Kendra Scott

Kendra Scott (born March 27, 1974) is an American entrepreneur, fashion designer, and philanthropist. She is the founder and Executive Chairwoman of Kendra Scott LLC, a fashion jewelry and accessories company she started in 2002 with $500 in the spare bedroom of her Austin, Texas home. Under her leadership, the company grew into a billion-dollar brand with over 150 retail stores and more than 2,600 employees.

Scott became one of only 16 women in the United States to carry the title of founder of a company valued at $1 billion when Berkshire Partners acquired a minority stake in her company in 2016. She has appeared as a guest "Shark" investor on seasons 12, 14, and 16 of the ABC reality television series Shark Tank. In 2017, she was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year National Award winner, and Forbes has ranked her among America's Richest Self-Made Women, placing her higher than Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Donna Karan, and Diane von Furstenberg.

Scott is also a noted philanthropist, having established the Kendra Cares Program for pediatric hospitals, the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at the University of Texas at Austin, and the Kendra Scott Foundation.

Early life and education

Kendra L. Baumgartner was born on March 27, 1974, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where she was raised in a family that valued hard work and community service. Her father was a "country lawyer" who started his own law practice, and her mother sold Mary Kay cosmetics. Scott has described her parents as entrepreneurial, crediting them with inspiring her business ambitions.

A particularly influential figure was her aunt, who served as the fashion director at Gimbels department store in Milwaukee, exposing young Kendra to the world of fashion and retail. Scott has recalled: "I grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin, surrounded by the hardworking spirit of farmers and factory workers. Those early years shaped my strong work ethic, inspired by the dedication of my parents and grandparents."

At age 16, Scott's family relocated to Houston, Texas, where she graduated from Klein High School. She enrolled at Texas A&M University, which she has said she chose partly because she "followed a boy" there. After one year, at age 19, Scott dropped out of college to move to Austin, Texas, to help care for her ill stepfather.

Career

The Hat Box

Before entering the jewelry business, Scott opened her first venture, "The Hat Box," in Austin. The business specialized in comfortable but stylish hats designed specifically for women undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Scott donated a portion of the proceeds to cancer research. This early experience established the philanthropic ethos that would later define her jewelry brand.

Founding Kendra Scott LLC

In 2002, just three months after the birth of her first son, Scott founded Kendra Scott LLC with only $500 in savings. Working from a spare bedroom in her Austin home, she designed her first jewelry collection and began selling her pieces door-to-door.

With her newborn baby in a carrier on one arm and a tea box full of jewelry in the other, Scott personally pitched her designs to local boutiques throughout Austin. Her mother was part of the original team that helped establish the brand. The grassroots approach proved successful, and local stores began carrying her distinctive, colorful designs.

The company grew steadily through the 2000s. Revenue increased dramatically from $1.7 million in 2010 to $24 million by 2013, driven by expanding wholesale relationships and the opening of the company's first retail stores.

Billion-dollar valuation

In 2016, Boston-based private equity firm Berkshire Partners acquired a minority stake in Kendra Scott LLC, valuing the company at more than $1 billion. Scott retained her position as majority shareholder and CEO - a distinction that made her one of only 16 women in the United States at that time to be the founder of a billion-dollar company.

The company continued to expand, eventually growing to approximately 150 retail stores across the United States. A signature feature of Kendra Scott stores is the "Color Bar," an interactive experience that allows customers to create customized jewelry by selecting their preferred stones, metals, and settings.

By 2024, the company generated several hundred million dollars in annual revenue, achieved 20% year-over-year growth, and employed more than 2,600 people - over 95% of whom are women.

Transition from CEO

In February 2021, Scott stepped down as CEO while retaining the title of Executive Chairwoman and Chief Creative Officer. Tom Nolan was named as the company's new CEO. Scott continues to lead product design and brand strategy while maintaining her majority ownership stake.

Shark Tank

Scott made her debut as a guest "Shark" investor on season 12 of Shark Tank in 2020-2021, appearing alongside regular panelists Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Kevin O'Leary, and Barbara Corcoran. She was the only female guest Shark that season.

During her Shark Tank appearances, Scott has made several notable investments:

• Sienna Sauce: Scott invested $100,000 for 20% equity in this hot sauce company founded by then-16-year-old entrepreneur Tyla-Simone Crayton
• Bootaybag: A women's underwear subscription service in which Scott invested; the company has since grown to a valuation of over $5 million
• doublesoul: A sock company
• Opulence MD: A beauty products company

Scott has returned as a guest Shark for seasons 14 and 16, continuing to invest in women-led and consumer product businesses.

Author

In 2022, Scott published her memoir, Born to Shine: Do Good, Find Your Joy, and Build a Life You Love through Worthy Publications. The book chronicles her journey from startup entrepreneur to billionaire businesswoman, drawing on years of personal journal entries. Scott conducted a book tour to promote the release, sharing insights on entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and personal resilience.

Business philosophy

Scott has built her company around three core values: Family, Fashion, and Philanthropy. This philosophy permeates the company culture and brand identity.

Key elements of her approach include:

• Customer-centric design: The Color Bar experience puts customization in customers' hands
• Accessible luxury: Offering fashionable jewelry at price points accessible to a broad audience
• Giving back: Integrating philanthropy into the business model from the beginning
• Women's empowerment: Building a company with over 95% female employees and supporting women's entrepreneurship

Philanthropy

Scott has made philanthropy a central pillar of both her personal mission and her company's identity.

Kendra Cares Program

In 2015, Scott launched the Kendra Cares Program, which brings the company's customizable Color Bar jewelry experience to pediatric hospitals across the country. The program allows children undergoing treatment to design their own jewelry, providing a creative outlet and moment of joy during difficult circumstances.

Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute

In September 2019, Scott established the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. The institute focuses on fostering women's entrepreneurial spirit through education, mentorship, and networking opportunities.

Kendra Scott Foundation

In 2023, Scott launched the Kendra Scott Foundation to formalize and expand her philanthropic efforts supporting women's and children's causes.

Kendra Gives Back

Through the company's "Kendra Gives Back" program, Kendra Scott stores host charitable events that donate a portion of sales to local organizations. In 2017 alone, the company hosted more than 10,000 Kendra Gives Back events across its retail locations.

Awards and honors

• Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year National Award (2017)
• Lady Bird Johnson Humanitarian of the Year Award (2013)
• Forbes America's Richest Self-Made Women, #40 (2019)
• Named among 16 female founders of billion-dollar companies in the United States (2016)

Personal life

Scott has been married three times and has three sons.

She married John Scott in June 2000. The couple had two sons: Cade (born November 2001) and Beck (born April 2004). They divorced in 2006.

In August 2013, Scott welcomed her third son, Grey, with Matt Davis, an alcohol marketing executive. Scott and Davis married on June 6, 2014, in Sedona, Arizona. They divorced in September 2020.

Scott married Thomas Evans in early 2022. They separated in 2025.

In 2025, Scott began dating country music star Zac Brown of the Zac Brown Band. The couple made their public debut at the 2025 American Music Awards and announced their engagement in May 2025.

Scott resides in Austin, Texas.

Net worth

As of 2024, Scott's estimated net worth is approximately $900 million, derived primarily from her majority ownership stake in Kendra Scott LLC. She has been consistently ranked among Forbes' list of America's Richest Self-Made Women.

External links

• Official website
• Kendra Scott at ABC's Shark Tank
• Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute