In America, like other countries, it’s still common to pass down your business to your children. And if you have a highly profitable business, your children become heirs to your fortune. Even if they don’t give a damn about running the company, they still get a pretty paycheck.
These are some of the richest heirs and heiresses in America. Some names you’ll recognize, while others keep more of a low profile, choosing to be rich rather than famous.
Paris Hilton
Net Worth: $300 million
Wealth Inherited From Hilton Hotels Corporation
Paris Hilton is one of America’s most well-known celebrities, but most people don’t really get why. All we know is that she’s the heiress to the Hilton Hotel fortune. But as it turns out, she isn’t just an heiress; she’s also a businesswoman in her own right. She has several perfume lines which alone brought in three billion dollars.
Dylan Lauren
Net Worth: $4 billion
Wealth Inherited From Ralph Lauren
Dylan Lauren is an heiress and an entrepreneur. Her father is the founder of Ralph Lauren, the major fashion label. Dylan owns Dylan’s Candy Bar, the world’s largest candy store. She was inspired by the movie ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ and has been in business for eighteen years.
Balthazar Getty
Net Worth: $200 million
Wealth Inherited From Getty Oil
Balthazar Getty is the heir to the Getty Oil fortune, but oil isn’t really his thing. He’s also a musician and producer. He produces the music for the rap duo The Wow, and he’s part of the band Ringside. He also played Ralph in ‘Lord of the Flies.’ He’s also a philanthropist as part of The Lunchbox Fund, which provides food to impoverished children in Africa.
Olivia Wilde
Net Worth: $20 million
Wealth Inherited From Andrew Cockburn
Did you know that Olivia Wilde is an heiress and activist as well as an actress? She attended the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland. She got her start on television when she was on the popular medical series ‘House’ from 2007 to 2012.
Amanda Hearst
Net Worth: $100 million
Wealth Inherited From Hearst Corporation
Amanda Hearst is the heiress to the Hearst Corporation. She’s involved in Friends of Finn, a charity that she founded. Friends of Finn focuses on preventing and stopping puppy mills, which treat dogs inhumanely. She is also a model and marketing editor.
Kate Hudson
Net Worth: $80 million
Wealth Inherited From: Goldie Hawn
The Oscar-nominated actress is the daughter of Hollywood legend Goldie Hawn. Kurt Russell is her stepdad, but her biological father is actor Bill Hudson. Hudson started acting when she was eleven, appearing at the Santa Monica Playhouse. She had her breakthrough in ‘Almost Famous.’ Her performance as Penny Lane earned her a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. Hudson also has a fashion label called Fabletics.
Dakota Johnson
Net Worth: $14 million
Wealth Inherited From: Don Johnson
The actress’ parents are Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, both actors. She was born in Austin, Texas, and is also a model. She’s best known for her role as Anastasia in the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ film series. That role won her the People’s Choice Award and she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Rising Stars.
Anderson Cooper
Net Worth: $110 million
Wealth Inherited From: Gloria Vanderbilt
Anderson Cooper was born into the Vanderbilt family, which has one of the largest fortunes in America. He’s successful in his own right, though, as a journalist, author, and TV personality. He hosts ‘Anderson Cooper 360’ on CNN. He took after his fashionista mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, having modeled for Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren.
Brooke Shields
Net Worth: $25 million
Wealth Inherited From: Frank Shields
The actress and former child model was born in Manhattan, and still lives there. She went to Princeton University. She’s been in the industry since 1966, but it was her role in the film ‘Pretty Baby’ which got critical acclaim. She also appeared in ‘The Blue Lagoon’ and ‘Endless Love,’ two famous 80s films.
Billie Lourd
Net Worth: $25 million
Wealth Inherited From: Carrie Fisher
This actress is the daughter of Hollywood legend Carrie Fisher, who passed away in 2016. Her father is Bryan Lourd; one of the biggest talent agents in Hollywood. She also happens to be Debbie Reynolds’ granddaughter. Lourd has been on shows such as ‘Scream Queens’ and ‘American Horror Story.’
Jake Gyllenhaal
Net Worth: $65 million
Wealth Inherited From: Stephen Gyllenhaal
The acclaimed actor is the son of Stephen Gyllenhaal, a big Hollywood director. His mother is Naomi Foner; a screenwriter. Jake started acting when he was a child. He was in the 1991 movie ‘City Slickers.’ His first breakthrough role was in ‘October Sky’ and he won an Indie Award for his role in ‘Donnie Darko.’
Scarlett Johansson
Net Worth: $140 million*
Wealth Inherited From: Karsten Olaf Johansson and Melanie Sloan
Hollywood’s biggest starlet got a leg up thanks to her parents: a successful Danish architect and a film producer. Today, Johansson has a long string of hit movies, both big and small. She’s been ‘The Avengers,’ as well as indie films like ‘Ghost World,’ ‘Lost in Translation’ and ‘Under the Skin.’
Nicky Hilton
Net Worth: $20 million
Wealth Inherited From: Hilton Hotels
Paris’ sister Nicky Hilton is a fashion designer and businesswoman. Like her sister, she’s an heiress to the Hilton Hotels fortune. Married to James Rothschild, she’s also inherited the Rothschild fortune. Nicky has a line of handbags called Nicholai, and other lines for eLuxe and Samantha Thavasa.
