Bank of Mom and Dad: Celebs Who Are Heirs to Secret Fortunes

 

Bank of Mom and Dad: Celebs Who Are Heirs to Secret Fortunes

Many of us dream from time to time about living the lives of the rich and famous. Wouldn’t we all like to be globally adored, flitting from glamorous party to party, with millions at home in the bank?

Sure we would, but also, becoming a worldwide celeb does sound like pretty hard work. But for some of today’s best-known celebs, you may not know that they in fact already inherited multi-million dollar fortunes before they even became famous.

Let’s take a look at some of the top celebs of today who are in fact heirs to vast riches.

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Olivia Wilde

Actress Olivia Wilde is best known for her roles in mega successful TV series such as House and The OC, and movies such as Conversations with Other Women and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. Most recently, she directed her own movie, Booksmart, starring Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever, which brought in a whopping $8.6 million at the box office!

But even without her Hollywood earnings, Wilde is a mega rich star from birth—she’s the daughter of Andrew Cockburn, the super-rich British-Irish journalist. Wilde changed her surname while in high school, to make her own way in life without using her parents’ wealth.

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Kate Hudson

Oscar-nominated actress Kate Hudson is a mega Hollywood star in her own right, having made her name in the 2000 breakout hit Almost Famous. Hudson’s performance earned her nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, and she has since become one of the biggest names in showbiz—as well as launching her own sportswear fashion label Fabletics.

As well as her own mega-earnings, Hudson is also the daughter of Hollywood legend Goldie Hawn, and stepdaughter of Kurt Russell. So she has a lot of savings to fall back on!

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Anderson Cooper

Anderson Cooper is one of the biggest names in American television today. He is best known for hosting his own news show on CNN, called Anderson Cooper 360, where he is famous for his down-to-earth presenting style and his no nonsense approach to interviews.

But did you know that even before earning his own fame, he was born into one of the richest families in America? Cooper is the son of Gloria Vanderbilt, a member of the famous Vanderbilt family of New York—one of the richest dynasties in history.

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Balthazar Getty

Paul Balthazar Getty is a successful actor, but someone who you might regard as being one of the more modest Hollywood stars.

However, this is because he is actually part of one of the wealthiest and infamous families in America, and is the grandson of Jean Paul Getty, the famed oil magnate and once the richest man in America.

Forbes place the Getty family at an estimated net worth of around $5.4 billion—so this actor can certainly take his time finding the right roles!

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Amanda Hearst

Model and socialite Amanda Hearst seems to embody the popular notion of celebrities who are “famous for being famous”, but in fact she is still a pretty busy bee in the industry.

As well as her modeling work, she also founded the charity Friends of Finn, which is focused on ending animal cruelty. She also works as the associate marketing editor for Marie Claire magazine.

Hearst is the heir to the Hearst Communications, a multi-million dollar corporation which owns magazines and newspapers across the country, including—ahem—Marie Claire.

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Brooke Shields

Brooke Shields has been one of the most famous faces in America since the 60s, but it was her roles in the classic 80s movies The Blue Lagoon and Endless Love that really cemented her as a star.

But even though she’s a star in her own right, she’s been pretty famous amongst the financial experts for many years, as she is the daughter of Frank Shields, a mega-rich business man.

Through her father, Brooke isn’t just Hollywood royalty, but she is actually descended from Italian Princess Donna Marina Torlonia di Civitella-Cesi!

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Billie Lourd

Another member of the Hollywood elite, Billie Lourd certainly has earned her own place in showbiz, with roles in popular TV shows such as Screm Queens and American Horror Story under her belt.

But that’s not the only reason she can boast a pretty impressive bank balance. She is the daughter of Star Wars legend Carrie Fisher, and Hollywood talent agent Bryan Lourd.

With a family like that, it’s no wonder that Lourd is invited to the biggest and best parties in showbiz.

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Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the most famous and successful actors in Hollywood today, with roles in mega smash hit movies such as Donnie Darko, The Day After Tomorrow, and Brokeback Mountain under his belt.

Most people know that he also has a sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal, who is also a successful Hollywood actress—but not everyone knows that the two of them were actually born into wealth.

Their father is the famous Hollywood director Stephen Gyllenhaal, and their mother is screenwriter Naomi Foner.

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Dylan Lauren

Dylan Lauren is a famous model and fashionista, and in 2007 US Weekly named her as one of their “Most Stylish New Yorkers”. She also launched her own candy company, Dylan’s Candy Bar, and has been running it for the past eighteen years.

But even before her mega success in business and fashion, she was truly born into the style world—Lauren is the daughter of fashion giant Ralph Lauren, whose net worth Forbes estimates at $5.3 billion. Wowsa! It certainly runs in the family!

