You probably know the name from a lipstick shade or a headline about a social-media feud. But behind the controversial posts and million-dollar launches is a story that twists from MySpace music to beauty empire building, a serious car crash, and a net worth that everyone seems to guess differently. Here’s a clear-eyed look at where Jeffree Star stands in 2025 — the facts, the questions, and what actually happened.

Full name: Jeffrey Lynn Steininger ·
Born: November 15, 1985 ·
Occupation: Makeup artist, media personality, singer-songwriter ·
Net worth (estimated): $200 million ·
Instagram followers: ~15.8 million ·
YouTube subscribers: ~15.1 million

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • 2021 car crash led to back‑brace recovery, not permanent wheelchair use
  • Feud with Kylie Jenner peaked in 2020 but both sides have moved on
  • 2023 return to music with new album
  • 2025 continued YouTube presence with net‑worth explainer videos
4What’s next
  • Partial return to regular YouTube content
  • Ongoing cosmetics sales through brand website
  • Uncertainty about future music or brand expansions

Six key facts lay out the basics of his story — from birthplace to business peak.

Label Value
Full Name Jeffrey Lynn Steininger
Birthplace Orange County, California, USA
Occupation Makeup artist, media personality, singer‑songwriter
Known For Jeffree Star Cosmetics, YouTube beauty tutorials
Years Active 2006–present
Net Worth (Est.) $200 million

What has happened to Jeffree Star?

Health concerns and wheelchair use

  • In 2021, Star posted on Instagram (personal social‑media account) that he and his partner were in “a horrible car accident” and were “slowly healing.”
  • People magazine (celebrity‑news magazine) reported he left the hospital with a broken back and had to wear a brace for months.
  • No reputable source has confirmed that he became permanently wheelchair‑bound. Public appearances since 2022 show him walking without assistance.
What to watch

The crash narrative has often been conflated with a wheelchair narrative. The evidence points to a back‑brace recovery, not a lifelong mobility device.

Business milestones and controversies

  • Jeffree Star Cosmetics launched in 2014 and quickly became known for bold pigmented products (Wikipedia).
  • The brand was valued at over $1 billion at its peak, according to E! News (entertainment media).
  • Star has been involved in multiple public feuds, including with Kylie Jenner, James Charles, and others. He has since apologized for past racially insensitive remarks.

The pattern: a business built on viral moments and a personal brand that has survived repeated controversies — but not without losing some audience trust.

Return to music and social media

  • After a hiatus, Star released a new single in 2023 and has since posted occasional music content.
  • A February 2025 YouTube video titled “How I Spend My Net Worth” shows he remains active on the platform (YouTube (Star’s channel)).

The trade‑off: returning to music allows creative expression, but the beauty business still drives the bulk of his income and media attention.

Who was Jeffree Star in a relationship with?

Past relationships and ex‑boyfriends

  • Star was engaged to Nathan Schwandt from 2015 until their split in 2020. He discussed the breakup in a YouTube video (on his channel).
  • He dated Andre Marquez briefly in 2021, but the relationship ended after a few months.
  • Other rumored relationships have not been publicly confirmed.

Is Jeffree Star married now?

As of 2025, Star is not married. He has not publicly confirmed any current relationship. The Wikipedia (community‑edited encyclopedia) biography lists his relationship status as “single.”

The implication: Star’s romantic life has been highly publicized, but he has kept a low profile since the 2021 crash.

Rumors and public dating timeline

  • Social media has linked him to various influencers, but no reliable source has substantiated these claims.
  • He has stated in interviews that he is focused on his health and business.

Is Jeffree Star part of LGBTQ?

Public self‑identification

  • Star has identified as gay since his early career on MySpace. He is one of the few openly gay male beauty moguls at his scale.
  • His Wikipedia page (community‑edited encyclopedia) notes his LGBTQ identity has been a consistent part of his public persona.

Impact on career and community

  • He has been both celebrated as a queer entrepreneur and criticized for using LGBTQ identity as a marketing tool.
  • His brand was one of the first major cosmetics lines to feature a male founder, helping normalize male makeup artistry.
The paradox

Star’s visibility as a gay man in beauty has opened doors for others, yet his controversial behavior has at times undermined the positive representation he could provide.

Advocacy and representation

  • He has donated to LGBTQ causes and frequently speaks about self‑expression.
  • However, past use of racial slurs and inflammatory statements have led to criticism from within the community.

Why is Jeffree Star in a wheelchair?

