These celebrities lost fortunes when they got divorced
Daughter to Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson, and granddaughter to Tippi Hedren, Dakota Johnson had her breakthrough playing Anastasia Steele in the romantic drama film series ‘Fifty Shades of Grey.’
Jack Quaid threw people off the scent with his first major role in the series ‘The Boys,’ since the nervous, quirky character was nothing like the roles of his father, Dennis Quaid. But when you consider that his mother is Meg Ryan, it all starts to make a little more sense.
The child of Hollywood heavyweights Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, Maya had her breakout role in ‘Stranger Things.'
Many Twitter users were surprised to learn that Ben Platt is a nepo baby, but his father Marc is a well-known and highly successful Hollywood film producer at the helm of projects like 'Legally Blonde,' 'La La Land,' and Ben's 'Dear Evan Hansen.'
With the most recognizable last name of her father Johnny Depp and the pouty, high-cheekbones model face of her mother Vanessa Paradis, the young star caused quite a controversy when she dismissed the effect nepotism had on her modeling and acting career to Elle magazine, claiming, “I can definitely say that nothing is going to get you the part except for being right for the part.”
Kid of known comedic stars Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, Maude played her mother's daughter on screen in three of her father's films before she supposedly made a name for herself in 'Euphoria.'
It's hard to miss that Zoë Kravitz is a nepo baby because she's visually a perfect mix of her celebrity parents, actress Lisa Bonet and musician Lenny Kravitz. Her first visible role was in 2011's superhero prequel 'X-Men: First Class,' though her role as Catwoman to Robert Pattinson's Batman has far eclipsed that.
While much effort has been put into conveying the narrative that Kendall Jenner earned her place as a top model, being the child of Caitlyn Jenner, a former Olympian, and Kris Jenner, the famed momager behind the 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' empire, pokes a hole or two in her theory. Her comments in the KUWTK reunion, hosted by Andy Cohen, when she insisted "I definitely worked my way to where I am now,” were not received well by other models.
Before she became a Bieber and took on all the fame that new name offered, Hailey was a Baldwin, daughter to actor, producer, and director Stephen Baldwin, who is brother to Alec Baldwin.
No one is quite sure what Brooklyn Beckham does exactly, as he's dabbled in soccer like his father David Beckham, fashion modeling like his mother Victoria Beckham, as well as culinary arts and photography.
Denzel Washington's son had his breakout in 'BlacKkKlansman' (2018) and followed it up with a strong performance in Christopher Nolan's 'Tenet' (2020) and then again co-starring alongside Zendaya in 'Malcolm and Marie' (2021).
The English model and actress comes from a very wealthy family who are part of London's high society. Her mother Pandora Delevingne is the daughter of the late Sir Jocelyn Stevens, a newspaper magnate, and Jane Sheffield, who was Princess Margaret's Lady-in-Waiting for over 30 years. Her father is Charles Delevingne, an English property developer and son of socialite Angela Delevingne.
Though some may celebrate her for getting by with her father Rande's last name instead of her mother Cindy Crawford's, her father is still a businessman and former model who founded tequila brand Casamigos alongside George Clooney, and Kaia is the spitting image of her supermodel mother.
At just 18 years old, Cooper Hoffman had a lead role in Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Licorice Pizza.' Maybe it was just a coincidence that Anderson had loved the young actor's late father Philip Seymour Hoffman and had previously cast him in several of his films.
The talented kids of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have made great strides to create their own brands of fashion and music, but Jaden got his big break acting alongside his father in 'The Pursuit of Happyness' at just nine years old, and Willow entered the music scene at age 10 with her debut hit 'Whip My Hair.'
Praised as a self-made Soundcloud singer, Gracie Abrams released her first ever EP in 2020, and in 2023 she is touring with Taylor Swift. She happens to be the daughter of famed director J.J. Abrams, who happens to be the son of producers Gerald W. Abrams and Carol Ann Abrams.
The daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, Rumer made her debut at the age of five in the movie 'Now and Then' (1995) and appeared in a few other movies like 'S t r i p t e a s e' (1996) with her mother, and 'Hostage' (2005) with her father.
In probably the most direct line of nepo baby conceivable, Michael Gandolfini literally inherited the iconic role of Tony Soprano from his late father James Gandolfini for the prequel film 'The Many Saints of Newark.'
The son of producer and actor (known for playing Dutch in 'The Karate Kid') Chad McQueen, Steven R. McQueen, who is best known for his role on 'The Vampire Diaries' and its spinoff 'Legacies,' is also the grandson of the late "King of Cool" Steve McQueen and triple-threat Neile Adams.
