Nepo Babies by Fran Hoepfner

There was a time when nobody really cared if the kid of a famous actor, musician, or comedian followed the family business. If your father owned a bakery, chances are you ended up making bread. If your mother worked at the family diner, you probably learned how to carry plates before you learned algebra. In entertainment, it was not much different. The kids of stars simply drifted into movies, music, television, or comedy because that was the world around them. Nobody spent hours online debating it. Nobody used the phrase “nepo baby.”

Today, the term is everywhere. Social media has turned celebrity family trees into detective work, with audiences connecting dots between famous last names and industry opportunities. Suddenly, everyone is talking about who got a foot in the door because of their parents.

The term “nepotism” dates back to the 17th century, originating from the Italian nepotismo and the Latin nepos, meaning “nephew,” and was used to describe the practice of popes granting power and privileges to their relatives. The modern phrase “nepotism baby” began appearing on social media in the 2010s, and by around 2020, it was shortened to the sharper, more critical “nepo baby” by online commentators.

The term surged into mainstream attention in 2022, going viral on platforms like Twitter and TikTok, particularly after discussions about actress Maude Apatow, daughter of Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, highlighted the concept. Its popularity was solidified later that year when New York magazine published a widely debated feature on the rise of “nepo babies” in Hollywood, sparking broader conversations about privilege, access, and merit in the entertainment industry.

Examples are all over Hollywood. Zoë Kravitz built a career in film and television while growing up surrounded by music and acting royalty. Lily-Rose Depp stepped into modeling and acting with the world already watching. Ben Platt became a Broadway and film star, while Dakota Johnson carried on a Hollywood family tradition. Then there is Drew Barrymore, whose family roots in entertainment stretch back generations. Barrymore herself has acknowledged the privilege that came with her name while also pointing out that longevity still takes talent and hard work.

Truthfully, nepo babies are nothing new. We simply never paid attention before. Early examples go back decades. Charlie Chaplin had children and grandchildren who entered entertainment. Henry Fonda created a dynasty that included Jane Fonda and Peter Fonda. Hollywood has always operated a bit like a family business, only with better lighting and larger paychecks.

That fascination with celebrity bloodlines is exactly what fuels the fun behind the book The Field Guide to Nepo Babies by Fran Hoepfner. Written with humor and pop culture obsession in mind, the book takes readers on a playful tour through the world of famous offspring. It highlights everyone from Hollywood stars to political families and even jokes about historical figures, proving that the idea of inherited fame goes back much further than Instagram.

What makes the book entertaining is that it never takes itself too seriously. It mixes trivia, quizzes, and family connections into something that feels less like a lecture and more like a late-night conversation with friends arguing over celebrity genealogy. One minute you are reading about actors and musicians, the next you are connecting dots between politicians, influencers, and reality television empires like the Kardashian-Jenner family.

Hoepfner herself comes from the fast-moving world of pop culture journalism. A former stand-up comedian from Chicago now based in New York City, she works as a senior news writer at Vulture and has written for outlets including The Onion, The New York Times, GQ, and The Guardian. Her background in comedy gives the book its sharp observational humor, while her deep knowledge of celebrity culture makes it clear she understands exactly why people are fascinated by this topic.

At the end of the day, audiences probably do not mind nepo babies as much as the internet pretends to. People have always loved dynasties. Sports have them. Politics has them. Music and movies definitely have them. The real difference today is that social media has turned celebrity family trees into a spectator sport.