Chevy Chase
Net Worth: $50 million
Wealth Inherited From: The Crane Company
The famous comedian, writer, and actor’s real first and middle name is Cornelius Crane. His father is Edward Tinsley Chase, a Manhattan book editor and magazine writer. His mother was a concert pianist and heir to The Crane Company as she was adopted by Cornelius Vanderbilt, her stepfather.
Ariana Rockefeller
Net Worth: $2.8 billion
Wealth Inherited From: Standard Oil
An heiress to Standard Oil, she’s also a member of the historic and prominent Rockefeller dynasty. The family dates back to the early 19th century, when they founded Standard Oil and made billions. Ariana had an internship at the United Nations, but she moved on to start her own fashion label.
Lydia Hearst-Shaw
Net Worth: $28 billion
Wealth Inherited From: William Randolph Hearst
Lydia is an heiress, blogger, and model. She’s married to podcaster and comedian Chris Hardwick. Lydia has modeled for Fendi, Chanelle, Nicole Miller, Jeremy Scott, Rebecca Taylor, and others. She also designed her own line of handbags for Puma French 77.
Edward Norton
Net Worth: $80 million
Wealth Inherited From: Edward Mower Norton, Jr.
The acclaimed actor and filmmaker you know from ‘Fight Club’ among other great films, received three Oscar nominations and one Golden Globe. His grandfather founded The Rouse Company (an urban planning business), and Enterprise Community Partners (a real estate company). His father was a well-known federal prosecutor.
Carly Simon
Net Worth: $65 million
Wealth Inherited From: Richard L. Simon
Carly Simon is a singer/songwriter and a children’s book author. She became famous in the 70s with her records. She had 13 Top 40 hits in the U.S. alone. Her father is Richard Simon, who co-founded the book company Simon & Schuster. And he was also a classical pianist. Carly started out as part of a duet, The Simon Sisters, before going solo.
Patty Hearst
Net Worth: $28 billion
Wealth Inherited From: William Randolph Hearst
Patty is the granddaughter of tycoon William Randolph Hearst. She’s an author and actress. Her best-selling memoir is called “Every Secret Thing.” She appeared on numerous TV shows and films, usually cast as a version of herself. She has an award-winning family of dogs who competed (and often won) Kennel Club Dog Shows.
Kyra Sedgwick
Net Worth: $16 million
Wealth Inherited From: Robert Sedgwick
Golden Globe award-winning actress Kyra Sedgwick is one of those familiar faces. But you might not realize that the TV starlet was a born millionaire. She’s the daughter of successful venture capitalist Henry Dwight Sedgwick V. And she’s married to Hollywood star Kevin Bacon.
Victoria Mars
Net Worth: $6.6 billion
Wealth Inherited From: Mars, Inc.
Mars is a 4th-generation heir to the wealthy Mars family. Four generations ago, her relatives started the candy empire Mars, Inc., which has attracted mega- investors, such as Warren Buffett. The company rakes in tens of billions every year. Victoria’s first job was a brand manager for Milky Way, and then became export manager. She owns 8% of Mars, Inc.
Tinsley Mortimer
Net Worth: $28 million
Wealth Inherited From: George Riley Mercer
The heiress, socialite, and reality TV personality also modeled in her day. Her father is George Mercer, an extremely wealthy real estate developer and investor. Her mother Dale? An interior designer. The other lineage in her family is her grandfather, George, who founded the Mercer Rug company back in 1936. Tinsley worked as a beauty assistant for Vogue, and was a beauty ambassador for Christian Dior. She has her own lip gloss: “Tinsley Pink.”
Teresa Heinz Kerry
Net Worth: $750 million
Wealth Inherited From: Heinz Ketchup
Teresa Heinz is a businesswoman and widow of ketchup heir John Heinz. She holds dual citizenship in America and Portugal. Her late husband, John Heinz, passed away, leaving her his wealth and leadership duties. She chairs Heinz’s charities, and donates to social and environmental charities. She founded the charity Second Nature, for sustainability and environmental consciousness at college campuses.
Georgina Bloomberg
Net Worth: $10 million
Heir to: Bloomberg
Georgina is an heiress to the $52-billion Bloomberg fortune. Her father is Michael Bloomberg, New York City’s former mayor and media mogul. The 35-year-old heiress is an elite equestrian, novelist, and passionate animal rights activist who has pursued numerous careers.
Travis Knight
Net Worth: $2.3 billion
Heir to: Nike
The accomplished filmmaker and animator is the son of Nike founder Phil Knight. He was made in charge of a trust that controls 38 million shares of Nike’s stock, according to Portland Business Journal. The Nike brand is the most valuable fashion brand in America. It’s valued at $28 billion.
Ann Walton Kroenke
Net Worth: $6.6 billion
Heir to: Walmart
Ann is the daughter of Walmart co-founder Bud Walton, who inherited half of her father’s stake when he passed away in 1995. Her sister, Nancy, was the other heiress who inherited the other half. The 69-year-old is married to Stan Kroenke, a real estate billionaire.