Best known for her role in the 'Jurassic World' franchise, Bryce Dallas Howard is the daughter of Oscar-winning movie director Ron Howard, and writer Cheryl Howard.
Most well-known (and hated) for her role in 'Emily in Paris,' Lily Collins had her career breakthrough with 'The Blind Side' at around 20 years old. Her father just happens to be famed musician Phil Collins.
Daughter of actress-director Lea Thompson, who is best known for the 'Back to the Future' film trilogy, and Howard Deutch, who directed two of John Hughes' best-known screenplays ('Pretty in Pink' and 'Some Kind of Wonderful'), Zoey and her sister starred in her mother's directorial debut, 'The Year of Spectacular Men,' (2017) produced by their father.
While Kate Hudson is an obvious choice as a nepo baby of Goldie Hawn (and musician Bill Hudson), Wyatt is more fun to look at, as both a child of Hawn and Kurt Russell, because he didn't want to get into Hollywood at first. He initially tried to become an ice hockey player, and when that didn't work out it appears he turned to the strings he had left to pull.
Though she doesn't have the last name of her famous actress mother Andie MacDowell, the two did co-star together in the Netflix series 'Maid,' which cemented Qualley as one to watch in Hollywood and confirmed that sometimes nepotism just works really well on screen.
The actress, writer, and director known for 'The F Word,' 'The Big Sick' and 'She Said,' is daughter to screenwriters Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord, as well as the granddaughter of legendary director Elia Kazan.
The Canadian actor, writer, and producer began his career as a television host on MTV Canada before he embraced the fame of his father, legendary comic Eugene Levy, and made the iconic sitcom 'Schitt's Creek' with him. Even Dan's sister Sarah starred in the show—the collaboration between the three was certainly the most rewarding result that fans have ever seen come from nepotism.
The 'Big Little Lies' and 'The Northman' actor is the son of Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård, who is best known for his collaborations with director Lars von Trier, and 'Mamma Mia!,' of course. Alexander reportedly quit acting at 13 and later served in the military, only to return to acting and gain his first role in 'Zoolander.' Several of his siblings are also actors, including Bill Skarsgård.
Probably the most well-documented nepo baby on this list, Miley launched her singing and acting career as Hannah Montana alongside her father, famed country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. Not to mention her godmother is the iconic Dolly Parton!
Sources: (Vulture) (Elle)
See also: Celebrity kids who became more famous than their parents
While it seemed that Sam Levinson came out of nowhere and skyrocketed to fame as the director of the hit show 'Euphoria,' then 'Malcolm & Marie,' he is the son of Academy Award-winning director Barry Levinson. Sam co-wrote the HBO film 'The Wizard of Lies,' which his father directed.
Even Meghan McCain, daughter of late Arizona Senator John McCain, is urging those related to celebrities to be frank about their advantages. "To my fellow 'Nepo babies'—just acknowledge your privilege, the opportunities your last name has gotten you and move on," she wrote on her Instagram Stories on December 29 2022. "It's pretty simple."
Actresses like Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston are well-known stars with parents who were in the industry, but there’s a whole new generation of so-called “nepo babies,” many of whom are being called out these days because of their repeated insistence that they worked for everything they have, or because of their sly way of hiding the very fact of their nepotism.
There’s no shame in the game—everyone with a family knows they’d do anything to help their loved ones out, and people with fame and fortune are simply doing their best to keep it in the family. Still, it’s a good reminder when people start comparing themselves to the success of young stars that most of them have far more resources predisposing them to success, and often even the predisposition of good-looking, Hollywood-celebrated genes.
Click through to see the fresh generation of nepo babies, and discover how they 'made it.'
A guide to Hollywood's 'nepo babies'
Some of them have achieved massive success
CELEBRITY Relatives
Actresses like Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston are well-known stars with parents who were in the industry, but there’s a whole new generation of so-called “nepo babies,” many of whom are being called out these days because of their repeated insistence that they worked for everything they have, or because of their sly way of hiding the very fact of their nepotism.
There’s no shame in the game—everyone with a family knows they’d do anything to help their loved ones out, and people with fame and fortune are simply doing their best to keep it in the family. Still, it’s a good reminder when people start comparing themselves to the success of young stars that most of them have far more resources predisposing them to success, and often even the predisposition of good-looking, Hollywood-celebrated genes.
Click through to see the fresh generation of nepo babies, and discover how they 'made it.'