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10 Celebrities who Inherited their Fortunes- Number 8 May Surprise You

These 10 Celebs Built Empires... Along with Scoring Massive Inheritances


While talent, hard work, and dedication are often the stepping stones to fame and fortune, some celebrities were born into wealth and privilege thanks to the substantial inheritances they received. However, you don’t have to have an enormous fortune or be a celebrity to give your loved ones a leg up.  At GetDynasty you can make a will or trust for free– and it’s simple. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at 10 famous individuals who inherited vast fortunes, including the estimated amounts of their inheritances.

  1. Anderson Cooper – Estimated Inheritance: $200 million. The renowned CNN anchor and journalist, Anderson Cooper, hails from the Vanderbilt family, one of America’s wealthiest and most prominent families. His inheritance primarily came from his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, a famous fashion designer and heiress to the Vanderbilt railroad fortune.

  2. Paris Hilton – Estimated Inheritance: $100 million. Socialite and reality TV star Paris Hilton inherited a significant fortune from her grandfather, Barron Hilton. The Hilton hotel chain magnate left a substantial portion of his wealth to his family, ensuring that Paris would live a life of luxury.

  3. Ivanka Trump – Estimated Inheritance: $300 million. Ivanka Trump, the daughter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, was born into the Trump family fortune. Her father, a real estate mogul and reality TV star, passed on a substantial amount of wealth to his children.

  4. Nicole Richie – Estimated Inheritance: $10 million. Nicole Richie, known for her role on “The Simple Life” reality TV series, is the adopted daughter of musician Lionel Richie. She inherited a portion of his wealth, although it is considerably less than some of the other celebrities on this list.

  5. Giada De Laurentiis – Estimated Inheritance: $20 million. Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis is part of the De Laurentiis family, known for their contributions to the film industry. She inherited a significant sum from her family’s wealth, which has helped her establish a successful career in the culinary world.

  6. Tori Spelling – Estimated Inheritance: $800,000. While Tori Spelling, known for her role on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” did inherit a portion of her father Aaron Spelling’s estate, her inheritance was considerably smaller than expected, given her father’s status as a legendary television producer.

  7. Brooke Shields – Estimated Inheritance: $22 million. Actress and model Brooke Shields received a generous inheritance from her late father, Francis Alexander Shields, a businessman and executive at Revlon. Her inheritance has allowed her to enjoy financial security throughout her career.

  8. Nicole Kidman – Estimated Inheritance: $60 million. Nicole Kidman, an Academy Award-winning actress, inherited a substantial amount from her family’s wealth in Australia. Her inheritance, combined with her successful acting career, has made her one of Hollywood’s wealthiest stars.

  9. Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Estimated Inheritance: $3 billion. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, known for her roles in “Seinfeld” and “Veep,” hails from the Louis-Dreyfus family, who are billionaires thanks to their ownership of the Louis Dreyfus Group, a global commodities and shipping conglomerate.

  10. Anderson Cooper – Estimated Inheritance: $200 million. The renowned CNN anchor and journalist, Anderson Cooper, hails from the Vanderbilt family, one of America’s wealthiest and most prominent families. His inheritance primarily came from his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, a famous fashion designer and heiress to the Vanderbilt railroad fortune.

These 10 celebrities not only inherited substantial fortunes but also managed to carve out their own paths in the world of entertainment, business, and beyond. While their inheritances undoubtedly provided them with a financial safety net, their individual talents and hard work have played pivotal roles in their successful careers and ongoing fame. At GetDynasty you can make your own safety net for your loved ones– start now for free.

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What is a Trust?

A Living Trust is a financial tool that lets you plan, organize, and protect your life. It’s a personal entity that allows you to add assets and plan out your inheritance. Eliminating legal battles, cost, and time spent by your loved ones. 

Think of it like a personal LLC that you put everything you own in. Except it doesn’t protect you from liability like an LLC does, it protects you from probate and conservatorship. 

Probate is the complicated court process (12-18 months) where a judge decides what happens to your assets after you die, become incapacitated, or are “deemed” incapable. Creating a living trust allows your assets to completely circumvent probate and immediately transfer to your loved ones. 

In addition to being able to name heirs (your beneficiaries), a Trust also allows you to assign someone to manage it (your successor trustee). Instead of going through probate, your Successor Trustee takes control of the Trust, handles your affairs, and distributes your assets according to your instructions. The person you select as Successor Trustee should be your most trusted person. Like a best friend or closest family member.

At Dynasty, we believe everyone should have a Living Trust. If you have children, assets, or plan to acquire assets in the future, you should create a Trust. That way when you buy your next home, open a bank or brokerage account, get startup shares, etc. – you can immediately title them in your trust.