Caitlyn Jenner was born William Bruce Jenner on October 28, 1949 in Mount Kisco, New York, about an hour north of Manhattan.
Jenner attended Newtown High School in Connecticut for her junior and senior year, graduating in 1968. Former football coaches remember "#11" as a star athlete. The high school's stadium was named after Jenner until 2011.
Jenner went on to study at Graceland College (now University), where she ditched football for running after a knee injury. It was a coach from Graceland that noticed Jenner's athletic prowess and potential.
This is the most iconic photo of Jenner (up until now, perhaps) taken just after Jenner won the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Jenner beat her own world record.
Jenner became, quite literally, the poster child for American athletics. She was on the Wheaties box and is considered to be one of only seven official Wheaties spokespeople.
Jenner's first marriage to Chrystie Crownover lasted nine years. They have two children together, Burt and Casey. The same week they divorced, Jenner married Linda Thompson. They have two children together, Brandon and Brody. Jenner and Thompson divorced in 1986.
Jenner was one of the most sought-after celebrities in the late seventies and early eighties. She landed roles in a bunch of TV shows, and a role in "Don't Stop The Music" in 1980. The film totally bombed.
Though split from their mothers, Jenner loved his children and spent lots of quality time with Burt, Casey, Brandon, and Brody.
In the early nineties, Jenner met Kris Kardashian, a mother of four.
The two dated for just five months before tying the knot in April of 1991.
It was a full house. Kris' kids, the now-famous Kardashian clan, can be seen here. Rob is bottom left next to Khloe. Kim is far right. Kourtney is seated next to Jenner.
Jenner continued to take advantage of the fame that came with the 1976 Olympics. Her name could still draw a major crowd. Jenner took up golfing and returned to auto-racing, which she had been competitive in during the late eighties.
Kris saw an opportunity for Jenner, becoming her manager and booking her motivational speaking gigs all over the country.
But even with eight kids, the Jenner/Kardashian family was far from finished.
Kendall Jenner was born on November 3, 1995. Sister Kylie was born on August 10, 1997.
The family is seen attended the "Finding Nemo" movie premiere in 2003.
For a long time, Jenner's name was the most recognizable in the Jenner/Kardashian family. Kris was also recognized as the ex-wife of Robert Kardashian, who represented OJ Simpson during his murder trial.
Jenner was always a doting father to young Kendall and Kylie.
In 2007, it was another member of the Jenner/Kardashian family that began making headlines. Kris's second-oldest daughter, Kim, had gotten lots of press for hanging around with then-BFF Paris Hilton.
Ryan Seacrest and E! debuted "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" in 2007. Jenner was the official patriarch — and often the voice of reason — of the wild and crazy bunch.
The show's success earned the family season after season (here's some of the family at the premiere of season 2) and Kourtney, Khloe, and Kim became household names.
Jenner was suddenly ultra-famous once again. A generation that once recognized Jenner for her incredible athleticism now had children who recognized her from reality television.
Kendall and Kylie were growing up on "Keeping Up With The Kardashians."
Jenner's older children rarely appeared on the show. Brody (who was a cast member of MTV's "The Hills" with Lauren Conrad) appeared in a few earlier episodes, while Brandon and his wife Leah came around more often in the show's later seasons.
Jenner's role on the show was to be the more conservative parent, and to also play golf and purchase toy helicopters without Kris interfering.
Caitlyn (formerly Bruce) and Kris announced their separation in October of 2013, though Jenner's wikipedia page states the couple had been separated for at least a year prior to that announcement. Kris filed for divorce in September 2014.
At the same time, rumors that Jenner "wanted to be a woman" splashed across tabloids.
Caitlyn's role in KUWTK suddenly turned to her "long hair." One episode in particular focused on Khloe's desire to see Jenner cut her hair short.
In a sit-down interview with Diane Sawyer, Jenner shared his secret with the world. "For all intents and purposes," Jenner said. "I am a woman." Jenner said that would be her last interview as Bruce.
During the interview, Sawyer spoke to Jenner's kids about their father's transition. Brandon and Kim were especially supportive.
This photo of Jenner and his daughters went viral long before the interview with Diane Sawyer aired. The public later learned it was taken right after Jenner told them about his desire to transition to Caitlyn (though Jenner referred to Caitlyn as "she" or "her" and not by name.)
Several weeks later, an emotional two-part KUWTK special aired called "About Bruce."
On June 1, 2015, Vanity Fair revealed Caitlyn Jenner. "Bruce always had to tell a lie, he was always living a lie, every day he had a secret from morning until night," Jenner explains in a behind-the-scenes video of the shoot. "Caitlyn doesn't have any secrets. As soon as the Vanity Fair cover comes out, I'm free."
