Lo, unto the world's most brash couple another little money-spinner is born. And his name is Saint (yes, really)

Bottoms up! Reality TV star Kim Kardashian

With Christmas on the horizon, perhaps the birth of a new saint was to be expected. Whether anyone thought it would be the child of a reality TV star with an enormous bottom and a rapper with a Messiah complex is another matter.

When the peculiarly named Saint West — son of Kim Kardashian, star of hit TV show Keeping Up With the Kardashians, and American rapper Kanye West — was born, he made headlines around the world. After all, he is the son of America's golden couple, and the U.S.'s closest thing to a royal prince.

But who exactly are the Kardashians? Here's the lowdown on the most excruciatingly fascinating family on Planet Celebrity.

MOTHER OF ALL REALITY STARS

Kim Kardashian, 35, is best known for Keeping Up With The Kardashians, the most popular, lucrative reality TV show in broadcasting history. But then obscurity was never going to be an option for Kim.

The daughter of celebrity lawyer Robert Kardashian — who famously got his friend O.J. Simpson off his 1995 murder charge — grew up in a £4 million home in Bel Air. It boasted not only a duck-shaped swimming pool (with egg-shaped hot tub), but rock superstar Bruce Springsteen living next door.

Always a party girl (her 14th birthday bash was held at pal Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch) rather than a grafter (her trust fund saw to that), Kim soon became well known for falling out of clubs with best pals Nicole Richie (daughter of Lionel) and hotels heiress Paris Hilton.

It was a leaked sex tape made with her then-boyfriend, the rapper Ray J, that propelled her to stardom and landed the family their reality TV show in 2007. The tape also made her millions — she sued the company involved for ownership of the tape, but settled out of court for $5 million.

DADDY WITH A MESSIAH COMPLEX

Once upon a time, 38-year-old rapper Kanye West had credibility. Nowadays, he's a bit of a joke — albeit a super-rich one. He produced hit records for the likes of chart-topping rap artist Jay Z and singer songwriter, Alicia Keys, then recorded a platinum-selling album himself. 

Supersized ego: At the 2009 Video Music Awards, Kanye West stormed onto stage, took the microphone out of winner Taylor Swift's hands and told her she didn't deserve the prize

He's now sold more than 21 million albums and won a staggering 21 Grammy awards, but is chiefly known for being an idiot with a rampantly over-inflated ego and a Messiah complex. 

It started at the 2009 Video Music Awards where he stormed onto stage, took the microphone out of winner Taylor Swift's hands and told her she didn't deserve it. Even President Obama called him 'a jackass'. 

He named his 2013 album Yeezus and released a single, I Am A God. 

Brought up by his single mother and university lecturer (his father was a member of the militant Black Panther movement), Kanye was pushed to succeed.

He blames himself for his mother's death aged 58 in 2007 from complications after plastic surgery. 'If I had never moved to LA, she'd be alive,' he lamented.

THE BOTTOM LINE...  

Let’s get this straight: Kim Kardashian has not had plastic surgery. OK, she may be unrecognisable compared to her younger self, but that’s just time. The pioneer of the ‘belfie’ (that’s a bottom selfie) and possessor of perhaps the world’s largest posterior (images of which once ‘broke the internet’) even underwent a ‘butt X-ray’ on TV in 2011 to show critics she didn’t have silicone implants. Since then it’s grown even bigger. Naturally, of course. 

Breaking the internet: This image of Kim Kardashian - and her large posterior - caused a stir last year

THE SECOND COMING

First there was Brand Beckham, now there's Brand West, or Kimye as Kanye and Kim are often called. Saint (pronounced 'San') is their newborn son.

But producing a male heir — they already had a daughter — wasn't easy. Kim suffered with secondary infertility and conceiving Saint took longer than the couple had expected.

The 'miracle' pregnancy that followed explains the chosen name when he arrived last Saturday. The birth was difficult — the baby was in the breech position, and Kim had suffered pre-eclampsia and placenta accreta, a condition that can cause severe bleeding.

Within seconds of Saint's arrival at the £2,600-a-night Cedars-Sinai hospital in LA, the ostentatious gifts from friends, family and the obsequious began arriving. 'In six months, he'll have more clothes than Kim,' joked his father.

His wife has demanded a £660,000 diamond choker as a 'push present' for giving birth, and is likely to get it.

No pictures of the baby have yet emerged (no doubt they'll feature as part of a huge-money deal).

I DO: PUSHING NEW BOUNDARIES WITH THEIR £8 MILLION WEDDING 

Kim and Kanye's marriage has been one big superlative from the start. Kanye went down on one knee with a £3 million ring at an American football stadium, accompanied by a 90-piece orchestra and fireworks in October 2013. The £8 million wedding, seven months later, pushed new boundaries in vulgarity.

Starting with a week-long celebration in Paris (complete with a private tour of Versailles), the 200 guests were flown by private jet to Florence for the nuptials.

Kanye displayed some outrageous diva-like behaviour, storming into the Forti di Belvedere venue (once home to the Medici dynasty) two hours before the ceremony. 

Over-the-top: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West kiss in front of a wall of flowers at their 2013 wedding

There, he got rid of the dance floor lights because he didn't want to be outshone, then sawed the bar in half, adding two pieces of wood and declaring it 'art'.

Only six of the 30 marble statues ordered made it to the venue because of breakage, many names carved into the marble tables by stonemasons were spelled wrongly and the most talked-about feature of the evening wasn't Andrea Bocelli serenading Kim down the aisle (before being told to leave as there was no seat for him) but the gold toilets.

Not a waste of £8 million at all.

SISTER WITH A £9,000 HIGH CHAIR

Trend-setter: North 'Nori' West with her mother

Saint may have a silly name, but it's nothing compared to that of his big sister, North. Known as Nori, she entered her ridiculously affluent world on June 15, 2013. She's said to have five £600 prams dotted around the globe, and has every room she stays in decorated as an exact replica of her own all-white nursery, including her £2,700 cot. There's also a private chef to cook her organic meals and up to ten nannies to take care of her.

For her mother's baby shower, music power couple Jay Z and his pop diva wife Beyonce bought a £9,000 Swarovski crystal-studded high chair. There followed a further £5,000 of presents (including personalised Christian Dior baby booties) when she was born.

French design house Hermes sent a £105 pair of cashmere booties and £240 blanket for her first Christmas, while British designer Stella McCartney also sent hundreds of pounds worth of clothes.

Last Christmas, Kanye spent £50,000 on presents for his then 18-month-old daughter, including a £40,000 diamond tiara.

The little girl's wardrobe is crammed with designer gear she's never worn (including a £250 Oscar de la Renta dress and a £130 leopard-print frock from Italian designer Roberto Cavalli).

Her mother reportedly hires a personal tailor to make mini-me child versions of her own designer outfits so that they can match. And she sends her daughter to ballet lessons in clothes by French design company Balmain.

No wonder top designer Karl Lagerfeld has called North 'the future' of the fashion world.

SPLASHING THE KASH 

If conspicuous consumption makes you feel queasy, look away now. Where to begin on a couple who make your average African dictator look like a miser?

First there’s the homes. The Bel Air pad they bought in 2013 for £7 million was sold for nearly double that after renovation because the five-bedroom mansion with pool and wine cellar wasn’t up to the couple’s high standards.

Last year they spent £14 million on Lisa Marie Presley’s former eight-bedroom home, with two spas, two barbecue ‘centres’ and a vineyard (they even bought next door for £2 million for added privacy).

More is more: The Bel Air pad they bought in 2013 for £7 million was sold for nearly double that after renovation because the five-bedroom mansion with pool wasn’t up to the couple’s high standards

Of course, there are private planes, designer-only wardrobes and fast cars aplenty (Kanye drives a £483,000 Lamborghini). Then there are the ridiculous whims — taking over entire floors of five-star hotels for ‘security’, and flying to Paris for a slice of Kim’s favourite cheesecake.

