Kris Jenner had one full sibling, her younger sister Karen Houghton, who passed away in 2024. She also gained a stepbrother, Steve Shannon, through her mother’s third marriage.
Does Kris Jenner Have Siblings?
Kris Jenner was born Kristen Mary Houghton on November 5, 1955, in San Diego, California. Her parents were Mary Jo Campbell and engineer Robert True Houghton.
She had one full sibling, her younger sister Karen Houghton, born in 1958. The two girls were raised together by their mother after their parents divorced when Kris was seven.
Karen later became known publicly mainly through her connection to Kris and the wider Kardashian-Jenner family. She worked as a nurse for much of her life, away from the reality television spotlight her sister built.
Kris Jenner Sibling Relationship
Kris and Karen had a complicated relationship over the years, marked by periods of closeness and distance. In a 2013 interview with InTouch Weekly, Karen said her sister had changed after becoming famous.
Kris responded to those comments in an interview with Radar Online, saying, “My sister has been dealing with demons for years. I am not in touch with her. But I wish her the very best.”
The sisters appeared to reconcile in later years, spending time together during Christmas in 2019. Karen died unexpectedly on March 18, 2024, at age 65, and Kris announced the loss in an emotional Instagram tribute calling her sister “beautiful inside and out.”
Who is Kris Jenner’s Brother?
Kris Jenner does not have a biological brother. She gained a stepbrother, Steve Shannon, after her mother remarried businessman Harry Shannon following her divorce from Robert Houghton.
Harry Shannon helped raise Kris and Karen throughout their childhood. He remained married to their mother for roughly 40 years until his death in 2003.
What Does Karen Houghton Do for A Living?
Karen Houghton worked as a nurse after attending San Diego State University. She largely stayed out of the reality television career that made her sister famous.
She married Mark Zettel in 1996, and the couple had a daughter together named Natalie. Karen and Zettel later divorced in 2002.
Karen’s official cause of death was later listed as cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac arrhythmia, with Type 2 diabetes noted as a secondary cause. She was cremated following her death in March 2024.
Kris Jenner Family Tree
Kris Jenner’s mother, Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon, was born in Arkansas in 1934 and later ran a children’s clothing store in California. Her father, Robert Houghton, died in a car crash in 1975 at age 44.
Mary Jo remarried twice, first briefly to a high school boyfriend, then to Robert Houghton, and finally to Harry Shannon. Through the marriage to Shannon, Kris gained her stepbrother, Steve.
Kris went on to build her own large family, having four children with first husband Robert Kardashian and two more with second husband Caitlyn Jenner. Her niece, Natalie Zettel, remains part of the extended family following Karen’s death.
Bottom Line
Kris Jenner had one full sibling, her younger sister Karen Houghton, who worked as a nurse and largely avoided the spotlight. The sisters had a strained relationship at times but appeared to reconcile before Karen’s death in March 2024.
Kris also gained a stepbrother, Steve Shannon, through her mother’s third marriage to Harry Shannon. Her mother, Mary Jo Shannon, remains the matriarch behind the wider Kardashian-Jenner family tree.
Karen’s daughter, Natalie Zettel, is Kris Jenner’s only niece through her side of the family. We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!