12 Celebrities Who Grew Up in Wealthy Families

Some of today’s biggest stars grew up with advantages that gave them an early start in life. From chart-topping musicians to acclaimed actors, these celebrities came from wealthy or well-connected families that offered opportunities long before they achieved fame themselves. While many worked hard to establish their own careers, their family backgrounds helped open doors along the way. Here are the famous faces who grew up with privilege before making names for themselves in entertainment.

Adam Levine

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, according to WWD.

Rashida Jones

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.

Cara Delevingne

With deep family roots in English high society, model and actress Cara Delevingne is the daughter of Charles Delevingne, founder of the property firm Harvey White Properties Limited.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

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.

Michelle Williams

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.

Edward Norton

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.

Ariana Grande

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

Gwyneth Paltrow

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.

Nick Kroll

Comedian Nick Kroll is the heir to a business consulting fortune, as his father, Jules Kroll, sold his corporate investigations firm Kroll, Inc. for $1.9 billion in 2004, according to The Richest.

Kate Mara

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.

Paul Giamatti

Known for his intense performances, Paul Giamatti grew up with a front-row seat to both academia and America’s pastime, as his father, A. Bartlett Giamatti, spent a decade as Yale University’s president before being elected the seventh Commissioner of Major League Baseball, per MLB.

Jaden Smith

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 helped carve his path as both an actor and musician.