Celebrity Children Who Surpassed Their Parents’ Fame in 2026 — Ranked
As 2026 continues, entertainment fans will notice a growing number of celebrity kids who are now eclipsing their famous parents in popularity and influence. Whether it’s through high-profile acting roles, modeling contracts, or fashion deals, these second-generation stars are building their own fanbases and cultural footprints. And they’re often outpacing the fame that launched their families in the first place. Here are the top five celebrities this year who have surpassed their parents.
Dakota Johnson is the No. 1 celebrity who has surpassed their parents’ fame in 2026
Celebrity kids are now outpacing the fame of their famous parents. Women’s fashion brand Kaiia compared famous children to their Hollywood parents through Google Trends data from 2021 through early 2026. The study checked the data weekly to see whether internet users searched more for the famous parent or the child, and then used the data for rankings. Additionally, the data looked at net worth, social media followers, and awards, though these factors didn’t affect the rankings.
According to Kaiia, Dakota Johnson is the No. 1 celebrity child who has now surpassed her parents’ fame. Dakota grew up surrounded by Hollywood royalty. Her mother is Melanie Griffith, and her father is Don Johnson, both major film stars in the ’80s and ’90s. Her grandmother is the legendary actress Tippi Hedren. With that kind of lineage, she spent her childhood on sets and at award shows, gaining an early understanding of filmmaking. Still, she didn’t become famous simply by proximity. Dakota launched her own career with small modeling gigs and supporting roles before breaking out as Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey (2015).
According to the study, Dakota has over 7 million more social media followers than Melanie and Don together. Over the past five years, people have consistently searched for her more than her parents.
Miley Cyrus makes more money than her famous father and has more visibility
Miley Cyrus ranked No. 2 on the Kaiia study.
Miley Cyrus was born into a family already well known in music and entertainment. Her father is country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, who became a ’90s crossover star with “Achy Breaky Heart.” And her mother, Tish Cyrus, has long worked as a manager and producer in Hollywood.
Growing up around studios, writing rooms, and rehearsals, Miley developed performance chops early and even appeared in small acting roles as a kid. Her big break came at age 13 when she was cast as the lead in Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana. After closing the Disney chapter, Miley reinvented herself as a full-fledged recording artist.
People have searched for Miley over Billy Ray every week for nearly five years. She also has over 200 million more followers.
Gigi Hadid reaches a wider audience than her famous mother, giving her the No. 3 spot
Gigi Hadid takes No. 3 in the study, outranking her famous mom, Yolanda Hadid.
Gigi grew up surrounded by cameras and creativity thanks to her high-profile family. Her mother, Yolanda, was a successful model and later a star on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Her father, Mohamed Hadid, is a luxury real estate developer known for building lavish estates in Los Angeles. With that kind of visibility, Gigi started modeling as a child for brands like Guess. But her career didn’t fully take off until she moved to New York and signed with IMG Models in 2013.
According to the study from Kaiia, people have searched for Gigi more often than Yolanda each week for five years. She also has over 70 million more Instagram followers than her famous mom and has won major modeling awards.
“People assume celebrity children have everything handed to them, but they’re actually dealing with huge pressure,” the Kaiia spokesperson wrote. “When you step into the same industry your parents worked in, everyone’s watching to see if you measure up. This gets even harder in fashion, where the standards are tough, and people judge everything you do. So I especially appreciate what Gigi Hadid did in the industry. Building a bigger following and winning more awards than her mother, Yolanda, speaks volumes about her talent and determination.”
Honorably mentioned celebrity children: Hailey Bieber and Bill Skarsgård
Hailey Bieber grew up in one of Hollywood’s most recognizable acting dynasties — the Baldwin family. Her father, Stephen Baldwin, starred in films like The Usual Suspects. Her uncles, Alec, William, and Daniel Baldwin, increased the family’s visibility on screen and in tabloids throughout the ’90s and 2000s. Though Hailey initially stayed out of acting, she found her lane in fashion and pop culture, signing with Ford Models as a teen and booking early campaigns with Topshop and Guess. She later made high-profile runway appearances for brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Moschino. And her fame escalated with her marriage to Justin Bieber.
As for Bill Skarsgård, he was born into Sweden’s renowned Skarsgård acting dynasty. He began his career following in the footsteps of his father, Stellan Skarsgård, and siblings, Alexander and Gustaf. While the family name opened doors, Bill carved his own path with a combination of striking screen presence and a knack for complex, often dark characters.
In 2026, Hailey has over 55 million more followers than her famous father. And fans searched for Bill’s name over Stellan’s nearly every week since 2021.
