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10 celebrities you didn't know grew up super rich

2 January 2025 at 06:20
Bruce Paltrow, Blythe Danner, and Gwyneth Paltrow in 2002.
Bruce Paltrow, Blythe Danner, and Gwyneth Paltrow in 2002.

Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images

  • The families of celebrities like Anderson Cooper and King Princess have been rich for generations.
  • Some families, like the Gyllenhaals, became wealthy through the entertainment industry.
  • Others, like the Delevingnes, have connections to royals.

Many celebrities have built their wealth from the ground up, but some were born into luxury.

According to Altrata's recent World Ultra Wealth Report, the number of ultrawealthy individuals grew by 7.6% in 2023, with about a third residing in the US.

Among these wealthy families are celebrities like Anderson Cooper, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Nick Kroll, who have had access to vast wealth and opportunities from an early age. These stars were set up for success before stepping into the spotlight, which, in some cases, shaped their path to fame and fortune.

Here are 10 celebrities who were raised in extreme wealth before they became famous.

Nick Kroll
Jules B. Kroll, Nick Kroll and Lynn Kroll in 2016.
Nick Kroll, pictured with his parents, Jules B. Kroll and Lynn Kroll, in 2016, told The New Yorker he would be embarrassed when his dad would arrive at his games in a limousine.

Noam Galai/Getty Images

Kroll is an actor, comedian, writer, and producer known for Comedy Central's "The Kroll Show" and for creating and starring in Netflix's "Big Mouth" and "Human Resources," among other hit shows, but he's not the only success story in his family. 

His father, Jules Kroll, founded a corporate investigation company, Kroll Inc., which he sold in 2004 for almost $2 billion, Forbes reported in 2014.

Nick Kroll grew up in Westchester County, New York. In 2009, he told The New Yorker that he and his siblings had a relatively normal childhood. He also said that although he was grateful that his father made time for him despite his job, he felt embarrassed when Jules would arrive at his Little League games in a limousine.

Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper in 2022.
Anderson Cooper is a descendant of the Vanderbilt family.

ANGELA WEISS/Getty Images

Journalist and commentator Anderson Cooper is a direct descendant of the Vanderbilts, whom Britannica describes as "one of the wealthiest and most prominent families in the United States."

His great-great-great grandfather, Cornelius Vanderbilt, built his fortune primarily through investing in steamships and railroads. Upon his death in 1899, Cornelius had amassed $100 million — over $3 billion in today's money.

"He had more money than the US Treasury," Cooper told CBS in 2021.

Cooper's mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, grew up as an American socialite due to her family's status. She later became an artist, actor, designer, and author. She died in 2019.

His father, Wyatt Emory Cooper, was Vanderbilt's fourth husband. Before he died at the age of 50, he worked as an author and an actor.

Gwyneth Paltrow
Bruce Paltrow, Blythe Danner, and Gwyneth Paltrow in 2002.
Gwyneth Paltrow describes herself as "completely self-made" despite having been raised by parents in the entertainment industry.

Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images

Gwyneth Paltrow comes from a family of entertainment-industry natives. She spent her childhood at prestigious private schools in Los Angeles and New York City before dropping out of college to act.

Bruce Paltrow, her father, was a nine-time Emmy-nominated director and producer. His most notable titles include "St. Elsewhere" and "White Shadow." Meanwhile, her mother is Emmy- and Tony-winning actor Blythe Danner of "Meet the Parents," "Meet the Fockers," and "The Last Kiss."

Despite her parents' success, Paltrow refers to herself as "completely self-made." 

"People think, 'She's just a rich kid.' Until I was 18, I was. Then I was broke. I've never taken a dime off my parents. I'm completely self-made," she told Glamour in 2016.

Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne, Charles Delevingne, and Pandora Delevingne in 2014.
Cara Delevingne's family has ties to the royal family, thanks to her maternal grandmother, Janie Sheffield, who was a lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret. Pictured here is Delevingne with her parents, Charles and Pandora Delevingne, in 2014.

David M. Benett/Getty Images

Supermodel and actor Cara Delevingne is the daughter of Charles Delevingne, a successful real-estate developer, and Pandora Delevingne, a socialite. Her paternal grandmother was a socialite, and her paternal grandfather was a notable lawyer and politician.

