20 famous nepo babies who actually earned fame & glory

Former US President Barack Obama recently revealed that his daughter, Malia, who's producing and directing films in Hollywood, won't even use her last name. “She didn’t use Obama,” Barack said as he spoke about Malia's short film, The Heart, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival. “On the credits, it said Malia Ann. I was like, ‘You do know they’ll know who you are?'”

Not only is Miley Cyrus the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, but she also has family ties to Dolly Parton. Cyrus first rose to fame during her time as Miley Stewart on Hannah Montana . Since then, she's released several chart-topping albums, snagged two Grammys, and has been featured on tracks with many popular artists, including Future, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Pharell, and Beyoncé.

We all know about Whitney Houston. The legendary singer released seven albums and sold over 220 million records worldwide. Her debut album spent 14 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and throughout her career, she earned 11 No. 1 hits on the Hot 100. She's also the daughter of famous R&B singer Cissy Houston, who passed away in early 2024.

Mariska Hargitay, known for her long-standing role on Law & Order , is the daughter of Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay and former Playboy Playmate Jayne Mansfield. Her work as Olivia Benson has earned her several awards, including an Emmy, Golden Globe, and even an MTV VMA for appearing in Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood."

Maya Rudolph's parents, Richard and Minnie, were famous musicians in the '70s and '90s. However, Maya wanted to pursue something different. Rudolph has had a decorated career as an actress, starring in productions like Bridesmaids and Grown Ups. She also appeared on Saturday Night Live from 2000 to 2007. On occasion, she makes special pop-ups to impersonate celebrities and politicians, including Kamala Harris.

Maggie Baird is an American actress who performed on Broadway and appeared on television shows like Friends and Jack & Jill. Her two children (Billie Eilish and Finneas) are both popular musicians who have created worldwide hits, including the Hot 100's No. 2 track "Birds of a Feather."

Tracee Ellis Ross gained international success thanks to the 2000s TV series Girlfriends. She gained even more fame when she appeared in the 2014 comedy Black-ish. Her iconic mother, Diana Ross, must be so proud.

Tony Goldwyn has joked before that he's a "third-generation nepo baby," thanks to his famous film producer father, Samuel. However, his work in front and behind the camera has earned him high praise. His most beloved role is undoubtedly President Fitzgerald Grant III from the Shonda Rhimes production Scandal. 

Tony Curtis had a decorated career as an actor that lasted just over six decades. His skills as a talented storyteller clearly influenced his daughter, Jamie, who made her film debut in the horror production Halloween . Since then, Curtis has starred in quite a few other shows and movies, including Ryan Murphy's Scream Queens and Everything Everywhere All at Once . She also reprised her role alongside Lindsay Lohan in the 2025 Disney sequel Freakier Friday.

The world-famous journalist known for his time covering stories on CNN is the son of a Vanderbilt. Yes, that Vanderbilt.

Both of Ben Stiller's parents were actors with long careers in Hollywood. Once born, he followed in their footsteps, appearing in films like Hot Pursuit, Zoolander, and Night at the Museum. He's also won a number of awards, including an Emmy and a Peabody.

When your parents are Primetime Emmy winners and television and film directors, it could be easy to think that your fame in the industry is all thanks to them. But that wouldn't be the case for Gwyneth Paltrow. She gained critical acclaim after appearing in films like Seven, Emma, Sliding Doors, and A Perfect Murder. Since living her life in front of the cameras, her talents have earned her accolades of her own, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and an Emmy.

With that last name, there's no way Zoë Kravitz can escape the nepo baby conversation. But luckily for her, she's done more than enough to prove she's earned her space in Hollywood. Kravitz's breakthrough came after starring in X-Men: First Class. She later appeared in The Divergent Series, Big Little Lies, and recently made her directing debut with the 2024 thriller Blink Twice.

Jaden and Willow Smith can certainly thank their parents, Will and Jada, for putting them on the map. However, once they grabbed the baton, they were off to the races. Jaden has starred in blockbuster hits like The Karate Kid and The Pursuit of Happyness while also pursuing music alongside popular artists, including Justin Bieber. Willow, on the other hand, has also made charting tracks, like the 2010 hit "Whip My Hair" and the viral record "Wait a Minute!"

John David (star of BlacKkKlansman) is a Washington. In fact, he's the son of Denzel Washington. Of course, his acting skills have earned him high praise.

Thandiwe Newton made sure her daughter, Nico Parker, worked hard to earn her first acting credits. Parker played Milly in the adventure film Dumbo but earned widespread acclaim after appearing in the post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us.

If there's one thing that Gigi and Bella Hadid can thank their supermodel mother, Yolanda, for ... it's their strikingly good looks. The sisters have posed for popular publications, including Vogue, GQ, and Elle. 

Dakota Johnson's parents may have been actors, but she made a name for herself when she wowed the world by playing Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades of Grey movie franchise. 

Ben Platt actually loathes being looped into the nepo baby conversation despite being the son of an entertainment producer who has worked in theatre, film, and television. It's understandable, though, considering his resume includes credits like Pitch Perfect, The Politician, and originating the role of Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway.

Drew Barrymore comes from a family of actors, but she's been making headlines for her work in classic films like Charlie's Angels and The Wedding Singer. She also hosts a syndicated talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show.