nepo babies
Inherited career advantages
Nepo babies are people whose careers benefit from having famous or powerful parents—short for nepotism babies.
The term gained currency in the 2020s, especially for children of celebrities who enter entertainment: Half the young actors in Hollywood are nepo babies.
It carries a dismissive edge, implying unearned success.
Symbol of inherited wealth
- eliteSuperior select group
- wealthAbundance of valuable resources
- affluenceAbundance of money
- trust fundAssets held for another
inheritance · high society · bourgeoisie · upper class · entitlement · advantages · resources · private school
Preferential treatment of some
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
- partialityUnfair favor toward some
insider · connections · networking · gatekeeping · hiring · casting · industry · access
Descent from progenitors
- bloodlineAncestry through generations
- legacyWhat's passed down
- successionFollowing in order
- heirOne who receives legacy
heiress · scion · descendant · offspring · pedigree · ancestry · genealogy · birthright
Not meriting what's given
- unearnedNot rightfully gained
- talentlessHaving no special abilities
- coattailsRear jacket panels
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
backlash · controversy · scrutiny · debate · defensiveness · legitimacy · merit · earned
silver spoon
Symbol of inherited wealth
trust fund · inheritance · high society · bourgeoisie · upper class · entitlement · advantages · resources · private school · Ivy League
favoritism
Preferential treatment of some
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
partiality · insider · connections · networking · gatekeeping · hiring · casting · industry · access · opportunity
lineage
Descent from progenitors
- bloodlineAncestry through generations
- legacyWhat's passed down
- successionFollowing in order
heir · heiress · scion · descendant · offspring · pedigree · ancestry · genealogy · birthright · family name
undeserving
Not meriting what's given
- unearnedNot rightfully gained
- talentlessHaving no special abilities
- coattailsRear jacket panels
resentment · backlash · controversy · scrutiny · debate · defensiveness · legitimacy · merit · earned · self-made
- celebritiesmovie stars, A-lister, pop stars, superstar, celebrity
nepo babiessocial climbers
Those seeking higher status
underdogs · have-nots · strivers · arrivistes · nouveau riche
nepo, baby, babies, nephew, nephews, niece, nieces, nepotism, nepotist