But that's not where it ends. According to Vogue, Cara's maternal grandfather, Sir Jocelyn Stevens, owned Queen magazine, which is now Harper's Bazaar. Further, her maternal grandmother, Janie Sheffield, was a lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret, the sister of Queen Elizabeth II.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Gerard "William" Louis-Dreyfus in 2014.
William Louis-Dreyfus, actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus's father, was a businessman who was reportedly worth $3.4 billion at one point. Pictured here is Julia Louis-Dreyfus with her father in 2014.

Mike Pont/Getty Images

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the great-great-granddaughter of Léopold Louis-Dreyfus, who founded the Louis Dreyfus Company, a merchant firm that deals primarily with agriculture, food, and shipping.

Her father, Gerard Louis-Dreyfus, eventually became chairman of the company. In 2006, about 10 years before his death, Forbes estimated his net worth to be $3.4 billion and named him the 200th richest billionaire in the world.

In 2018, the "Seinfeld" star told The New Yorker that her father's wealth is overestimated by the press and that she finds the term "billionaire heiress" to be "heinous."

Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Stephen Gyllenhaal, Naomi Foner, and Jake Gyllenhaal in 2005.
Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal's parents were prominent figures in the entertainment industry. Pictured here are Maggie Gyllenhaal, Stephen Gyllenhaal, Naomi Foner, and Jake Gyllenhaal in 2005.

Donald Weber/Getty Images

Their father, Stephen Gyllenhaal, is an Emmy-winning director who has worked on films such as "Paris Trout," "Homegrown," and "A Dangerous Woman." Their mother, Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal, is an Academy Award-nominated, Golden Globe-winning screenwriter whose most notable film is "Running On Empty."

The Gyllenhaal siblings, Maggie and Jake, have had prolific careers since their costarring breakout roles in "Donnie Darko" in 2001.

In 2010, Jake told The Guardian, "My mother would say that there are people who have so much money who don't give any of it away, and there are other people who have much less money, who give more than the richest people in the world. It should all be about giving something back."

 

King Princess
King Princess in 2022.
King Princess' great-great-grandfather owned Macy's, and her father owns a well-known recording studio.

NBC/Getty Images

Pop artist King Princess — or Mikaela Mullaney Straus — is the great-great-grandchild of Isidor and Ida Straus.

Before the couple fell victim to the Titanic sinking, Isidor served as a member of the United States Congress and co-owned Macy's with his brother. Isidor and Ida Straus have been depicted in multiple movies and have a memorial garden in New York City.

In 2019, King Princess told Rolling Stone that she didn't inherit their money.

"They were very rich and Jewish, [but] I didn't inherit any of this money. It was a little frustrating, but whatever," she said.

The pop star's father, Oliver Straus, is also successful. He owns a recording studio in Brooklyn called Mission Sound, where world-famous bands like the Arctic Monkeys have recorded music.

Armie Hammer
Armie Hammer in 2019.
Actor Armie Hammer's great-grandfather, Armand, was an oil tycoon and, like his great-grandson, was a controversial figure.

Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images

Armand Hammer, Armie Hammer's grandfather, was an oil tycoon who managed Occidental Petroleum Corporation. According to Britannica, under Armand Hammer's leadership, Occidental went from the brink of bankruptcy to bringing in billions of dollars annually. In 1986, Forbes estimated Armand Hammer's net worth to be $200 million.

However, Armand Hammer's biographer, Neil Lyndon, referred to him as "the most satanic man of the second half of the 20th Century" and the "embodiment of sin [and] ruthless ego" in a 2022 docuseries, "House of Hammer."

"In terms of corrupting the political process, in terms of controlling people, and making them dance his tune, there is no comparison," said Lyndon.

Armie Hammer has also been mired in controversy. In 2021, multiple women accused him of sexual and emotional abuse. At the time, Armie said any interactions with his partners were consensual and denied the allegations. The Los Angeles Police Department investigated a claim of sexual assault but he was not charged. In 2023, he told Air Mail he'd been emotionally abusive to his accusers. 

Armie Hammer's fall from grace also appears to have impacted his wealth. In August 2024, he said he had to give up his truck because he couldn't afford gas.

Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey and Robert Grant in 2014.
Lana Del Rey's father, Robert Grant, founded a successful company, WebMediaProperties.com.

Marc Piasecki/Getty Images

Lana Del Rey, whose given name is Lizzy Grant, is the daughter of Rob Grant, the founder of WebMediaProperties.com. According to Who API, Grant's company operated 1,600 websites and owned about 800 domain names as of 2012.

A 2012 article in The Guardian by Paul Harris discusses how Lana Del Rey hid her real identity as she emerged as a star.

"People were suspicious of the way Grant's failed album, and all her social media websites appeared to have been scrubbed from the internet just before Del Rey appeared," Harris wrote. 

The same article also claims that her father backed her career when she was just starting out.

Grant released his first album, "Lost at Sea, " in June 2023. Although Del Rey has not commented on her father's success as a businessman, she has discussed his budding music career.

"This is either gonna be the beginning of something beautiful or take us all down," Del Rey said in Instagram comments in February last year, per Virgin Radio UK.

Nicola Peltz Beckham
Nelson Peltz, Elon Musk and Nicola Peltz Beckham attend the Premiere of "Lola" on February 03, 2024 in Los Angeles.
Nelson Peltz, Elon Musk, and Nicola Peltz Beckham at the Premiere of "Lola" on 3 February 2024 in Los Angeles.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Actor Nicola Peltz Beckham, who has appeared in TV shows like "Bates Motel" and "Welcome to Chippendales" and movies including "Transformers: Age of Extinction," married Brooklyn Beckham — son of Victoria and David Beckham — in 2022. But even before her wedding day, she was part of a high-profile family known for its influence in business and social circles.

She was born in 1995 to parents Claudia Heffner and Nelson Peltz in Westchester, New York — her father is the founder of the investment firm Trian Fund Management, which, according to Forbes, is worth $1.6 billion. 

She began her acting career in 2006 with the film "Deck the Halls," and, most recently, wrote, directed, and starred in the film "Lola," which received negative reviews from several prominent film critics. In the film, she starred as a stripper.

In a 2024 interview with WWD, Peltz Beckham acknowledged that she didn't have an unbringing like her character's.

"I wanted to write a story from a person's perspective and another point of view that was not my personal view and not my upbringing. I am an actress and my dream is to get to look at the world from different perspectives," she said.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I visited 13 major European cities in 6 months. Here are 2 I can't wait to visit again and 2 I probably won't return to.

4 December 2024 at 04:04
Emily and her husband take a selfie in Amsterdam, with a canal and buildings behind them.
My husband and I spent six months moving around Europe.

Emily Pogue

  • I spent six months moving around Europe and visited 13 major cities along the way.
  • I was blown away by Edinburgh and Amsterdam and can't wait to return.
  • Though I enjoyed my time in Zurich and Cardiff, I'd like to explore other cities in the future.

During a six-month trip around Europe, I embraced the "slow travel" mindset, which encourages travelers to spend quality time in each destination they visit. This was important to me because I really wanted to get to know the places I was staying in.

I explored 13 major cities in countries including the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

Here are the two European cities I can't wait to visit again and the two I'm glad I checked off my bucket list.

I'm most excited to visit Edinburgh again.
Edinburgh Castle, located near the side of a cliff, at dusk.
Edinburgh is a beautiful medieval-feeling city.

Emily Pogue

If you're looking for a truly medieval-feeling city in the UK, you can't choose a better spot than the Scottish capital, Edinburgh.

I was mesmerized by the city's stunning mix of architectural styles, which makes the buildings appear larger than life. Most notably, Edinburgh Castle towers over the city and is visible from many different spots in town.

Edinburgh is also a treasure trove of history, whether it's Mary King's Close, a preserved 17th-century alley, or a whiskey tour in which I learned about the distinctive regional varieties of Scotch.

When the colder weather started getting to me, I was able to find a surprising number of hot-chocolate shops. I found that hot cocoa paired with a doughnut from one of the countless bakeries around town made for the perfect afternoon snack.

I can’t wait to explore more of Amsterdam.
A canal in Amsterdam, lined by houseboats, trees, cars, and buildings. There are pink and white flowers in a flower box in the foreground.
I love the layout of Amsterdam.

