10 Famous Celebrities Who Grew Up Rich

Hollywood is a treasure trove of success stories. It is filled with people who have established a name for themselves in one of the world’s most competitive industries. Most fans are no strangers to stories of actors and other personalities who went through grueling years of taking on two or more jobs, just to get by until they land their next acting gig. famous celebrities

However, Tinseltown is not all about these rags to riches stories. There are actually Hollywood celebrities who were born with the proverbial silver spoon in their mouths. Not only were they doing just fine wealth-wise before their careers took off, they would still have been rich even if they totally flopped and did not gain the recognition they are now enjoying. Below is our list of celebrities who already had riches to their name before they even became famous:

10.) Adam Levine

This Los Angeles native is known as the front man of the pop rock band Maroon 5. Aside from being a musician, this versatile A-list celeb is also known for his work as one of the main judges on NBC’s hit reality show The Voice. Levine has also shown his acting chops for his role in the television horror show American Horror Story: Asylum in 2012 and most recently in the film Begin Again, where he starred opposite Keira Knightley. And, aside from being an accomplished artist, he is also the husband of Victoria’s Secret Angel model Behati Prinsloo. Known only to those who grew up with the Maroon 5 lead singer and who remembered him as a high school nerd, Levine actually comes from a well-to-do family. His father, Fred Levine, is the founder of a large men and women’s fashion retail chain called M. Frederic. This famous retail line even features clothing lines from such brands as Billabong, Oakley and P.J. It also has a special collection dedicated to the Maroon 5 singer called famous celebrities Adam Levine.

9.) Dakota Johnson

Here is one Hollywood star whose acting prowess can greatly be attributed to having two veteran Hollywood actors as parents. Long before her success in the film, Fifty Shades of Grey, famous celebrities actress Dakota Johnson was known around the world as the daughter of actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. However, having famous parents did not stop this beauty from pursuing a career out of their shadow. Dakota started out as a model before she scored minor roles in films like The Social Network (2010), Beastly (2011), and 21 Jump Street (2012). Her career took off after bagging the coveted role of Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey, which is the big screen adaptation of the bestselling erotica of the same name written by E.L. James.

8.) Armie Hammer

famous Hollywood celebrities Armie Hammer is considered as one of Tinseltown’s rising stars. He gained much recognition after scoring a string of successful roles in such films as The Social Network (2010), J. Edgar (2011) and Mirror, Mirror (2012). He is also known around the world for his role in the 2013 film The Lone Ranger, which he starred alongside Johnny Depp. If his last name sounds familiar, then that is because this Hollywood thespian is the great grandson of American oil magnate Armand Hammer, who owns and runs the famous oil company, Occidental Petroleum.

7.) Psy

South Korean famous celebrities Park Jae Sang rose to fame in 2012 under the name of Psy, following the release of his hit song “Gangnam Style”. Since its release, the song, which was posted on his own YouTube account, has already amassed over two billion views. Psy is also known for his humorous videos and stage performances. However, long before he achieved worldwide success, this South Korean artist was already rich in his own right. His father is the executive chairman of DI Corporation, a company that manufactures semi conductors, while his mother is the owner of several restaurant chains in the Gangnam district.

6.) Ariana Grande

famous celebrities Ariana Grande‘s worldwide popularity is largely due to her vocal prowess. In fact, she is currently dubbed as the ‘Mariah Carey’ of this generation. This pop starlet started out on Broadway, before she transitioned to television, wherein she gained recognition for her role as Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeon sitcom, Victorious, and later in the series, Sam and Cat. Regarded as one of pop music’s rising starlets, she is known for such hit songs as ‘Break Free’, ‘Problem’, and ‘Love Me Harder’. Grande is also the recipient of awards like Breakthrough Artist of the Year by the Music Business Association and Best Pop Video at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. However, only a few people know that this young singer comes from an affluent family. Her father Edward Butera, an accomplished graphic designer, artist, and photographer, is the founder of a very successful company called IBI Designs. This Boca Raton-based organization specializes in such services as photography, advertising, and architectural renderings for very wealthy clients.

5.) Lana Del Rey

Born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, American singer famous celebrities Lana del Rey’s stage name effectively hides her rather wealthy background. Known as one of the most enigmatic figures in the music scene, she is known for hits like ‘Born to Die’ and ‘I Can Fly’. Unknown to many, Lana del Rey’s father is the Grey Group copywriter turned entrepreneur Robert England Grant, Jr., who founded the company Web Media Properties, which is an online media and publishing company that operates a global network of 8,000 specialty web sites and is partners with leading technology companies.

4.) Lady Gaga

New York native Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta is known around the world by her famous celebrities stage name Lady Gaga. This Grammy award-winning singer rose to prominence following the release of her debut album The Fame in 2008. It was later followed by a series of commercially and critically successful hits like ‘Bad Romance’, ‘Telephone’, and ‘Born This Way’. Distinctly recognized for her flamboyant style, this New York artist comes from a very wealthy family and lived most of her pre-fame life in the chic Upper West side of Manhattan. Her father Joseph Anthony Germanotta Jr is an Internet entrepreneur, whose company specializes in installing WiFi in several hotel chains.

3.) Jordin Sparks

famous celebrities Pop singer Jordin Sparks gained worldwide recognition after she won first place in the reality talent show American Idol back in 2007. Since then, this 25-year-old singer has established a promising singing career with hits like ‘No Air’ , ‘Tattoo’, and ‘One Step at a Time’. From recording music, she has also branched out into other ventures like acting on Broadway and designing her own line of fragrances. Her third studio album titled, Right Here, Right Now is scheduled for release in May 2015. She may be an accomplished singer in her own right, but Sparks already had her fair share of being in the limelight before she broke out into the music industry. This is because her father, Philippi Sparks, was a former National Football League player. Her father played for the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys before officially retiring in 2001. Meanwhile, her mother Jodi is also an entrepreneur.

2.) Edward Norton

famous celebrities American actor and producer Edward Norton is recognized as one of Hollywood’s most prominent actors of all time. This Academy Award nominated actor is known for his roles in such films as Primal Fear, American History X and Birdman. Aside from his work in the field of the entertainment, he is also an environmental and social activist. He is currently a member of the board of trustees for Enterprise Community Partners, a non-profit organization for developing affordable housing. The organization was founded by his grandfather James Rouse, who is known as the founder of The Rouse Company, which is widely recognized for building shopping malls and small communities all across the United States.

1.) Ed Sheeran

famous celebrities British singer-songwriter and musician Ed Sheeran gained international acclaim following the release of his of his album “+”, which contained the hit songs the ‘A Team’ and ‘Lego House’. This Grammy award nominee has written songs for such prominent artists as One Direction and Taylor Swift. And, while this extremely gifted artist may be known for his rather humble personality, his beginnings before he gained stardom are anything but. Sheeran has a successful art curator for a father and an influential culture publicist for a mother, who also runs a popular art consultancy back in their hometown. The riches that they grew up into did not stop the celebrities in this list from pursuing a career of their own. Although they were born with the privilege and connection that most celebrities did not have, these artists also underwent the same hardships that ultimately defined them as a prominent figure in the industry.