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20 celebrities you didn’t realize come from wealth
Matt Crossick/PA Images/Alamy Images/Sipa USA

20 celebrities you didn’t realize come from wealth

If you can't come from a family with industry connections, the next best thing is to come from a family with money. 

 
1 of 20

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande USA Today

Ariana Grande’s mother, Joan Grande, is a super successful businesswoman. She’s the CEO and owner of a marine communications equipment company based in Florida. Her father, meanwhile, is the owner of a graphic design firm. 

 
2 of 20

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift USA Today

Taylor Swift is now a billionaire, but she had a bit of a head start. Her father, Scott Swift, was the breadwinner of the family, allowing his wife to stay home while he worked as a financial advisor. 

 
3 of 20

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Louis-Dreyfus USA Today

Comedian Julia Louis-Dreyfus doesn’t have to worry about money now, and she didn’t have to worry growing up. Her father was Gérard Louis-Dreyfus, a French billionaire who earned money through various business ventures. 

 
4 of 20

Nick Kroll

Nick Kroll
Nick Kroll Automatik Entertainment

Nick Kroll is another comedian who has a billionaire father, Jules Kroll. Nick has been very open about his financial status, noting in interviews that while he is independently wealthy, he also comes from wealth. 

 
5 of 20

Adam Levine

Adam Levine
Adam Levine USA Today

Adam Levine now has his own money from decades of success in the music industry, but he had a lavish upbringing, too. His father, Fred Levine, is the founder of M. Fredric, a successful chain of clothing stores. 

 
6 of 20

Darren Criss

Darren Criss
Darren Criss USA Today

Darren Criss had somewhat of a unique childhood, but it was quite stable. His father, Charles William Criss, worked in finance, serving as chairman of multiple financial institutes throughout his career. 

 
7 of 20

Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde USA Today

If you’re plugged into the world of journalism, you might have heard of Andrew and Leslie Cockburn, Olivia Wilde’s parents. Both are incredibly successful, award-winning journalists who also happen to have a lot of money. 

 
8 of 20

Paul Giamatti

Paul Giamatti
Paul Giamatti USA Today

Paul Giamatti’s father, Bart Giamatti, worked super cool, super lucrative jobs. Some of his most notable positions were President of Yale University, President of the National League, and Commissioner of Major League Baseball. 

 
9 of 20

Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper USA Today

He’s made quite a living as a filmmaker, but Bradley Cooper had it just fine growing up. His dad, Charles Cooper, was a Merrill Lynch stockbroker. 

 
10 of 20

Rooney Mara

Rooney Mara
Rooney Mara USA Today

There’s new money, and there’s old money, and Rooney Mara comes from the latter. Her great-grandfather, Tim Mara, founded the New York Giants. Her father, Timothy Mara, co-owned the team until his death, and today, her uncle, John Mara, is the owner. 

 
11 of 20

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga USA Today

According to Lady Gaga, her family isn’t wealthy, but that’s probably just in comparison to other New Yorkers. Her parents were entrepreneurs and business owners who raised their kids on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and sent them to private schools. 

 
12 of 20

Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek
Salma Hayek USA Today

Today, Salma Hayek is married to a billionaire, but her lifestyle isn’t all that different than it was growing up. Her father was a businessman, and her mother was an opera singer who together provided a beautiful upbringing for their children. Hayek even had a pet tiger as a kid. 

 
13 of 20

Edward Norton

Edward Norton
Edward Norton Spanky Pictures

Edward Norton is known for his work in film, but he’s not the only notable person in his family. His grandfather was James W. Rouse, a real estate developer who died with a million-dollar estate. 

 
Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams USA Today

Michelle Williams’ father, Larry R. Williams, has had lots of success in finances. He’s made lots of money trading stocks and commodities, and he’s written several best-selling books about his success. 

 
15 of 20

Nicola Peltz

Nicola Peltz
Nicola Peltz Instagram

Nicola Peltz married into wealth after tying the knot with David and Victoria Beckham’s son, but it’s nothing compared to what she comes from. Her father, Nelson Peltz, is a billionaire businessman. 

 
16 of 20

Cara Delevingne

Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne EuropaCorp

Cara Delevingne isn’t just an actress and model. She’s also a British socialite. The celebrity’s father is a property developer worth millions. 

 
17 of 20

Steve Aoki

Steve Aoki
Steve Aoki Instagram

For as famous as Steve Aoki, his father’s business is even more famous. Steve’s dad, Rocky Aoki, founded the iconic Japanese steakhouse Benihana. Steve needed to work for himself, though, because he reportedly didn’t have access to his inheritance until he turned 45. 

 
18 of 20

Gigi Hadid

Gigi Hadid
Gigi Hadid USA Today

It’s well-known that Gigi Hadid’s mother, Yolanda Hadid, is a successful former model, but her father, Mohamed Hadid, is also crazy wealthy. He’s a multi-millionaire who earned his fortune through real estate development. 

 
19 of 20

Jonah Hill

Jonah Hill
Jonah Hill USA Today

Jonah Hill is definitely a nepo baby and probably a trust fund baby. His mother, Sharon Lyn Chalkin, is a costume designer, and his father, Richard Feldstein, was an accountant for Guns N' Roses. 

 
20 of 20

Kyra Sedgwick

Kyra Sedgwick
Kyra Sedgwick USA Today

Kyra Sedgwick comes from a super interesting family. Her ancestor, William Ellery, signed the Declaration of Independence, and many of her family members have jobs in the arts. She also comes from wealth, as her father, Henry Sedgwick V, was a venture capitalist. 

Acacia is a South Dakota-based writer with a love of all things pop culture, particularly music, television, and celebrities. Her previous work can be found on Nicki Swift and Mashed. When she's not writing, Acacia is watching television, listening to music, completing a crossword puzzle, or reading. 

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