6 star kids who struggled despite having wealthy parents: From Dakota Johnson to David Banda

6 famous kids who were financially cut off despite having affluent parents

While Hollywood is rife with "nepo babies," some famous children have made their own way in the world without the financial support of their affluent parents. David Banda, the son of Madonna, made headlines recently when he made a joke about not being able to buy food after moving out of his mother's opulent Upper East Side apartment. However, Banda is not the first celebrity child who has struggled even with extraordinarily famous and wealthy parents.

1. David Banda

During an Instagram Live session, Madonna’s son David Banda raised eyebrows when he quipped that he is living a lowly life on his own in The Bronx, providing guitar lessons and "scavenging" for food since he was not "having enough money." Banda later clarified his comment by saying, "To all of those concerned. My mother is very supportive of me. She has always been supportive of me. I am very happy in my life and I am not living on the streets, starving! Please stop worrying everything is good."

2. Gwyneth Paltrow

In a 2016 Glamour interview, Gwyneth Paltrow explained her past financial situation by revealing that her parents, filmmaker Bruce Paltrow and actress Blythe Danner, informed her at a young age that she was on her own, per Us Weekly. She told the outlet, "People think, 'She’s just a rich kid'. Until I was 18, I was. Then I was broke. I’ve never taken a dime off my parents. I’m completely self-made." Paltrow remarked to HARDtalk in 2016: "[My dad, Bruce Paltrow] said, 'You are completely on your own'. So he never gave me anything."

3. Dakota Johnson

When Dakota Johnson chose to pursue acting over college, her father, Don Johnson, financially severed their relationship. In a February 2024 appearance on 'Today', Dakota stated, "I did some little modeling jobs that helped me pay my rent. And then I started auditioning and got some jobs." She did, however, seek support from her mother Melanie Griffith throughout difficult times. "I definitely had moments where I couldn’t afford groceries and things like that and needed to ask my mom to help me. She was the nice one," Dakota added.

4. Tori Spelling

Tori Spelling inherited only $800,000, or 0.16% of her father Aaron Spelling's alleged $500 million fortune when he died in 2006. In an interview with Tori and Lisa Vanderpump for 'Overserved With Lisa Vanderpump' in 2021, Jeff Lewis stated, "So her father was worth hundreds of millions of dollars, she inherited $800,000." Tori said, "I think I always would have had that drive, I’m built like my dad," in response to Vanderpump's assertion that she wouldn't be as "kind, compassionate and hardworking" if she had inherited more money.

5. Sachi Parker

Shirley MacLaine's daughter Sachi Parker claimed that her parents unexpectedly cut her off when she graduated from high school at the age of 17. She was unable to pay for college as a result. Sachi stated to the Hartford Courant in 2013, "She doesn’t see the importance of it because she didn’t go [to college]. Neither did my father."

6. Christina Crawford

Christina Crawford and her brother Christopher were left out of their mother Joan Crawford's estate when she died in 1977. Christina allegedly stated in the book 'Mommy Dearest' at the time that it was "for reasons which are well known to them." However, Christina refuted claims in 2008 that her mother took the action as revenge for Christina penning her candid memoir, 'Mommy Dearest'.