Jewelry designer and Netflix’s “Bling Empire: New York” cast member, Lynn Ban, passed away at Aspen Valley Hospital in Aspen, Colorado, at 2:15 PM on Monday, January 20, 2025. The cause of death was a traumatic brain injury she suffered three weeks prior during a family ski trip. Ban was 52 years old.
Sebastian, Ban’s son, announced her passing on Instagram, stating, “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 also mentioned, “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.”
On December 24, 2024, Ban had a skiing accident at Aspen Mountain. She shared on Instagram on December 30, “At the top of the mountain, I caught a tip and face planted.” She was initially checked by ski patrol paramedics for a concussion, but her condition worsened later. “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.”
Subsequently, Ban had an emergency craniotomy surgery at the trauma center on December 24. The medical team was hopeful during her initial recovery period, however, complications arose in mid-January. In her last public update on December 30, Ban stated, “Last thing I remember was being intubated and waking up after an emergency craniotomy with Jett by my side.”
Born in Singapore, Ban was educated at New York University’s Stern School of Business and Parsons School of Design. She established a jewelry brand recognized for its gothic aesthetic and architectural designs. Ban’s 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 completing her education at NYU in 1992, Ban started a vintage couture boutique named Genki in New York’s SoHo district. The boutique, which specialized in Versace and Chanel pieces from the 1970s and 1980s, remained open until 2011. Later, she launched Lynn Ban Jewelry, creating unique pieces that captivated stylists and celebrities.
Her designs, priced between $300 and $25,000, attracted a high-profile clientele. Lady Gaga wore Ban’s chrome-plated silver pieces during her 2017 Super Bowl performance, and Beyoncé showcased her jewelry in the “Formation” music video. Between 2012 and 2024, Rihanna wore Ban’s designs in over 20 magazine editorials.
By 2024, Ban’s business had showrooms in New York, London, and Paris. Her collections were available at luxury retailers like Barneys New York, Dover Street Market, and Harvey Nichols. In November 2024, she revealed plans to inaugurate a flagship store in Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands in 2025.
Ban was also a cast member on Netflix’s “Bling Empire: New York,” which started in January 2023. The series featured her personal life with husband and business partner Jett Kain, their Manhattan penthouse, and Ban’s vintage fashion collection, valued at over $1 million. Although Netflix canceled the show in March 2023, Ban started filming a documentary about her jewelry business in October 2024.
Ban’s passing is the second loss for the “Bling Empire” franchise, following Anna Shay’s death in June 2023.
