Let’s be real: Hollywood has always been somewhat of a family affair. While many stars struggle their way out of nowhere, others are born on red carpets and studio lots. Love them or eye-roll them, these so-called nepo babies are ubiquitous, from big-budget franchises to indie favorites and even meme virality. So who are the most recognizable names, and what does their ascent indicate about the industry as a whole? Grab your popcorn, here are 15 of the biggest nepo babies making a splash in Tinseltown.
15. Lily Collins (Daughter of Phil Collins)
Long before she was winning hearts as Emily in Paris, Lily Collins was music royalty. Her father, Phil Collins, is himself a legend. Lily’s acting career launched with Mirror, Mirror, and showed that she’s more than her last name, even if fame was literally in her genes.
14. Lily-Rose Depp (Johnny Depp & Vanessa Paradis’ daughter)
Bred for style and fame, Lily-Rose Depp began acting in her teenage years and has since become a muse to indie filmmakers and Chanel. As the child of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, she’s been in the limelight since day one, but performances like The Idol leave audiences arguing if it’s genetics or talent guiding her career.
13. Maude Apatow (Daughter of Judd Apatow & Leslie Mann)
From cameos in her father’s comedies to playing Lexi in Euphoria, Maude Apatow has matured in front of audiences. Her parents are both Hollywood stalwarts, and her own career has progressed right in their sphere, making her one of the most obvious examples of a contemporary nepo baby.
12. Billie Lourd (Daughter of Carrie Fisher & Granddaughter of Debbie Reynolds)
Few family trees are as legendary: Billie is Carrie Fisher’s daughter and Debbie Reynolds’ granddaughter. She’s had a role in Star Wars and cut out her own niche in series such as American Horror Story. Her genealogy alone is almost Hollywood history.
11. Dakota Johnson (Daughter of Melanie Griffith & Don Johnson)
With mom Melanie Griffith and dad Don Johnson, Dakota was born to be famous. Her Fifty Shades of Grey breakthrough made her a household name, and she’s continued to juggle indie fare with big-budget smashes, walking the nepo baby talk tightrope with equal doses of self-awareness and charm.
10. Jaden Smith (Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith’s Son)
Acting, rapping, and fashion, Jaden Smith is a triple threat. He started with his dad in The Pursuit of Happyness and rose to fame in The Karate Kid. With parents Will and Jada, the doors were always open, but Jaden has turned them into a multi-hyphenate career.
9. Margaret Qualley (Andie MacDowell’s daughter)
From The Leftovers to Maid, Margaret Qualley has gained critical praise for her acting. Nevertheless, her path to success was smoothed over by being the offspring of rom-com queen Andie MacDowell. Her journey from dancer to actress shows just how diverse a nepo baby’s path to stardom can be.
8. Maya Hawke (Daughter of Uma Thurman & Ethan Hawke)
She swiped hearts as Robin on Stranger Things, but Maya Hawke was making waves in Hollywood well before that. With Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke as her parents, her foray into acting was kind of a given, and her early work bore out those strong family ties.
7. Zoë Kravitz (Daughter of Lenny Kravitz & Lisa Bonet)
Effortlessly cool and perpetually gifted, Zoë Kravitz has starred on Big Little Lies, in The Batman, and in Mad Max: Fury Road. With rock icon Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet as parents, she’s the epitome of the cool-kid nepo baby stereotype but has established a career that’s entirely her own.
6. Jamie Lee Curtis (Daughter of Tony Curtis & Janet Leigh)
Before she was an Oscar winner, Jamie Lee Curtis was Hollywood royalty. She is the daughter of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, so she came into the industry with a huge head start. She’s spoken openly about her privilege, but her four-decade career makes it clear she’s more than her pedigree.
5. Jack Quaid (Son of Meg Ryan & Dennis Quaid)
With parents Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid, Jack was predestined to have a rom-com-meets-action DNA combination. Instead, he has forged his own path as a fan favorite on The Boys. Charming and witty, Jack demonstrates how nepo babies can break out of their parents’ shadows.
4. Sadie & Sunny Sandler (Daughters of Adam Sandler)
Adam Sandler has built a career on family productions, and Sadie and Sunny are his latest example. They appeared in You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, continuing Hollywood’s family tradition while sparking new controversies about nepotism.
3. Zoey Deutch (Lea Thompson’s Daughter)
Zoey Deutch has been making waves in rom-coms such as Set It Up and shows like The Politician. Her mother, Lea Thompson, was a Back to the Future star. Although Zoey’s own charm and wit are undeniable, her industry connections undoubtedly paved the way forward.
2. Billie Lourd (Carrie Fisher’s Daughter & Debbie Reynolds’ Granddaughter)
Yes, she gets another nod; Billie’s third-generation Hollywood tale is too iconic not to sing twice. Her mix of heritage and uniqueness makes her one of the most interesting nepo babies working today.
1. Maude Apatow (Judd Apatow & Leslie Mann’s daughter)
Few names illicit the nepo baby discussion like Maude Apatow. From early appearances in her father’s movies to her breakthrough on Euphoria, she represents the privilege and the criticism that accompany a Hollywood name.
At the end of the day, nepo babies aren’t going anywhere. They reflect an industry built on connections, legacy, and access, one that often makes it harder for fresh voices to break in. Whether you’re rooting for them or wishing the playing field was more level, one thing is certain: the conversation around Hollywood’s famous families is only getting louder.