Emily Pogue

Amsterdam has a reputation as a party city, particularly its proclivity for marijuana and the Red Light District. Though Amsterdam is definitely a good place to have a great time, there is so much more to the city.

During my stay, I tried to avoid the tourist hot spots, favoring the local neighborhoods instead. One particularly enchanting walk along the canals led me to Foodhallen, a lively food market where I got to enjoy sushi, a corndog, and the Dutch snack of bitterballen — which can best be described as a deep-fried stew ball.

When I did venture to busier places, it was to tour the art and history museums. My favorites were the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House, which were each powerful and moving in their own right.

I also enjoyed how much the city's layout differed from the other European cities I visited. Bikes and boats reign supreme, which make for lovely ways to explore the city.

Though I enjoyed visiting Zurich, I'll probably skip it on my next trip to Switzerland.
Buildings in Zurich near a river on a partly-cloudy day.
Zurich was beautiful, but next time I'd like to explore other parts of Switzerland.

Emily Pogue

Zurich is a gorgeous city, and sitting on the banks of the lake with a plate of currywurst was a top-tier European experience for me.

Though I found the city to be expensive compared with the other places I visited, the main reason I wouldn't return is because of Zurich's enviable neighbors: the villages of the Swiss Alps.

In just a few hours, you can leave the urban environment and arrive in towns like Wengen and Mürren, which look straight out of a storybook.

Next time, I’ll visit other parts of Wales over Cardiff.
A castle with a flag on a greenery-covered hill.
One of the biggest reasons I wanted to visit Cardiff was to see the castle.

Emily Pogue

One of the main reasons I wanted to visit the capital of Wales was to tour Cardiff Castle, and the complex didn't disappoint. I learned about 2,000 years of history, from ancient ruling families to an underground bunker used in World War II.

But in my opinion, the rest of Cardiff wasn't quite as impressive.

Though I enjoyed the Victorian and Edwardian arcades (glass-roofed alleys with various shops), the city center felt a bit grungier than the others I visited because of some loose trash lying around. I also felt as if there weren't a ton of other activities to do in the vicinity.

But with 400 castles scattered throughout the country, I'll be sure to explore the more remote parts of Wales on my next visit.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I'm an interior designer who works with high-profile clients. Here are 8 things the rich are putting in their homes right now.

27 November 2024 at 09:18
Ben Franklin sits on a linen armchair with a fancy end table.
Wealthy clients are asking for conversation pieces and sustainable materials in their homes.

Getty Images; Chelsea Jia Feng/BI

  • I'm an interior designer who's worked with wealthy clients with large budgets.
  • Lately, more clients have been asking me to include expensive conversation pieces in their homes.
  • My wealthy clients also gravitate toward eco-friendly materials and statement stones, like onyx.

As an interior designer, I always love working with clients to create spaces that showcase their personalities and values, no matter their budget. But recently, I've had the opportunity to peel back the curtain and see what the wealthy are asking for in their homes.

Over the past year, I've been working with high-profile clients — from influencers to a CEO — with large budgets. So, I feel like I have a front-row seat to the latest trends in luxury home decor.

Here's what the wealthy are currently loving in their homes.

Clients are constantly asking for conversation pieces.
A black table filled with items looking onto a beige fireplace filled with dried flowers and other plants
One client asked me to incorporate a 17th-century fireplace (not pictured) into their home.

Andreas von Einsiedel/Getty Images

This might sound odd, but some clients insist on incorporating seemingly random, vintage (and, in my opinion, extremely overpriced) items into their homes.

These pieces have ranged from a salvaged fireplace from a 17th-century home in France to a weathered wooden door from an abandoned Italian villa. But honestly, I'm all for it.

Having something interesting to talk about when people walk in never hurts. Imagine someone complimenting your fireplace and casually replying, "Thanks, I shipped it from France." Talk about a conversation starter.

Custom art is becoming more popular among my clients.
A bedroom with a bed with white and beige sheets, a beige couch, and several pieces of artwork on the wall
I love decorating spaces with custom art pieces.

Sammi Smith

I recently worked with clients who wanted art pieces that reflected their personalities.

