Like it or not, nepo babies are a big part of our society. They dominate our entertainment industries and often the higher-level positions of large companies. But what are they really, and do they actually live up to the stereotypes? Here's everything to know about the slang term and its rise to internet fame.

What Is a Nepo Baby?

"Nepo baby" has grown in popularity as a slang term throughout 2023 and early 2024, referring to someone who succeeded in life due to nepotism. In particular, actors and pop stars with celebrity parents tend to be described as nepo babies. According to Urban Dictionary user Thalia_Darkley, a nepo baby is defined as:

Nepo Baby: A child born into exceptional fame, wealth, or influence, whose path to success is largely predetermined by their family's considerable resources and connections. Unlike an average person who may inherit a family trade, a Nepo Baby is groomed from birth to dominate global industries, politics, or social spheres.

Some will argue that a nepo baby has to rely on their parents having a very significant influence on their successful careers — for example, the son of a company's CEO getting a high-level job a the same company with no experience. While the definition differs, some don't consider having extremely wealthy parents paying for every expense to be enough to qualify as a nepo baby, even in cases where the child received a small loan of a million dollars.

How Are Nepo Babies Discussed Online?

Nepo babies don't have a great reputation online. They're often viewed as worse at their professions than their peers, and coasting by due to the influence of their family legacy, though this is often an incorrect stereotype.

There's also a copypasta going around, which goes, "Wait I just found out that the person who plays X is a nepotism baby omg 😭 her mom is X and her dad is X lol." There are both very literal and very ironic versions of this copypasta floating around on the site that once was Twitter, with the copypasta gaining notoriety in 2022.

Who Are Some Famous Nepo Babies?

Pretty much anyone who was born rich will be considered a nepo baby by some, but there are people who will debate this label being used on their favorite celebrities. The entertainment industries are full of nepo babies, who often follow in their parents' footsteps. Celebrities like the younger Kardashians and Blue Ivy Carter might qualify as nepo babies.

In politics and other spheres, some examples might include Jeb Bush, Donald Trump, Elon Musk or any member of the British Royal Family like the late Queen Elizabeth II.

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To learn more about nepo babies, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.