How Jessica Alba built a billion dollar empire: Actress named America's richest self-made woman by Forbes... with a personal wealth of $200m
- Actress co-founded The Honest Company in 2012 and
its valued at $1B - The company was inspired by actress's pregnancy in 2008
- Services include $80 monthly bundle of diapers and wipes
Jessica Alba graced the cover of Forbes magazine in an issue titled America's Richest Self-Made Women as her fortune was pegged at $200 million.
The 34-year-old actress turned businesswoman co-founded The Honest Company in 2012 and in a short span it has gained a valuation of $1 billion with the actress holding a 15 to 20 percent stake.
Jessica was just $50 million shy of cracking the magazine's Top 50 list with Beyonce and Judge Judy tied at the 49th spot with estimated fortunes of $250 million.
Richest women: Jessica Alba graced the cover of Forbes magazine in its issue titled America's Richest Self-Made Women as her business The Honest Company was valued at $1 billion
Jessica was by no means resting on her laurels and was in Seoul, South Korea on Thursday to mark her company's expansion of her products to the country.
The Honest Company was inspired in 2008 when Jessica was engaged to Cash Warren and expecting their first child.
Her mother Cathy at a baby shower advised her to use baby detergent to prewash the onesies she received as gifts and Jessica used a mainstream brand.
Toast to that: The Honest Company co-founder was in Seoul, South Korea on Thursday to mark the expansion of her products to the country
The actress broke out in ugly red welts that reminded her of childhood problems with bad allergies, chronic asthma and regular bouts with pneumonia.
'She was the most sensitive child,' her mother Cathy told Forbes.
The detergent incident prompted Jessica to search out more natural and eco-friendly products and she even tried making her own cleaning products out of baking soda, vinegar and essential oils.
The good: Jessica held a box of the The Honest Company's non-toxic products including diapers
Beauty in blue: The Sin City star wore a light blue striped shirt teamed with a skirt in a similar colour featuring a cutout pattern
'I felt like my needs weren’t being met as a modern person. I want beautiful design like everybody else. But it shouldn’t be premium-priced, and it should, of course, be safe,' she said.
Jessica partnered with Christopher Gavigan who for seven years had a nonprofit called Healthy Child Healthy World and they started coming up with a business plan.
They teamed up with Web entrepreneur Brian Lee and fourth co-founder Sean Kane and The Honest Company startup was seeded with about $6 million.
Jet-setting: Jessica touched down at LAX on Thursday, wearing a casual ensemble including a white cardigan and grey sweatpants
Precious cargo: The actress and businesswoman pushed a beige and brown suitcase with a pink Kate Spade purse
The company in its first year of selling products reached $10 million in revenue and by 2014 that figure had climbed to $150 million.
Jessica said she and The Honest Company were just getting started.
'If we really want to make a difference in the world and people’s health, it’s billions and billions of dollars, not just one,' she said reflecting on the company's $1 billion valuation at its headquarters in Santa Monica, California.
Finishing touches: She concealed her eyes behind round sunglasses and streamed listening material through her headphones
Natural beauty: She styled her hair in a sleek straight bob and kept her make-up to a minimum
Non-toxic and eco-friendly diapers gave The Honest Company its start and they continue to account for a large proportion of the sales.
About 75 percent of revenues come from online commerce with the majority of that from the company's $79.95 monthly bundles of diapers and wipes.
The Honest Company also sells $170 vegan-leather diaper bags, $14 organic beeswax sunscreen and $13 non-toxic and hypoallergenic laundry detergent.
Company headquarters: Jessica is shown in January 2014 at The Honest Company headquarters in Santa Monica, California as the company celebrated its second anniversary
Family first: Jessica, shown with husband Cash Warren and their daughters Honor and Haven, formed the company after giving birth to
Jessica rose to fame at age 19 when she starred in the James Cameron sci-fi television series Dark Angel.
She laughed about working an 86-hour week on the show that launched her career and said she now spends those 86 hours at her desk overseeing marketing and brand development for The Honest Company.
Jessica and Cash have been married since May 2008 and they have six-year-old daughter Honor and three-year-old daughter Haven together.
Celebrity endorsement: Jessica is shown in April pointing to The Honest Company products displayed in the window of a Buy Buy Baby store in New York City
Series star: Jessica, shown in a 2002 promo still for Dark Angel, said she spent 86 hours a week on the show but now devotes that time to The Honest Company
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3101780/How-Jessica-Alba-built-billion-dollar-empire-Actress-named-America-s-richest-self-woman-Forbes-personal-wealth-200m.html#ixzz3bXf5fwB2
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