Lynsi Snyder
Net Worth: $2.9 billion
Heir to: In-N-Out
On her 35th birthday in 2017, the heiress inherited the remaining half of In-N-Out’s shares. This made her one of the youngest female billionaires in America, with a net worth of $2.9 billion. She already inherited the first half on her 30th birthday. Her grandparents opened the popular burger chain in 1948.
Aerin and Jane Lauder
Net Worth: $2.2 billion
Heir to: Estée Lauder
The granddaughter of Estée Lauder, Aerin stands to inherit the fortune from the namesake cosmetics empire. Now she’s the style and image director of the company. He founded luxury lifestyle brand AERIN beauty as well. Her sister Jane Lauder shares the fortune with her, and she’s the global brand director for Clinique.
James Murdoch
Net Worth: $500 million
Heir to: 21st Century Fox and News Corp.
He’s the son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch. James held several positions across the News Corp’s company, such as being CEO of 21st Century Fox. He became a member on Tesla’s board and has a net worth of $500 million.
Alexa Dell
Net Worth: $27 billion
Heir to: Dell Technologies
Alexa Dell, only in her twenties, is the daughter of Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell. She’s engaged to millionaire real-estate investor Harrison Refoua. He reportedly bought her a 12-carat diamond ring that’s worth $3 million.
Megan Ellison
Net Worth: $200 million
Heir to: Oracle
She and her brother, David Ellison, inherited 3 million shares of Netsuite stock and 900,000 shares of Oracle stock from their father Larry Ellison, the founder and CEO of Oracle. He alone has a net worth of $60 billion. And the NetSuite assets alone are worth around $306 million. Megan founded a film production company in 2011, and is also a real estate mogul.
Abigail Johnson
Net Worth: $17.5 billion
Heir to: Fidelity Investments
Abigail Johnson owns stake in her grandfather’s firm Fidelity Investments, which is more than her two siblings. She owns 24.5%, compared to their 5%. Such a stake helped the 57-year-old build such a high net worth of $17.5 billion. She came on as CEO in 2014, taking over for her dad, Edward “Ned” Johnson III.
Peter Brant II
Net Worth: $2 million
Heir to: White Birch Paper
Peter Brant II’s father is Peter Brant Sr., the billionaire chairman and CEO of White Birch Paper. He shares this fortune with his brother Harry and sister Lily. While Peter Jr. is a socialite and a model, he also created a unisex makeup collection for the brand M.A.C. along with his brother.
Ally Hilfiger
Net Worth: $400 million
Heir to: Tommy Hilfiger
Ally Hilfiger is American fashion royalty. Her father is the fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger. Heard of him? Yeah. She was on the MTV reality show ‘Rich Girls,’ but went on to produce a movie and published a book. On what? She based them on her experience with Lyme disease.
Nicole Richie
Net Worth: $10 million
Heir to: Lionel Richie
Nicole’s last name reveals her charmed upbringing. She was the adopted daughter of Lionel Richie. Nicole got famous after her role on the reality series with Paris Hilton, ‘The Simple Life,’ in 2003. Since then, she became an author and fashion designer. Her fashion brand is called House Of Harlow 1960, which has won her much praise, including an award for Entrepreneur of the Year.
Armie Hammer
Net Worth: $16 million
Heir to: Armand Hammer
Armie is named after the famous oil tycoon; his grandfather is Armand Hammer. Armand founded Occidental Petroleum, one of America’s largest energy and gas corporations. He was worth $800 million at the time of his death. Armie became one of America’s richest heirs. But his hard work in Hollywood ensured us that “heir” isn’t his only defining title.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Net Worth: $200 million
Heir to: Gerard Louis-Dreyfus
The Veep and Seinfeld actress is loved by most people. But unbeknownst to many, Julia is an heiress to billions of dollars. Her father was Gerard Louis-Dreyfus, the chairman of a global agriculture company worth $3.4 billion at the time of his death.
Spike Jonze
Net Worth: $50 million
Heir to: Joseph Spiegel
The award-winning Hollywood filmmaker who did ‘Her’ (2013), won three awards and was nominated for another two. His real name is Adam Spiegel, the grandson of Joseph Spiegel, who founded the marketing and catalog company Spiegel, way back in 1865. Thanks to the famous Spiegel catalog, Spike was born into a billion-dollar fortune.
Petra Ecclestone
Net Worth: $400 Million
Heir to: Bernie Ecclestone
Her father is Bernie Ecclestone, the CEO of Formula One racing for four decades. Along with her sister and their mother, Petra will inherit the fortune, which Forbes reports is $3.5 billion as of last year. Petra founded the Petra Ecclestone Foundation, which raises awareness of autism and meningitis.
Douglas Durst
Net Worth: $4.4 Billion
Heir to: Joseph Durst
Douglas is the grandson of the immigrant Joseph Durst, who founded the real estate firm The Durst Organization in 1915. Douglas now is the third generation, which controls a $5.2-billion portfolio, according to Forbes. Douglas joined the family’s business in 1968 and is currently its chairman.