Jaden Smith
As the son of Hollywood’s power duo, Jada Pinkett and Will Smith, Jaden Smith is widely believed to have benefited from his famous parents in securing major fashion deals.
The 27-year-old rapper was recently appointed as the first creative director for Christian Louboutin, in a newly created role for the luxury brand (per WWD). The unexpected appointment sparked outrage among fans who argue that Jaden is unworthy of the role.
“Imagine having over 15 years of experience in fashion design, and then Jaden Smith takes your job,” one fashion designer vented in a TikTok following the news (per Daily Mail).
Beyond fashion, the avant-garde artist also ignited heated online debates about nepotism regarding his allegedly undeserved music career. A critic complained on Reddit, “One day Jaden said ‘I want to be a rapper,’ and his daddy made it happen.”
Jaden landed his first acting role at the young age of eight in the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness.
Kate Hudson
Actress Kate Hudson first gained fame with her breakthrough role as Penny Lane in the 2000 comedy-drama film Almost Famous, earning a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and receiving an Oscar nomination in the same category (per PEOPLE).
It’s well known that the 46-year-old comes from one of Hollywood’s most famous families, but she insists her success in the entertainment industry isn’t merely because of that. “The nepotism thing, I mean… I don’t really care,” Hudson told The Independent. “I look at my kids and we’re a storytelling family. It’s definitely in our blood. People can call it whatever they want, but it’s not going to change it.”
Many still believe that the allegedly untalented actress made it to Hollywood thanks to her family of stars. “They can never just own it [nepotism],” one commenter joked on Instagram, while a second added, “It’s so much cuter when people acknowledge their privilege.”
Brooklyn Beckham
The eldest son of Victoria and David Beckham was often referred to as a “nepo baby” simply because he was born into Hollywood royalty.
The 26-year-old social media star has gained popularity as a versatile photographer, model, and chef, but his fame is often attributed to his star-studded family.
“Brooklyn is one of the least talented nepo babies on the face of the earth,” a Reddit user commented.
The aspiring content creator previously dismissed repeated nepo baby claims, stating that his parents have always encouraged him to prove people wrong.
“I mean, I can’t help how I was born,” he said in an honest interview with InStyle. “I couldn’t ask for better parents, and I’m just trying to work my ass off and build a name for myself. That’s all I can say, really.”
Patrick Schwarzenegger
Patrick Schwarzenegger is considered both a “nepo baby” and a “great actor” by the often-critical online community.
While the White Lotus heartthrob might technically be a nepo baby, he definitely has put in work.
“I know there are people who’ll say I only got this role because of who my dad is,” Patrick, who attended the Met Gala 2025 red carpet earlier this year, told The Sunday Times.
The 32-year-old actor added, “They’re not seeing that I’ve had 10 years of acting classes, performed in school plays every week, worked on my characters for hours on end, or dealt with hundreds of rejected auditions.”
Dakota Johnson
Actress and model Dakota Johnson reignited the debate over nepotism in Hollywood during her challenging career. “When I think of talentless Nepo Babies, she’s always the first that comes to mind,” commented one user on Reddit.
Unlike other celebrity “nepo babies” who defend their privileged backgrounds, 36-year-old Dakota has been surprisingly honest about her nepotism. The Madame Web star admitted she asked her famous parents for financial help early in her career.
“For a couple of years it was hard to make money,” she shared in a May interview with ELLE. “There were a few times when I’d go to the market and not have money in my bank account or not be able to pay rent, and I’d have to ask my parents for help — I’m very grateful that I had parents that could help me and did help me.”
Kaia Gerber
The daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford faced a huge backlash after landing a high-profile role in the upcoming TV show The Shards (per Daily Mail).
Kaia, 24, was notably the first star announced for the highly anticipated Ryan Murphy project, based on Bret Easton Ellis’s novel and currently in development at FX.
On social media, angry fans quickly pointed out Kaia’s ineligibility for the starring role. “I have yet to see Gerber in anything that shows she should be starring in a TV show…she did absolutely nothing to prove that she could work as an actress without nepotism,” one user wrote on Reddit.
“Nepotism: The Series,” a second snarked.
“This nepo baby Kaia Gerber can’t act to save her life,” a third expressed.
Lennon Gallagher
Fashion model and aspiring musician Lennon Gallagher is among the most talented and even hottest nepo babies this year. The son of iconic singer Liam Gallagher recently emerged as a force to be reckoned with, earning lots of online praise for his rising London-based band, Automotion.
“Lennon’s band is pretty cool,” one fan wrote in a Reddit discussion, while another agreed, “Yea, definitely worth a listen.”
Lennon, affectionately named after Beatles singer John Lennon because of his father’s love for the legendary band (per The Sun), also entered the fashion scene as a model, working with several fashion houses, including Burberry, Saint Laurent, Ami Paris, and Kenzo.
Amelia Gray
The daughter of former Real Housewife Lisa Rinna and actor Harry Hamlin caused a stir online earlier this year after appearing in MAC Cosmetics’ Born Famous campaign, which featured nepotism (per PEOPLE). Instead of hiding from it, the 24-year-old model embraced the ‘nepo baby” label and called the debate about family privilege completely “mindless.’
“I was born famous. I am a nepo baby. What can I say?” she told PEOPLE. “As this nepo baby craze has continued and with the crazy internet polarity of the pro-nepo baby or anti-nepo baby, I think at the end of the day, let’s be so real. You are dealt the cards that you are dealt.”
Hero Fiennes
Hero Fiennes is not only the son of two film directors but also the nephew of actors Ralph and Joseph Fiennes (per Daily Mail). His celebrity network likely helped him land a leading role as Hardin Scott in the After film series and as 11-year-old Tom Marvolo Riddle in the sixth Harry Potter film.
The 27-year-old English actor recently reignited debate over nepotism after attending a high-profile premiere for his romantic comedy, Picture This. Looking the part, Hero posed alongside co-star Simone Ashley, who gained attention with her breakout role in Netflix’s hit period drama, Bridgerton.
The “nepo baby” admitted in a 2019 interview with ES Magazine that he’s been “lucky” to have the family connections and opportunities he’s had, adding that he’s trying to meet expectations with little assistance.