Rich Kids of the Internet

Formerly known as Rich Kids of Instagram

For other works with the original title, see Rich Kids of Instagram.

Rich Kids Of The Internet

Formerly| Rich Kids of Instagram
Founded| 2012
Founder| James Ison
Website| instagram.com/rkoi/

Rich Kids of the Internet, also known as RKOI, is a social media channel and brand.[1][2][3] Originally called Rich Kids of Instagram, it started as a hashtag in 2012 which subsequently became a popular Tumblr photo blog;[4] it started its own Instagram channel in 2014.[5][6] RKOI curates images of ultra-wealthy young people flaunting their luxury lifestyles.[2] As of 2020, they were paying $2,000 to be featured.[2][7][8][9]

## History

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The site's early motto was, "They have more money than you and this is what they do."[10][11] The first post went viral with a picture of Michael Dell's teenage son enjoying a buffet on the family jet on the way to Fiji, taken by his sister.[1][2][12] The identity of who was behind Rich Kids of Instagram remained secret for eight years, leading to comparisons with the television series Gossip Girl.[13][1] While many of the young people featured appeared eager to show off their wealth, there were reports that "prominent families" had offered money to have their children's photos taken down from RKOI.[13]

British entrepreneur James Ison was revealed as the founder in 2020.[1] He had started posting as an economics student at Oxford Brookes University, and was soon contacted by two New Yorkers who became his partners.[1] RKOI officially changed its name to Rich Kids of the Internet after receiving a legal letter from Facebook, which acquired Instagram.[1]

In 2018, a Business Insider article featuring "50 of the most outlandish photos from the feed" included snaps of taking a helicopter for a "walkabout" on an Icelandic glacier; Bombardier jets; "private island yacht days"; a drone shot of a superyacht; a gold Bentley; a Ferrari 458 Spider; using a Lamborghini to transport a Christmas tree; exclusive use of the spa at the W Miami Hotel; camping in a safari tent at Coachella festival; and showing off fashion and accessories such as Rolexes, Cartier bracelets, Hermès shoe boxes, Louis Vuitton bags, and a white leather skirt suit from Prada.[8]

## Influencers

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Influencers regularly featured on RKOI included Tiffany Trump, daughter of the American president; Christian Combs, son of Sean "Diddy" Combs; EJ Johnson, son of basketball star Magic Johnson; hotel heir Baron Hilton; Indian entrepreneur Evan Luthra; and Modolvan Daria Radionova.[1][14][15][10]

## Spin-offs

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Since its launch, RKOI has spawned many imitators worldwide.[16] It also became the basis for a 2014 novel called Rich Kids of Instagram, co-authored by the creator of RKOI and Maya Sloan.[17]

## See also

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* Rich Kids of Beverly Hills
* Rich Kids of Instagram (documentary)
* Rich Kids of Instagram (TV series)
* Rich Kids of Instagram: A Novel
* Rich Kids of Tehran

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f g Hewitson, Jessie (15 August 2020). "How James Ison started the Rich Kids of Instagram". The Times. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
2. ^ a b c d "Rich Kids of the Internet: the Instagram account super-wealthy millennials pay US$2,000 to be featured on – set up by a teen student who grew up in a bungalow". Style. South China Morning Post. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
3. ^ Leban, Marina; Thomsen, Thyra Uth; von Wallpach, Sylvia; Voyer, Benjamin G. (March 2021). "Constructing Personas: How High-Net-Worth Social Media Influencers Reconcile Ethicality and Living a Luxury Lifestyle". Journal of Business Ethic. 169 (2): 225–239\. doi:10.1007/s10551-020-04485-6 - via ProQuest.225-239&rft.date=2021-03&rft_id=info:doi/10.1007/s10551-020-04485-6&rft.aulast=Leban&rft.aufirst=Marina&rft.au=Thomsen,+Thyra+Uth&rft.au=von+Wallpach,+Sylvia&rft.au=Voyer,+Benjamin+G.&rft_id=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2492122409/F5FAD7D5FDEC4A6BPQ/1&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Rich+Kids+of+the+Internet" class="Z3988">
4. ^ Cohen, Scott; Liu, Hongbo; Gössling, Stefan (2021). "The Rich Kids of Instagram: Luxury Travel, Transport Modes, and Desire". Journal of Travel Research. 61 (7): 1479–1494\. doi:10.1177/00472875211037748.1479-1494&rft.date=2021&rft_id=info:doi/10.1177/00472875211037748&rft.aulast=Cohen&rft.aufirst=Scott&rft.au=Liu,+Hongbo&rft.au=Gössling,+Stefan&rft_id=https://doi.org/10.1177%2F00472875211037748&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Rich+Kids+of+the+Internet" class="Z3988">
5. ^ Hoflower, Hillary (12 August 2019). "Bugattis in Switzerland, yacht trips to Montenegro, and $50,000 watches: Take a look at how the 'Rich Kids of Instagram' are spending their summers". Business Insider. Retrieved 10 February 2025 - via ProQuest.
6. ^ Kanter, Jake (10 November 2015). "C4 doc explores Rich Kids of Instagram". Broadcast. Retrieved 8 February 2025 - via ProQuest.
7. ^ Hoffower, Hillary (18 March 2019). "7 ways rich millennials spend and display their money differently than rich baby boomers". Business Insider. Retrieved 7 February 2025 - via ProQuest.
8. ^ a b Premack, Rachel (22 October 2018). "Outrageous photos show how the 'Rich Kids of Instagram' spend their parents' fortunes". Business Insider. Retrieved 10 February 2025 - via ProQuest.
9. ^ Quart, Alissa (30 June 2018). "On social media, everyone's rich: Approximating authenticity online is not such a tall order. Why don't we do it?". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 10 February 2025 - via ProQuest.
10. ^ a b "Romney's granddaughter poses in designer dress on lavish 'Rich Kids of Instagram' blog". Asian News International. New Delhi. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2025 - via ProQuest.
11. ^ Waak, Anne (20 July 2014). "Selfie mit Privatjet". Welt am Sonntag. Retrieved 9 February 2025 - via ProQuest.
12. ^ Cefalu, Christiana (24 September 2012). "21st Century Risks". Barron's. Retrieved 9 February 2025 - via ProQuest.
13. ^ a b Stone, Madeline; Jacobs, Sarah (21 September 2015). "The 'Insta-famous' sons and daughters of New York's elite let me into their circle — here's what it was like". Business Insider. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
14. ^ Swerdloff, Alexis (13 December 2015). "Meet the Self-Proclaimed 'Kris Jenner' of the Clique That Brings Together a Kennedy, a Matisse, and a Trump". The Cut. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
15. ^ Singh, Devika (25 September 2016). "Got it, Flaunt it: The Rich Kids of Instagram have a lavish and ostentatious lifestyle". Business Today. New Delhi. Retrieved 8 February 2025 - via ProQuest.
16. ^ Sykes, Tom (27 February 2016). "Are The Rich Kids of Instagram Really Rich?: Their pictures show yachts, champagne, and lives of excess and glamor, but the foreign rich kids of Instagram may not be as rich as they seem". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 7 February 2025 - via ProQuest.
17. ^ Vargas-Cooper, Natasha (October 2014). "The Acquisitive Self, Minus the Self". The Baffler. Retrieved 7 February 2025.

## External links

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* Official Instagram account for RKOI