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Scarlett Johansson

One of the most famous movie stars in the world today, Scarlett Johansson is known for her roles in mega smash hit films such as Lost in Translation, Marriage Story and The Avengers franchise.

One of the most bankable stars in Hollywood today, Johansson’s films have grossed over $14 billion at the box office in total.

But that’s not the only reason that Johansson’s one of the richest stars in Hollywood today—she is in fact heir to a great fortune.

Her father, Karsten Olaf Johansson, is a super wealthy Danish architect, and her mother Melanie Sloan is a film producer.

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Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton first became a household name thanks to her exploits in the early 2000s, including her reality TV show The Simple Life with then-best friend Nicole Richie. Since then, she has launched her own namesake lifestyle brand and released 27 fragrances in total.

But even before becoming a high-profile celeb and businesswoman in her own right, Hilton has boasted an impressive level of wealth—she is the great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, founder of the multi-million-dollar Hilton hotel chain.

As Hilton herself would say—and in fact trademarked the phrase itself—that’s hot!

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Nicky Hilton

It’s no surprise that both of the Hilton sisters are on this list. Mega superstars in their own right, both Paris and Nicky have made their names as successful businesswomen and TV personalities.

Hilton is a well respected fashion designer, but she certainly doesn’t need the money. As well as the inherited wealth from the Hilton Hotels fortune, she is also married to a member of one of the richest families in the world—James Rothschild of the famous British banking family.

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Rooney and Kate Mara

Rooney and Kate Mara both made a name for themselves in recent years as very successful actresses—Rooney starring in the mega hit film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress, and Kate starring in Brokeback Mountain, The Martian, and Fantastic Four.

They are also both in relationships with mega Hollywood stars—Rooney is engaged to Joker star Joaquin Phoenix and Kate is married to her Fantastic Four costar, Jamie Bell.

But in addition to being mega rich on their own, they are daughters to the Rooney family, who own the successful NFL team, Pittsburgh Steelers. According to Forbes, the team is worth $1.35 billion, and parts of it are still owned by the family.

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Chevy Chase

Mega successful comedian and writer Chevy Chase is mega famous of his own accord, thanks to starring roles in shows such as Saturday Night Live and movies such as Caddyshack and Fletch.

But he was in fact born with a silver spoon in his mouth, even before he became a national treasure! Chase is the son of Cathalene Parker, whose stepfather is none other than Cornelius Vanderbilt—head of the mega wealthy Vanderbilt family and owner of the multi-million dollar corporation The Crane Company.

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Ariana Rockefeller

The name Rockefeller is associated worldwide with mega wealth, and famous fashion designer Ariana Rockefeller is no different. The Columbia University graduate has her own fashion label and just launched a new handbag line, as well as chairing the NYBG Winter Ball.

But even without her mega bucks, earned from the world of high fashion, Rockefeller enjoys the wealthy life thanks to the fortune she inherited from her family’s company Standard Oil.

Though the full wealth of the Rockefeller family is a closely guarded secret, patriarch John D. Rockefeller is widely regarded as the richest American of all time.

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Lydia Hearst-Shaw

International model and social media personality Lydia Hearst-Shaw is one of the most familiar faces in fashion today. She has appeared in shows for top designer brands such as Fendi, Chanel, Nicole Miller, and Moschino spinoff Jeremy Scott, as well as fronting campaigns for brands such as Prada, Alexander McQueen, and Louis Vuitton—not to mention designing her own handbags for Puma!

But as well as her own career, Hearst-Shaw is the heir to the Hearst family fortune, thanks to William Randolph Hearst’s multi-million dollar magazine and newspaper business.

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Dakota Johnson

Dakota Johnson became a household name with her role in the saucy movie Fifty Shades of Grey, which grossed a stellar $570 million worldwide.

As well as being credited with taking women’s lib back several decades, Johnson is known for being the youngest daughter of famous actress and Golden Globe winner Melanie Griffith, who in turn is the daughter of actress, activist and legendary Hitchcock muse Tippi Hedren.

Three generations of stellar Hollywood women—you might say it runs in the family!

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Edward Norton

Edward Norton is one of the most famous and critically acclaimed actors in Hollywood. He has received a Golden Globe Award, as well as being nominated for an Academy Award three times!

But did you know that Norton was mega rich before even stepping foot onto a stage or partaking in his first audition?

Norton’s grandfather was Edward Mower Norton, Jr., who founded two mega rich companies, The Rouse Company and Enterprise Community Partners.

No need for the young Norton to wait tables as he worked his way up to stardom!

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Carly Simon

The “You’re So Vain” singer Carly Simon is one of the biggest pop stars of all time—with a whopping thirteen Top 40 hits in the U.S. under her belt since the 1970s. The Grammy-winning star began her career as part of pop duet The Simon Sisters before branching out on her own.

