12 Celebrities Who Grew Up in Wealthy Families

Curious about which of today’s most celebrated stars were raised with an early advantage? From music icons to acclaimed actors, some of Hollywood’s biggest talents began life in the lap of luxury, thanks to their family legacies.

These are the famous faces who didn’t just work their way up, but also had doors opened by privileged beginnings, giving them a head start long before they made headlines of their own. Bartlett Giamatti, spent a decade as Yale University’s president before being.

What Happened

Jaden Smith didn’t just inherit his talent as the son of superstar actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith — he also inherited their fame and fortune. Raised amid movie sets and red carpets, Jaden’s access to the industry from childhood likely.

• Seinfeld alum Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the daughter of French-American businessman Gérard Louis-Dreyfus, chairman of Louis Dreyfus Energy Services, who Parade reported was worth $4 billion at the time of his 2016 death.

• Kate Mara comes from the prominent Mara family, who, as reported by Variety, co-own the New York Giants, while her mother’s side ties back to Pittsburgh Steelers founder Art Rooney Sr.

• Comedian Nick Kroll is the heir to a business consulting fortune, as his father, Jules Kroll, sold his corporate investigations firm Kroll, Inc.

Key Details

Maroon 5’s frontman Adam Levine may be a chart-topping musician today, but he also grew up in a Los Angeles family with deep retail roots, as his father, Fred Levine, ran the specialty boutique chain M. Fredric for more than three decades.

• Academy Award-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow is the daughter of director-producer Bruce Paltrow and actress Blythe Danner, which granted her early exposure to Hollywood and invaluable mentorship.

• Her family’s support enabled Ariana to pursue performing from a young age, paving the way for her superstardom.

• Before topping charts, Ariana Grande grew up in Boca Raton, Florida, where her mother, Joan Grande, led the family-owned marine communications firm Hose-McCann Communications, per HollywoodLife.

Why It Matters

Rashida Jones, acclaimed actress and producer, was born into Hollywood royalty: She is the daughter of music mogul Quincy Jones and Mod Squad star Peggy Lipton. Access to creative circles from an early age undoubtedly influenced her multifaceted career in entertainment.

• Edward Norton, revered for his captivating performances, is the grandson of James Rouse, the real-estate developer behind Boston’s famed Faneuil Hall Marketplace, according to Biography.com.

• Though she paved her own way in film and on television, Michelle Williams likely also benefited from a comfortable upbringing, as her father Larry Richard Williams was an author and stock commodities trader.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by Closer Weekly as more details emerge