And there’s ‘Team Kim’ — a hairdresser and make-up artist — who come in each day for an hour-and-a-half to prepare her to face the outside world.

But it’s the extravagant gifts that set this pair apart. For his 38th in June, Kim spent £75,000 hiring the Staples Center sports arena in LA so Kanye could play with his favourite basketball players and friends, including pop star Justin Bieber. Crooner John Legend gave a rousing version of Happy Birthday.

For her 35th in October, he rented out a cinema for a private screening of the recent Steve Jobs movie for her friends, all of whom came dressed as Kim — complete with huge baby bumps.

SHOW ME THE MONEY 

Multi-millionaire: Businesswoman Kim Kardashian

Collectively, the couple are thought to be worth well over £140 million.

Kanye's wealth — a huge £97 million — comes mainly from record sales and tours, which can net as much as £25 million. Her £35 million earnings — double last year's — have catapulted her ahead of Paul McCartney and Jennifer Lawrence. No one 'has monetised fame better', says Forbes.

Half of that comes from the Kim Kardashian: Hollywood computer game, where players compete to become Kim's best friend.

A book of her selfies — she has 37 million Twitter followers — called Selfish also pushed up the total.

The rest comes from a cosmetics line, a clothing line and boutiques, five perfumes and personal appearance fees, not to mention the thousands she can earn just by mentioning a product online. Then there are the official endorsements.

Over the years they've included weight-loss supplements, lollipops, fast food, alcohol, bathing suits, watches, laser hair removal.

There's nothing, it seems, she won't endorse — including panty liners and public toilets in Times Square. Then there's Keeping Up With The Kardashians — and a newly signed £10 million, four-year deal. Plus an extra £3.3 million if Kanye makes an appearance.

But, despite the huge sums, Kanye may be pained to learn he's still worth less than Taylor Swift.

AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY IS JUST AS GHASTLY! 

KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN 

The eldest daughter of Robert and Kris Kardashian, 36-year-old Kourtney was happy to let the cameras in to film the births of her three children with her on-off partner, reality star Scott Disick. They officially split in July, just months before he went into rehab. She cited his ‘continuous partying’ for their break-up.

KRIS JENNER

Saint and North West’s grandmother and Kardashian family matriarch — or ‘Momager’ as they call her — 60-year-old Kris negotiates all the TV deals, taking a handsome slice in the process. Her marriage to Robert Kardashian broke down in 1991 following her affair with toyboy soccer player Tom Waterman. Shortly afterwards, she married Montreal Olympic decathlon gold medallist Bruce Jenner and had two more daughters — Kendall and Kylie.

CAITLYN JENNER 

Used to be Bruce Jenner. After Kris and Bruce announced their separation in October 2013, Bruce revealed he was transitioning into a woman and would like to be known as Caitlyn.

Trailblazer: Bruce revealed he was transitioning into a woman and would like to be known as Caitlyn

KHLOE KARDASHIAN

The younger sister of Kim and Kourtney, 31-year-old Khloe married basketball player Lamar Odom in 2009 after knowing him for only a month. By 2013, it was over — although she rushed to his bedside earlier this year when he overdosed on cocaine at a brothel.

ROB KARDASHIAN 

The girls’ 28-year-old rather chubby brother (named after his lawyer father) who’s uncomfortable in the spotlight (despite having dated X Factor presenter Rita Ora). Left Kim and Kanye’s wedding before the ceremony apparently after a row about his weight. Designs socks.

KENDALL JENNER

Kris and Bruce’s elder daughter, standing a willowy 5ft 10in, Kendall started modelling aged 13. She is currently battling older half-sister Kim for the title Queen Bee. 

The 20-year-old has just graced the catwalk as a Victoria’s Secret ‘Angel’, but has only half the Twitter followers of her big sister.

KYLIE JENNER 

Kendall’s younger — and shorter — sister. The 18-year-old has launched a clothing line and written a (not very successful) dystopian sci-fi novel, Rebels: City Of Indra.