But even without her super successful music career, Simon had big bucks in the bank—her father is Richard Simon, who founded the mega successful publishing company Simon & Schuster.

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Kyra Sedgwick

Bona fide Hollywood legend Kyra Sedgwick is best known for her critically acclaimed roles in movies such as Born on the Fourth of July, Singles, and Phenomenon. She has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award, and in 2009 she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

But that’s not the only reason behind this showbiz starlet’s big bank balance. Never mind the fact that she is married to fellow star Kevin Bacon, but she is also the daughter of Henry Dwight Sedgwick V, a successful venture capitalist.

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Patty Hearst

With the Hearst family fortune so mega, it’s no surprise that we have more than one Hearst on our list.

Next up is Patty Hearst, who is well known for her work as an actress and author, having appeared in a number of popular TV shows and movies. She also published a bestselling memoir titled Every Secret Thing.

But we mustn’t forget that Hearst is also a member of the famed mega wealthy dynasty, being another granddaughter of media tycoon William Randolph Hearst.

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Tinsley Mortimer

Media personality and social media star Tinsley Mortimer seems to be one of those people who epitomizes the term “famous for being famous”. However, since becoming a household name, she’s proven herself to be far more than just a pretty face—as well as her modeling work, she holds a BA in History from Columbia University. She has also launched her own lip gloss line, “Tinsley Pink”.

But that’s not where her millions come from—she is the air to the Mercer Rug company, founded by her grandfather George Mercer.

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Eden Sassoon

Eden Sassoon is one of the biggest, brashest and loudest celebs in the reality TV circuit today. The outspoken star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills has millions of fans around the world thanks to her hilarious adventures and straight-talking style.

But she’s not just a mega rich momma—she also has launched her own beauty charity, Beauty Gives Back, helping the hair industry fight the global water crisis.

Sassoon is what you might call a “hair heir”—her fortune comes from her father Vidal Sassoon’s multimillion dollar hair empire.

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Allegra Versace

Allegra Versace is so famous these days in her own right, you’d be forgiven for forgetting her stellar family background and fortune—that is, if she didn’t have such a memorable last name.

That’s right, the model and socialite is the daughter of no other than fashion designer Donatella Versace, and therefore the niece of the company’s founder and legendary icon Gianni Versace.

Following in her family’s footsteps, Versace is well known for her glamorous style and successful modeling career.

Versace in fact owns 50% of the fashion family fortune—more than any other living family member.

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been a household name and a familiar face on our screens for many years. First rising to fame as one of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live, the comedy legend then went on to star in the iconic sitcom Seinfeld for 9 years.

More recently, she starred as the main character in the political sitcom Veep, a role for which she received widespread critical acclaim.

The most decorated actress in history, Louis-Dreyfus is also the daughter of French-American businessman Gérard C. Louis-Dreyfus—whose net worth Forbes estimated at $3.4 billion in 2006.

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Lisa Marie Presley

Singer and songwriter Lisa Marie Presley is as famous for her high-profile marriages as she is for her family legacy. Presley has been married four times, including to King of Pop Michael Jackson and Hollywood acting legend Nicolas Cage.

Presley has released three studio albums, but her place in musical history was cemented long before this, as she is the daughter of legendary singer and actor Elvis Presley, who Forbes estimated had a net worth of $100 million to $1 billion at the height of his fame.

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David O. Russell and Megan Ellison

Hollywood powerhouse siblings David O. Russell and Megan Ellison are two of the most productive and successful people in showbiz.

Ellison is the founder and CEO of super successful production company Annapurna, while her brother is the mastermind behind such smash hit movies as Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle.

But did you know that they were both in the showbiz game since they were still teeny tots? Their father is the super-rich Larry Ellison, chairman of tech giant company Oracle Corporation.

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Tamara Ecclestone

Socialite and TV personality Tamara Ecclestone is well known throughout the world for her hilarious antics and boundary-pushing modeling works.

In 2011, Ecclestone starred in her own reality TV show, Tamara Ecclestone: Billion $$ Girl, and has also appeared in high profile modeling campaigns for magazines such as Playboy.

But she didn’t earn her fortune thanks to her model looks—Ecclestone is in fact the daughter of former Formula One Group chief executive, Bernie Ecclestone—who Forbes estimated to be worth a whopping $3.1 billion.

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Armie Hammer

Hollywood heartthrob Armie Hammer has been winning fans across the globe for his critically acclaimed movie and TV performances, making his name in mega smash hit movies such as The Social Network and Call Me by Your Name.

Winner of a Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor, and nominated for a Golden Globe, Hammer has more than proved himself as a Hollywood heavyweight.

But did you know that he already had a hefty bank balance before making it big in showbiz? He is the great-grandson of Armand Hammer, the owner of the multi-billion-dollar fuel company Occidental Petroleum.