Lynn Ban, a renowned jewelry designer and cast member of Netflix’s “Bling Empire: New York,” died at 2:15 PM on Monday, January 20, 2025, at Aspen Valley Hospital in Aspen, Colorado, three weeks after suffering a traumatic brain injury during a family ski vacation. She was 52.
Her son Sebastian announced her death on Instagram: “My mum passed away on Monday. I know she wanted to share her journey after her accident and brain surgery, so I thought she would appreciate one last post sharing the news to people who supported her.” He added, “She was a fighter until the end and is the strongest woman I know. She was the funniest and coolest mum I could ever ask for. She took care of me, my dad, and our entire family throughout her whole life.”
The accident occurred on December 24, 2024, at Aspen Mountain. “At the top of the mountain, I caught a tip and face planted,” Ban wrote on Instagram on December 30. Initially assessed by ski patrol paramedics for a concussion, she later developed severe symptoms. “I went in a taxi with Jett [Kain, her husband] and within 30 minutes they told us I had a brain bleed and needed to be airlifted to the trauma hospital.”
Ban underwent emergency craniotomy surgery at the trauma center on December 24. Her medical team remained optimistic during the initial recovery period, but complications arose in mid-January. Her last public update on December 30 stated, “Last thing I remember was being intubated and waking up after an emergency craniotomy with Jett by my side.”
Born in Singapore and educated at New York University’s Stern School of Business and Parsons School of Design, Ban built a jewelry empire known for its gothic aesthetic and architectural designs. Her signature collections included the Armor Series, featuring sterling silver pieces with black rhodium plating, and the Pavé Coil rings worn by Madonna during her 2023 Celebration Tour.
After graduating from NYU in 1992, Ban opened Genki, a vintage couture boutique in New York’s SoHo district. The store, specializing in Versace and Chanel pieces from the 1970s and 1980s, operated until 2011. She then launched Lynn Ban Jewelry, creating dramatic pieces that caught the attention of stylists and celebrities.
Her designs, ranging from $300 to $25,000, garnered an elite following. Lady Gaga wore Ban’s chrome-plated silver pieces during her 2017 Super Bowl performance, while Beyoncé featured her jewelry in the “Formation” music video. Rihanna wore Ban’s designs in over 20 magazine editorials between 2012 and 2024.
By 2024, Ban’s business had expanded to include showrooms in New York, London, and Paris. Her collections were sold at luxury retailers, including Barneys New York, Dover Street Market, and Harvey Nichols. In November 2024, she announced plans to open a flagship store in Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands in 2025.
Her role on Netflix’s “Bling Empire: New York,” which premiered in January 2023, showcased her personal life with husband and business partner Jett Kain. The series featured their Manhattan penthouse and Ban’s vintage fashion collection, valued at over $1 million. Though Netflix canceled the show in March 2023, Ban began filming a documentary about her jewelry business in October 2024.
Ban’s death marks the second loss for the “Bling Empire” franchise following Anna Shay’s passing in June 2023.