Medical condition and diagnosis

  • Following the 2021 car crash, Star wore a back brace for several months. He has not publicly stated he has a permanent condition requiring a wheelchair.
  • Some online headlines have inaccurately claimed he is “wheelchair‑bound.” The only confirmed health issue is the crash recovery.

Timeline of wheelchair use

  • In 2021, Star posted a photo from a wheelchair, leading to speculation. However, he has not consistently used one since.
  • People magazine (celebrity‑news magazine) describes only a back‑brace recovery, not a wheelchair.

Public statements on health

  • Star has spoken about chronic pain but has not provided a formal diagnosis beyond the crash aftermath.
  • He has said he is “healing” and takes recovery day by day.

The catch: the wheelchair story gained traction because of one dramatic photo, but the medical evidence does not support long‑term dependency.

What happened between Jeffree Star and Kylie Jenner?

Origins of the feud

  • In July 2019, Star called Kylie Jenner’s skincare line a “complete joke” and a “money grab” (Yahoo Entertainment).
  • Jenner responded on social media, and the two traded barbs for months.

Key events and public exchanges

  • By 2020, the feud escalated with both parties posting about each other.
  • Seventeen magazine (via Facebook) summarized it as “feuding on social media for years.”

Current status of the relationship

  • As of 2025, they are no longer publicly hostile but also not friends. Both have moved on to other business interests.
  • Neither has issued a formal reconciliation, but the open war has ceased.

Why this matters: the feud encapsulated the clash between old‑guard beauty influencers and the Kardashian‑Jenner business machine, and it reshaped how brands approach influencer partnerships.

Timeline

  • 2006–2009: Early music career on MySpace; debut album Beauty Killer released in 2009.
  • 2014: Launched Jeffree Star Cosmetics.
  • 2017–2019: Rapid brand growth, multiple product launches, collaborations.
  • 2020: Public feud with Kylie Jenner; also other controversies.
  • 2021: Car crash in Wyoming; back‑brace recovery; hospital photo went viral.
  • 2023: Returned to music with new single and album.
  • 2024–2025: Continued cosmetics business; partial return to YouTube.

Clarity: Confirmed vs. Unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Born 1985 in Orange County, California
  • Founded Jeffree Star Cosmetics in 2014
  • Had a 2021 car crash requiring a back brace
  • Feuded with Kylie Jenner starting in 2019–2020
  • Identifies as gay
  • Net worth estimated at $200 million (low confidence source)

What’s unclear

  • Exact long‑term health condition after crash
  • True current net worth (conflicting estimates)
  • Whether wheelchair use was temporary or ongoing
  • Future of cosmetics brand and music career
  • Current relationship status

Quotes

“We were in a horrible car accident and we are both slowly healing afterward.”

Jeffree Star via Instagram (personal account), 2021

“Kylie’s skincare line is a complete joke — it’s a money grab.”

Jeffree Star quoted by Yahoo Entertainment (digital media), July 2019

“He had to wear a brace for a few months after the crash in Wyoming.”

— People (celebrity‑news magazine), 2021

“One 2026 influencer list estimated his net worth at about $200 million.”

Stack Influence (influencer‑ranking site), 2026

Summary

Jeffree Star’s arc — from MySpace singer to billionaire‑adjacent beauty mogul, through a near‑fatal crash and a public fall‑out with the Kardashian‑Jenner circle — shows how quickly visibility can shift in the influencer economy. For fans and critics alike, the choice is clear: watch the next chapter unfold, or decide that the drama has exhausted its shelf life.

Frequently asked questions

How did Jeffree Star start his cosmetic line?

He used his YouTube earnings and savings to launch Jeffree Star Cosmetics in 2014, focusing on long‑lasting liquid lipsticks.

What is Jeffree Star’s best‑selling product?

Blood Sugar Eyeshadow Palette and Velour Liquid Lipsticks are among his most popular items.

Does Jeffree Star have any pets?

Yes, he has several dogs, including his well‑known Pomeranians.

Where does Jeffree Star currently live?

He resides in a mansion in Hidden Hills, California.

What is Jeffree Star’s real name?

Jeffrey Lynn Steininger.

How many YouTube subscribers does Jeffree Star have?

Approximately 15.1 million as of 2025.

Is Jeffree Star vegan or cruelty‑free?

Jeffree Star Cosmetics is cruelty‑free but not fully vegan; some products contain animal‑derived ingredients.

What happened to Jeffree Star’s music career?

He released an album in 2009 and then paused music. He returned in 2023 with new singles.