Caitlyn Jenner's best friend and manager Sophia Hutchins has died in a quad bike accident after plunging 350ft down a cliff near the reality star's Malibu home, it was revealed today.
The 29-year-old's ATV is believed to have struck the bumper of a moving car and was thrown down a ravine.
It is not yet known if Caitlyn Jenner witnessed Hutchins' crash or was at home at the time of the tragedy on Wednesday.
Sophia, like Caitlyn, was transgender and cited the father-of-six as the inspiration for coming out in college back in 2016.
In 2017, Hutchins moved into Jenner's $3.5million Malibu mansion and began working as the star's manager, taking over the role from Jenner's ex-wife Kris Jenner, 69, after their 2015 divorce.
The 29-year-old was Jenner's confidant for over a decade after the celebrated Olympian, 75, came out as a transgender woman in 2015. Hutchins met Caitlyn that year and appeared in multiple episodes of the television documentary series I Am Cait, a spin-off of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.
Despite living under one roof, Hutchins previously told The New York Times that they 'were never romantically involved', insisting it was all about work and friendship.
'Caitlyn is a parent to me. I have said that a million times. It is a parental, familial relationship,' Sophia said.
In 2020, Sophia posed for an online ad campaign for Kim Kardashian's highly successful clothing line SKIMS.
Sophia was particularly close to Kris Jenner, speaking to her regularly, and Hutchins also had a good relationship with Jenner’s daughters Kendall, 29, and Kylie, 27. The siblings once gave Sophia a stunning heart-shaped diamond necklace for Christmas.
'I'm on good terms with all the family, but I'm closest with Kris, Kim, Kylie and Kendall', Sophia said.
Caitlyn will be heartbroken at Sophia's death today. Sources revealed that after striking the car's bumper, the impact forced the ATV and Hutchins ended up 'plummeting 350ft down into a ravine.'
First responders pronounced Hutchins dead at the scene. The two individuals in the car struck by Hutchins and the ATV were not injured.
DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Jenner, Hutchins and the Kardashian family for comment.
The tragedy comes nine years after Jenner was involved in a fatal car crash while driving on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.
The collision involved four cars and resulted in the death of Kim Howe, 70.
Jenner was not charged in the crash, but an investigation by the LA County Sheriff's Office determined that Caitlyn was driving too fast.
That opened her up to blame in civil lawsuits, which was later settled out of court.
Hutchins featured heavily in the reality series, I Am Cait.
The series ran for just two seasons but it gave glimpses into Jenner and Hutchins' unorthodox life together.
Despite living under one roof, Hutchins previously told The New York Times that they 'were never romantically involved' with each other — a sentiment that pair have repeated over the years.
'I don't feel a need to address my sex life, quite frankly, unless I want to,' Sophia sternly told the outlet at the time.
Hutchins' last public appearance with Jenner was in 2024 when Sophia accompanied her to the April 2024 White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C.
Like Jenner, Hutchins was a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement.
Last year, Hutchins had the opportunity to meet the billionaire.
Sophia uploaded a photo of herself beaming beside Trump in front of an American flag with the caption: 'The energy, passion, and commitment for our movement to Save America has never been greater! We will never give up'
In January of this year, Hutchins uploaded a photo of herself and Jenner celebrating Trump's inauguration with Judge Jeanine Pirro and other MAGA superstars to Instagram.
Jenner re-posted the image to her own Instagram for her 15.2 million followers to see.
Hutchins wasn't very active on social media in recent months.
Sophia last posted what would be her final Instagram post in April and showed fans a broken candelabra that had been repaired.
While not much is known about Hutchins' early life, Sophia was a student at the prestigious Pepperdine University when her and Caitlyn became acquainted.
In 2016, Sophia told her school newspaper that Jenner inspired her to transition that year.
Sophia told the paper that seeing the famous 20/20 special about Jenner's transition from male-to-female 'made it so much more real' for her.
Speaking on her own transition at the time, Hutchins shared: 'I've always had the question of, 'Do I want to transition from male to female?' I never thought a lot about doing it until I got into college because I was able to break away from my family and started to establish my own identity.
'College gave me the time to deal with a lot of issues that had always been there.'
Hutchins earned a Bachelor's degree in economics and finance, graduating in 2018, all while working full-time as Jenner's manager.
Sophia explained becoming Caitlyn's manager: 'I saw nobody was managing her, and there were all these people taking massive advantage. And I was saying: 'Caitlyn, if I don't step in here and start managing you, you're going to go broke.''
Along with being Jenner's manager, Hutchins also served as CEO of the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation.
The non-profit organization, established in 2017, is aimed at combatting discrimination against transgender people.
'I feel blessed that we are able to work together,' Hutchins said to PEOPLE in 2021 of her professional relationship with Jenner.
As for her own business ventures, Hutchins was the CEO of the now-defunct spray sunscreen brand LUMASOL, which launched in 2020 and was promoted by Jenner's stepdaughter Kim Kardashian.
Jenner was closely linked to the brand and often appeared in ads on the official LUMASOL Instagram page.
But, just over a year after launch, the company announced that it would be 'shutting down' its website with the goal of revamping the line in 2022.
However, the revamp never happened and, as of 2025, the LUMASOL site and its social media pages remain inactive.
