We often hear about ‘nepo babies’ in the entertainment industry – the children of famous people who are trying to launch their own careers using their parents’ fame and connections. However, there’s a growing trend of other relatives seeking the spotlight too.
People in the entertainment industry are now calling siblings of famous actors, musicians, and athletes ‘nepo siblings.’ This is because they’re seen as particularly eager to use their famous siblings’ connections to get ahead – even more so than those already labeled ‘nepo babies.’
As a lifestyle expert, I see a lot of people chasing fame. It’s amazing when natural talent leads to a successful career, but honestly, it’s tough out there. Some folks, despite their best efforts, just don’t quite break through, and sadly, sometimes they’re overshadowed by a more famous brother or sister. It’s even more frustrating when they try to leverage that family connection – or worse, their family’s wealth – to get ahead. It rarely feels authentic, and it’s a difficult path to true fulfillment.
So who is top of the tree – and who is still scrabbling around at the roots?
A-LIST
TOMMY FURY, younger brother of world heavyweight champion boxer Tyson
While not as well-known or rich as his brother, Tyson Fury – a multiple-time heavyweight champion – Tommy Fury has built a solid career for himself. He first gained attention on the reality show Love Island in 2019, where he was initially only identified as ‘Tyson Fury’s brother,’ but he’s since established himself as a successful individual.
Oh my gosh, Tommy on Love Island? He totally stole the show, especially with Molly-Mae! Everyone was obsessed with them – they were *the* couple that season, and he just blew up! I was hooked from day one, honestly. He went from being a relatively unknown boxer to a total star because of their connection, it was amazing to watch!
Following in his brother’s footsteps, he’s had some success as a boxer and has also built a strong presence on social media. This has led to profitable partnerships with brands like Diesel, M&S, and the high-end watchmaker Richard Mille.
At just 26 years old, he’s built a £3 million fortune and gained a large following of five million on Instagram. He’s also the subject of a biography and a documentary on the BBC.
Honestly, it’s amazing to see Tommy getting so much attention, and I think Molly-Mae really helps with that! She’s huge on social media – almost nine million followers on Instagram, which is incredible – and being with someone so popular definitely boosts his profile. It’s wonderful for them and little Bambi, too!
The couple announced their engagement in July 2023, potentially opening the door to profitable deals with magazines and television networks if they decide to sell the rights to their wedding coverage.
Ironically, though, I’m told Tommy only went on Love Island to rejuvenate his boxing career.
According to a source, Tommy Fury’s initial dream was to become a professional boxer. However, when the opportunity arose to appear on Love Island – leveraging the fame of his brother, Tyson Fury – he took it, hoping the show would lead to profitable boxing contracts.
GEMMA STYLES, older sister of superstar singer Harry
Just a moment ago, Gemma Styles was a normal 20-year-old living in Evesham, Worcestershire. Then, seemingly overnight, her younger brother Harry became a global pop sensation after competing on The X Factor.
Gemma could easily have used his One Direction fame to take a predictable route into reality TV.
I seriously can’t get enough of her! It’s amazing how she totally transformed her career. Instead of, you know, *doing* what she originally trained for – she’s become this incredible voice for mental health. She’s so brave, talking about her own anxiety and depression on her podcast, ‘Good Influence’ – and it’s rightfully won awards! Honestly, it’s no surprise she’s gained over ten million followers on Instagram; she’s just so relatable and inspiring. It’s incredible to think she even has a teaching degree *and* studied medical genetics – she’s a total genius!
Her book about mental health, *Why Am I Like This?*, has been a huge success, selling over a million copies. Plus, after being featured in a *Vogue* photoshoot with the popular singer Harry, 31, she’s gained even more attention and a touch of celebrity sparkle.
SAM THOMPSON, younger brother of reality star-turned-author Louise
People in the television industry are surprised by how successful Sam Thompson has become. He initially joined the cast of *Made in Chelsea* twelve years ago primarily because of his sister, Louise, who was already a star on the show.
Louise, age 35, gained recognition beyond her appearances on reality TV after bravely sharing her difficult birth experience in 2021. She developed life-threatening complications and later suffered from PTSD. Now, she advocates for women who have experienced birth trauma and has also publicly discussed her struggles with ulcerative colitis and living with a stoma.
I still remember when Sam first appeared on Made In Chelsea as Jamie Laing’s assistant – apparently, the show’s producers weren’t sure how to build a story around him at first! It’s incredible to see how far he’s come, though. He actually *sold out* the O2 Arena last week – it’s just amazing!
The show was based on Sam’s popular podcast, Staying Relevant, which he co-hosts with reality TV star Pete Wicks. The podcast playfully examines their attempts to stay famous, and it’s contributed to Sam gaining three million Instagram followers – a million more than his sister has.
After winning I’m A Celebrity… in 2023 and gaining experience as a TV host, he’s become a popular figure. One TV industry source described him as incredibly down-to-earth and surprisingly captivating because of his natural, unpretentious personality.
B-LIST
JOE SUGG, younger brother of YouTube star and author Zoe
He’s surely the only nepo sibling to have started his career as a roof thatcher.
Joe Sugg owes a lot of his success to his older sister, Zoe, who is famous on YouTube as Zoella.
A popular social media personality helped launch her brother’s career, but he truly became a household name when he competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018, reaching the final.
He’s now a popular part of the ‘Strictly’ team, managing the show’s social media, and he and his former dance partner, Dianne Buswell, are expecting their first child.
