings from her bestselling books, speaking engagements, and podcast.