Instead of picking something off the shelf, I made custom art that fit my clients' visions. Many of these pieces, which required large paintings or paper canvases, were very expensive to make.

Still, my clients loved being part of the creative journey, tweaking and perfecting their masterpieces until they felt just right. As a designer, seeing someone light up when they look at a one-of-a-kind piece hanging on their wall is fulfilling. 

Sustainability is definitely in.
Two dark-brown hanging lamps with LED lightbulbs and a window looking onto trees in the background
My wealthy clients have asked for eco-friendly items, like LED light bulbs, in their homes.

Ton Photographer 4289/Shutterstock

Many of my affluent clients search for materials that look stunning and are made with sustainability in mind — think energy-efficient lighting, reclaimed wood, and renewable-energy sources.

For example, I've recently sourced sustainably made mattresses for a bedroom and salvaged boards from a barn for a kitchen backsplash.

I believe the future of interior design, especially in luxury homes, will revolve around sustainability. Over the next few years, I expect more designers to ask questions like, "How can we reuse marble to give it a second life?"

Statement stones like onyx and exotic marbles are popular among clients.
A bathroom with a stone bathtub and a tiled wall with various shades of gray and textures
My clients love stone tiles and counters with bold colors and veins.

asbe/Getty Images

Gone are the days of plain countertops and all-white rooms that lack personality. Many of my high-end clients embrace bold statement stones like onyx and exotic marbles that showcase rich lines in the stone and make a striking impact.

Picture a kitchen with a stunning onyx backsplash or a bathroom countertop that elicits a "wow." Statement stones can elevate an ordinary space into something truly unique.

Custom-made furniture is definitely a favorite.
A gray couch with navy and white pillows next to a wall with a built-in shelf filled with baskets, books, and frames
I love perfectly sizing pieces of furniture to fit a space.

Sammi Smith

Custom-made furniture can be a game changer. I love the satisfaction of perfectly sizing a sofa to fit into a tricky corner or coordinating the trim on dining-room chairs with the fabric on a living-room couch.

Though custom pieces aren't essential — many of my favorite couches come from Ikea and other big-box stores — customizing furniture provides a chance to create unique items that reflect personal style and needs.

Clients who choose the custom-furniture route can select their preferred styles, source unique fabrics, and find ideal cushion fillings.

I've recently been incorporating ambient lighting into my clients' homes.
A headboard with two white pillows next to a sconce with a basket-weave lampshade and a small painting of a seaside scene
Ambient lighting can come from hidden LED strips or lamps that emit a soft glow.

Sammi Smith

Have you ever walked into a nice restaurant and noticed a cozy vibe from the lighting? Ambient lighting — soft, glowing light that usually serves as a room's primary source of illumination — instantly makes everything feel more inviting.

Lately, my clients with big budgets are asking for custom ambient lighting in every corner of their homes. These fixtures, which range from LED strips tucked away in architectural details to beautifully designed lamps that cast a warm glow, create a luxurious, relaxing atmosphere.

Organic mattresses seem to be all the rage.
A bedroom with a bed with white comforters and tan pillows, graphic artwork, and beige curtains looking onto a backyard filled with trees
Lately, I've been furnishing my clients' homes with organic mattresses.

Sammi Smith

Some mattresses contain polyurethane foam, which can emit chemicals known as volatile organic compounds. Some of these chemicals can be harmful, so lately, I've been furnishing my client's bedrooms with organic mattresses instead.

I recently stumbled upon Avocado Green Mattress, a company specializing in organic mattresses and luxury bedding. So far, I've used the brand's mattresses and furniture in two of my projects, and they've been a hit.

Linen materials are everywhere.
A room with a bed with a white comforter and pillows next to a white nightstand, a mirror, and a window with a blue and white linen curtain
I love linen because it feels luxurious and is versatile.

Sammi Smith

Luxurious linens are popping up everywhere, and honestly, I couldn't be more excited about it.

Linen has proved to be so much more than just a bedding essential. The fabric has an effortlessly luxurious aesthetic, has great breathability, and is versatile enough for furniture, bedding, and window treatments.

Imagine draping your windows with stunning linen curtains that filter light and add a chic touch to your living space. Or how about reupholstering an old chair with some high-quality linen? This fabric can easily give your space a fresh new personality.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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