Zoe, age 35, advised him to pursue a similar career to hers, and he quickly found success on social media, landing sponsorships with major companies like Sky, Coca-Cola, and Google.
According to a source familiar with the situation, Zoe realized she had a great opportunity and needed to act quickly. She encouraged her brother, Joe, to join her, believing he would thrive, and she was proven right – he gained over six million followers almost immediately.
Joe, age 34, is building for the future. He’s started both a talent management firm and a production company.
LOTTIE TOMLINSON, younger sister of One Direction’s Louis
Even though Lottie’s brother is a famous singer in a popular boyband, people who know her emphasize that she’s achieved success through her own efforts.
‘He just got her on the first rung and that’s all she needed,’ my insider reports.
When she was 15, she started working as an assistant to Lou Teasdale, a hair and makeup artist for the band One Direction, thanks to her brother’s connection.
Lottie quickly took advantage of the chance she was given. By networking and connecting with people, she successfully became a beauty influencer.
Lottie, age 27, has become a millionaire through her successful fake tan business and partnerships with various brands. She’s also gained public support for her honest book about dealing with loss, written after her mother passed away from cancer and her sister, Felicite, tragically died at 18 from an accidental overdose.
According to a source, Louis understood how valuable his platform could be for Lottie and consistently used it to support her various beauty projects.
Lottie is currently engaged to Lewis Burton, a retired tennis player who used to date the late television personality Caroline Flack.
The couple, who are parents to two children, are currently renovating a luxury home in Kent.
SAM HOLLAND, younger brother of Spider-Man actor Tom
Okay, so you know Gordon Ramsay – *the* Gordon Ramsay – actually told Sam Holland he was ‘born to cook’? I nearly fainted when I heard! But honestly, Sam’s been pretty upfront about how knowing people in Hollywood has definitely helped him get ahead. It’s not that he’s not talented – he *is* – but those connections? They’ve given him a real boost, you know? I’m still a huge fan, though! It just… adds another layer, that’s all.
Sam, age 26, is very close to his older brother, Tom. He’s also quite open about his famous connections – he recently mentioned his brother’s fiancée, the actress Zendaya, while promoting his cookbook in Tatler magazine. Sam has a large social media following, with 700,000 followers on Instagram.
He shared that he was particularly pleased with the vegetarian options on the menu. Apparently, his friend Tom’s partner, Zendaya, follows a plant-based diet. While Zendaya was filming on location, he kept Tom busy by sending him all the vegetarian recipes, and Tom later told him they were a hit.
FINN COLE, younger brother of Peaky Blinders actor Joe
Oh my gosh, you guys, I’ve been following Joe and Finn Cole forever! Everyone knows them as those incredible Shelby cousins from Peaky Blinders, right? Well, I’ve heard from people who *know* things, and it’s totally confirmed – Joe, who absolutely *killed* it as John Shelby and really became a star thanks to that role, totally helped his younger brother, Finn, get his foot in the door. It makes so much sense, and I’m so glad it happened!
Finn is said to have spent months ‘nagging’ Joe to get him in front of the show’s bosses.
According to a source close to the show, Joe initially wanted his brother, Finn, to succeed on his own merits. However, he eventually agreed to help Finn audition for the part of Michael, Helen McCrory’s son. It’s unclear whether show executives cast Finn because of his connection to Joe.
Finn is now rumoured to be dating Hollywood star Florence Pugh.
D-LIST
RINA LIPA, younger sister of pop star Dua
Having trained at the Sylvia Young theatre school, Rina Lipa, Dua Lipa’s sister, clearly shares her sibling’s love of music.
But the 24-year-old is also very comfortably piggybacking on her far more successful sibling.
Growing up, I always looked up to Rina’s sister – she was my idol, honestly. And it’s clear her sister has had an easier time breaking into the spotlight than Rina did, which I always felt was a little unfair.
Dua Lipa, the singer of “One Kiss,” is now 30 years old, but she worked hard for years to achieve success. She started by posting singing videos on YouTube, and in 2015, Warner Music discovered and signed her.
Rina, often called a rising star of Gen Z, made her debut at Milan Fashion Week in 2021 and has since modeled for major brands like Miu Miu and Versace.
As one friend in Rina’s circle told me: ‘She’s absolutely dining out on her sister’s fame.’
ZOE RAE, older sister of social media influencer Molly-Mae
Molly-Mae’s older sister has been trying to become an influencer, following Molly-Mae’s rise to fame on the reality show Love Island.
Zoe Rae, age 29, is working to build her own online presence, but it’s been challenging because her younger sister is already very successful with sponsorships and social media. Zoe, a veteran of the Army’s medical corps, is focusing on creating content about healthy living and family life to stand out.
However, this approach hasn’t always worked well. For example, she once posted a TikTok video – to her 151,000 followers (she has 2.4 million on TikTok and 9 million on Instagram) – complaining that Bali wasn’t what she’d hoped for during her vacation.
It was ironic that, despite earning money by creating online content, she was disappointed that Bali didn’t live up to the images she’d seen on social media.
She quickly left the popular vacation spot after only two days, heading to Dubai. In a video, she said she wanted to be in a place she knew and loved, where she could relax and drink the water, but these comments caused a lot of criticism.
I’m told Zoe ‘loves being an influencer but struggles at times with all the trolls’.
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2025-09-28 03:53