These celebrities got into performing just for the fun of it. They already had plenty of money! Wouldn’t it be nice if acting could just be a hobby that you did for the love of it — not for money? When you’re born into families as rich as these celebrities’, it can be. Here are 17 celebrities who were rich before they were famous.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the daughter of billionaire businessman Gerard Louis-Dreyfus, so something tells us she would have been just fine if she hadn’t landed her fame-making role as Elaine on NBC’s “Seinfeld.”
Source: Wetpaint.com
One of America’s sweethearts was born to film director father Stephen Gyllenhaal and Oscar-nominated screenwriting mother Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal. For the love of the craft, he earned his own Oscar-nominated roles in films such as “Brokeback Mountain.”
Source: Talktalk.co.uk
Giada de Laurentiis comes from a family that likes to work in film and TV. Her parents, Alex De Benedetti and Veronica De Laurenttis, were both actors and her grandfather Dino De Laurentiis was a famous film producer. She just ended up cooking in front of the camera instead of acting. The Italian-born American chef, TV personality and writer hosts the Food Network program “Giada at Home.” She’s also a regular guest co-host on NBC’s
Today.
Source: Biography.com
Actor Kyra Sedgwick’s family is drenched in fame and wealth. She is a once-removed cousin of model Edie Sedgwick, and she is related to one of the signatories of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, William Ellery and the owner of the Atlantic Monthly, Ellery Sedgwick. Kyra is best known for best known for her role as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson on TNT’s crime drama, “The Closer.”
Source: Complex.com
If you recall, Nicole Richie became friends with Paris Hilton (back when they were friends) because of their famous parents. Richie is son of Lionel Richie, who knew the Hilton family.
Source: People.com
The hilarious actress from “The Office” is the daughter of actress Peggy Lipton and music producer Quincy Jones.
Source: NyDailyNews.com
When you hear the name Getty you think of the Getty foundation, which sponsors the arts, but long ago, that name was associated with the Getty Oil Company, owned by Jean Paul Getty, grandfather to Balthazar Getty.
Source: Wikipedia.org
The famous news analyst and TV personality Anderson Cooper is the son of Gloria Vanderbilt, a name associated with fabulous wealth in U.S. history. If the name Vanderbilt sounds familiar, it’s because it comes from the great railroad heir, Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt.
Source: Wikipedia.org
Brooke Shields’ father Francis Alexander Shields is the former executive of Revlon Cosmetics. Shield’s father was born to two professional tennis players, and his mother was a princess.
Source: Tvsa.co.za
Rooney Mara, star of the “Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,” is a granddaughter of the family on her father’s side that founded the New York Giants. Her mother’s family founded the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Source: Nydailynews.com
The host of “The Voice” is the son of Fred Levine, the founder of popular Los Angeles clothing line M. Frederic. Levine went to private school for kindergarten through 12th grade, where tuition was $30,000 per year.
Source: Wonderwall.com
The Best Artist Grammy nominee is the daughter of Scott Swift and Andrea Finlay. Scott Swift has been a Merrill Lynch advisor for over 30 years. In fact, Swift was such an important part of the wealth management firm that they published an internal article about his position there.
Source: Businessinsider.com
Grande’s mother Joan Grande is the CEO of Hose-McCann Communications, the leading provider of communications solutions for groups like the Canadian Coast Guards and US Navy. Her father is a successful graphic designer.
Source: IMDB.com
Blunt’s father served in the British Army Air Cops and Blunt attended a private, prestigious school called Harrow. Blunt’s college education was even military subsidized.
Source: Londonlive.co.uk
Thicke’s parents were famous by their own accord long before the singer released “Blurred Lines.” Thicke’s mother is Gloria Loring, who spent many years on “Days of Our Lives” and his father is Alan Thicke of “The Facts of Life” and “Diff’rent Strokes.”
Source: IMDB.com
You’ll recognize Psy from his international sensation, “Gangnam Style.” Psy grew up in the affluent Seoul neighborhood featured in his famous music video, Gangnam. His school growing up was so wealthy, rules had to be put in place to stop kids from wearing very expensive clothes or jewelry. His father is the executive chairman of DI Corporation and his mother is a successful restaurateur.
Source: Qz.com
Posner’s mother Roberta Henrion is a pharmacist and his father Jon Posner is a criminal defense attorney. Posner attended Duke University, where the tuition averages $56,000 a year—not a problem for his $115,000 per year parents.
Source: Mikeposnerhits.com