They reportedly were introduced by their hairdresser, and they developed a strong friendship.
Along with being her manager, Hutchins was also Jenner's plus-one at countless A-list events, including the famous Vanity Fair Oscar Party, film festivals and the ESPYS.
The pair also traveled together and enjoyed lavish vacations to Greece and Mexico over the years.
When they weren't hitting red carpets or jet setting around the globe, the roommates enjoyed a quiet life away from LA's hustle and bustle in Malibu, California.
They've spent numerous major holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving together — often documenting their home life on social media.
Because of their tight bond, the duo faced intense dating speculation during their over a decade of friendship.
Back in 2018, Hutchins fueled the flames by previously referring to Jenner as her 'partner' and even admitted that they were 'inseparable'.
'I wouldn't describe it as romantic. I would describe it as we're partners, business partners – I'm the executive director of her foundation,' Hutchins dished on an episode of The Hidden Truth Show podcast.
'We have so much in common and see the world so similarly, and are both such a good match for each other because we challenge each other. We're partners in everything we do, we're inseparable, we're business partners, we live together, we share a dog, we share family, we share a life together,' Sophia said.
However, both Jenner and Hutchins have made a conscious effort to publicly shut down the romance rumors.
In 2021, Hutchins told PEOPLE that there was never an interest in starting a romantic relationship with Caitlyn.
'I don't want controversy. I am just trying to live my life. Caitlyn is a parent to me. I have said that a million times. It is a parental, familial relationship,' Sophia said.
'There's no hanky panky,' Sophia insisted. 'I feel like I've been saying that for the past five years.'
Jenner, who was married three times and known as Bruce Jenner before transitioning, described herself as 'very single' while attending the White House Correspondent Dinner with Hutchins last year.
The 75-year-old told the Sunday Times: 'I'm not even close to looking for a relationship. I'll never have a relationship in the future. I just don't see that in my life. I am not looking for that.'
Hutchins was also believed to be single before her tragic death on Thursday.
The star did previously share rare insight on what it's really like living with Jenner.
'We had to put a lock on my door because Caitlyn decided to barge into my room while I had a friend over,' Sophia confessed on the Juicy Scoop podcast in 2019.
Sophia told host Heather McDonald that Jenner 'knew he was there' but still walked into the room and 'kind of saw a lot of things happening.'
'It's kind of like living with your parents and I'm like oh, this might be a turning point where I might need to move out,' Hutchins explained.
Sophia also described her relationship with Jenner as 'parental, familial' in a 2021 interview with PEOPLE.
The entrepreneur went on to remark on being grateful to be connected to the Kardashian-Jenner clan.
'I feel so blessed and humbled to be a part of such an amazing family and that she treats me like a daughter,' Sophia gushed.
Hutchins previously addressed allegations about 'mooching off' Caitlyn during a 2019 appearance on Good Morning Britain.
'Everyone thinks I'm mooching off Caitlyn but I do have my own job and my own career that I have to focus on,' Sophia told viewers during the sit-down.
In the same interview, Hutchins praised Jenner as being 'one of the most selfless people you will ever meet.'
'Caitlyn is one of the most selfless people you will ever meet, she is generous, extraordinarily generous, and extraordinarily thoughtful.'
Hutchins has also spoken highly off Jenner's ex-wife Kris despite their divorce.
During a 2020 appearance on the Behind the Velvet Rope podcast, Hutchins claimed that she would speak to Kris 'all the time.'
'It's not like we're like girlfriends having drinks all the time, but you know, if there's ever a concern or ever a question or anything I have needed help with Kris would be the first phone call,' the blonde beauty dished.
Sophia added that Kris had given her 'such good advice on how to help with managing Caitlyn' over the years.
While she didn't want to 'speak for Kris,' and she knew Kris and Caitlyn had 'had their issues,' she called them both 'amazing parents' who have 'really put those differences aside for their kids.'
As far as any bad blood between Caitlyn and Kris is concerned, Hutchins claimed: 'I think this misconception is just outdated, you know, I think it's over, there's no feud going on,' adding Kris has helped her a lot this year with 'different projects.'
Hutchins has attended several Kardashian-Jenner family gatherings, including Kim's epic Christmas Eve party in 2018 where she snapped a selfie with Caitlyn and model daughter Kendall Jenner, 29.
In 2020, Hutchins posed for an online ad campaign for Kim's highly successful clothing line SKIMS.
The blonde modeled a sexy nude bodysuit for the at-home shoot, which was posted to Instagram during COVID-19 lockdown.
Kylie and Kendall Jenner previously joined their dad and Hutchins on dinner dates in LA over the years.
A source previously told OK! Magazine that Kylie and Hutchins had ‘really hit it off’ and that ‘Sophia thinks Kylie is an incredible character who’s cool and wise beyond her years, as well as being this awe-inspiring entrepreneur.’
It’s unclear whether or not Hutchins ever bonded with Jenner’s other children — Brody, Brandon, Burt or Cassandra — or his other stepchildren — Khloe, Kourtney and Rob Kardashian.
But in 2019, Hutchins claimed to the New York Times to be ‘on good terms with all the family, but I'm closest with Kris, Kim, Kylie and Kendall.’
