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Kim K's sex tape nets '$100million': How the sex tape became a cash cow

Happy anniversary to Kim Kardashian’s sex tape!

Ten years ago a fairly unknown 26-year-old heiress hit the headlines after footage emerged of her getting down and dirty beneath the sheets with singer Ray J.

It marked the makings of a ‘superstar’.

Kim Kardashian West and Ray J’s sex tape launched the reality TV star’s career (Photo composite: Ian West/PA)
Kim Kardashian West and Ray J’s sex tape launched the reality TV star’s career (Photo composite: Ian West/PA)

‘Kim Kardashian: Superstar’ has now achieved 210 million views? and raked in $100million dollars, with much of that revenue going to Kim and Ray.

Pornhub,com, which hosts the 41-minute video, reports: “It is viewed by someone on an average of every 1.5 seconds, with a significant increase in numbers when Kim married Kris Humphries, announced her divorce and with the release of the Paper magazine cover.”

It all started in 2002 when the young brunette beauty was a personal stylist to singer Brandy Norwood. She met and fell for the R ‘n’ B star’s little brother Willie ‘Ray J’ Norwood and during a saucy trip away to Mexico in 2003, the couple took a handheld camcorder and filmed themselves having sex.

Fast foward five years and Kim is best friends with Paris Hilton. ‘The Simple Life’ star also had a sex tape, titled ‘1 Night in Paris’ with her ex-boyfriend Rick Salomon.

Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton (Photo: Jeff Vespa/WireImage)
Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton (Photo: Jeff Vespa/WireImage)

Many claim that Kim – a then unknown socialite – was inspired when she saw her BFF’s career sky-rocket following the leak of her sex tape in 2004.

Then Vivid Entertainment got hold of Kim’s and she sued the distributer, settling out of court for $5million – as well as the rights to the tape.

So basically every time someone downloads or watches the tape, Kim and Ray still J get a cut – although it is unclear exactly how much.

Then, in October, Vivid released a 3D virtual reality film featuring a Kim Kardashian lookalike titled ‘Kim Kardashian Superstar VR Experience’ and last month Vivid named March 2017 ‘Kim K. Sex Tape Month.’

Porn king Steve Hirsch
Porn king Steve Hirsch

Steven Hirsch, the founder and co-chairman of Vivid Entertainment, told The Sun newspaper: “Ultimately she did sell us the footage so we had the ability to put it out and distribute it.

“I can only say that it’s the most popular tape we’ve ever done. Revenue-wise it has generated more income than any other tape that we’ve done.”

Ten years later, Kim is married to Kanye West and shares two children, Saint and North, with the rapper and Ray wed Princess Love in August 2016.

However, the legend of their sex tape has lived on and they continue to ride the gravy train, with Ray reportedly raking in $90k a month from.

And Kim K, Paris and Ray J aren’t the only celebs to have been exposed by a sex tape scandal. Actor Colin Farrell, rugby star Ben Cohen, Corrie actress Kym Marsh and singer Tulisa Constovolas have all been rocked by the phenomena.

Other stars who’ve made a mint from their sex tape: Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan on the stand in ‘Nobody Speak: The Trials of the Free Press’ (Photo: Courtesy Sundance Institute)
Hulk Hogan on the stand in ‘Nobody Speak: The Trials of the Free Press’ (Photo: Courtesy Sundance Institute)

Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan and radio host Bubba the Love Sponge’s ex-wife Heather Clem Cole were seen in a grainy video that surfaced early in 2012.

Hogan sued Gawker for $100 million for defamation, loss of privacy, and emotional pain due to the release of the tape, and on March 18, 2016, was awarded $115 million.

Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee

Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian might owe their fame to their respective sex tapes but the pioneer of all sex tape scandals has to be the one starring the Baywatch star and her former husband, filmed during their honeymoon and stolen in 1995 by a vengeful electrician.

It’s still available to watch on PornHub.com and is said to have made them millions.

Fred Durst

Fred Durst sued Gawker for $70million for publishing his sex tape (Suzan Moore/EMPICS Entertainment)
Fred Durst sued Gawker for $70million for publishing his sex tape (Suzan Moore/EMPICS Entertainment)

Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst was left red faced when a video of him and an unknown woman having sex leaked onto the internet by a repairman who had been fixing his computer.

Yikes.

He later sued the website Gawker and nine other sites for $70 million for publishing it.

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