There are some definitive perks to being a celebrity kid, especially if you're interested in getting into whatever career made your parents famous. In Hollywood, if your mom is a famous actor, then your foot is already in the door. (Whether that connection will keep a celeb kidin the door is another story.) But while there have been plenty of instances of the children of actors and musicians becoming actors and musicians themselves, some children of famous folks become known in another field altogether. And there are quite a few celebrity kids who have become professional athletes.
In some instances, children of athletes have gone on to be sports stars themselves. In others, being well-off financially has allowed a kid to pursue a sport that's expensive, like horseback riding. But some offspring have gone down a completely different path—for instance, the kid of one teen idol who became a pro wrestler known as Jungle Boy. Really! Read on for more.
1 | Jessica Springsteen
Ron Adar / Shutterstock.comBruce Springsteen's daughter, Jessica Springsteen, is an Olympic-level equestrian. The 29-year-old won a silver medal at this year's Tokyo Olympics in the team jumping event. She was also an alternate at the 2012 London Olympics, and has taken part in many other competitions.
RELATED: 25 Celebrity Kids Who Look Just Like Their Parents.
2 | Simone Johnson
Debby Wong / Shutterstock.comDwayne "The Rock" Johnson's 20-year-old daughter, Simone Johnson, is following in his wrestling footsteps. She is currently training at the WWE Performance Center in order to become a WWE Superstar. And her father isn't the only family member she's taking after...
3 & 4 | Dwayne Johnson and Ata Johnson
Tsuni-USA / Shutterstock.comThe Rock himself is also a celebrity kid of a wrestler, as is his mother, Ata Johnson. That's right: Simone is a fourth generation wrestler. Dwayne's father, Rocky Johnson, was a successful pro wrestler, and his maternal grandfather, Peter Maivia, was too.
5 | Liam Stewart
Michael Cooper/Getty ImagesRod Stewart's son is a professional ice hockey player. Twenty-six-year-old Liam Stewart has played for various hockey teams, including two U.S. junior hockey teams, and later the Coventry Blaze and Guilford Flames in the UK's Elite Ice Hockey League. He also played for Great Britain's nation team in an International Ice Hockey Federation world championship.
6 | Trinity Rodman
Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty ImagesDennis Rodman is one of the biggest (and most recognizable) basketball stars of all time, but his athlete daughter went with a different sport. Trinity Rodman is a soccer player for the Washington Spirit. The 19-year-old made sports history in two ways earlier this year. First, at 18 years old, she became the youngest person ever drafted to the National Women's Soccer League. Second, she became the youngest American to score a goal in the league's history when she scored during her first game with the Spirit.
7 | Hannah Selleck
Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for The Stronach GroupHannah Selleck is the equestrian daughter of actor Tom Selleck. According to Palm Beach Illustrated, she qualified for grand prix level competition and has won "a stack of international medals." Hannah also founded Descanso Farm, "a boutique breeding and training operation," according to its website.
8 | Eric Norris
Gavin Lawrence/Getty ImagesChuck Norris's son, Eric Norris, is a former NASCAR driver. He won the Winston West Series Championship in 2002. In addition to being a race car driver, Eric is a stuntperson and stunt coordinator and has worked on his father's projects, including Walker, Texas Ranger. The 57-year-old has also worked on The Town, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Sons of Anarchy, for which he was nominated for an Emmy.
9 | John David Washington
Allen Berezovsky/Getty ImagesDenzel Washington's son, John David Washington, did eventually follow in his footsteps as an actor, but he was a professional football player first. Before starring in movies like Tenet, Malcolm & Marie, and BlacKkKlansman, he was signed to the St.Louis Rams practice squad, and then played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions as part of the United Football League for three years.
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10 | Jack Perry
lev radin / Shutterstock.comLuke Perry was a teen idol thanks to his role on Beverly Hills, 90210, but his son is entertaining crowds in another way. Jack Perryis a pro wrestler, who goes by the name Jungle Boy. The 24-year-old has been signed with All Elite Wrestling since 2019. Prior to his 2019 death, Luke was supportive of his son's career and was spotted at one of his tournaments.
11 & 12 | Steph and Seth Curry
Jeff Hahne/Getty ImagesBasketball players and brothers Steph and Seth Curry entered the same career as their father. Their dad is Dell Curry, who was in the NBA for 16 years, spending much of his career with the Charlotte Hornets. Now, Steph is known for playing for the Golden State Warriors while Seth plays for the Philadelphia 76ers.
13 & 14 | Peyton and Eli Manning
Jason Merritt/Getty Images For DirecTVMuch like the Currys, retired football players Peyton and Eli Manning took after their dad, Archie Manning. Eli played for 16 seasons as quarterback for the New York Giants, and Peyton played 18 seasons, first with the Indianapolis Colts and then with the Denver Broncos. As for Archie, he was also a quarterback, spending most of his 13-season career with the New Orleans Saints.
15 | Zara Tindall
Karwai Tang/WireImage via Getty ImagesZara Tindall is the daughter of Anne, Princess Royal, the second child of Queen Elizabeth. Tindall is an equestrian, who won the silver medal in the team event at the 2012 London Olympics. She has also won gold and silver medals at various world and European championships.
16 | Princess Anne
ANDREW MILLIGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesPrincess Anne—a celebrity kid herself as the daughter of the queen—also had a successful career as an equestrian. Anne won the gold medal in individual eventing at the European Eventing Championships in 1971, and went on to win two silver medals at the 1975 championships. She was also part of the British equestrian team at the 1976 Montréal Olympics.
17 | Luke Murray
Mitchell Layton/Getty ImagesUnlike some of the others listed here, Luke Murray isn't an athlete himself, but he is involved in sports professionally. Bill Murray's second eldest son is a college basketball coach and recruiter. Earlier this year, he joined the University of Connecticut as an assistant coach, and in 2020, the now-36-year-old was ranked No. 10 by ESPN on the list of the top men's college basketball coaches under 40.
18 | Laila Ali
Johnny Nunez/WireImage via Getty ImagesLaila Ali became a boxer just like her father Muhammad Ali. One of the iconic boxer's nine children, Laila is one of the top women boxers of all time and never lost a fight during her professional career. She retired undefeated in 2007.
19 | Annie Guest
Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.comAnnie Guest is the daughter of actor Jamie Lee Curtis and director/actor Christopher Guest. She's not a wrestler or basketball player, but shows her athleticism through being a profession dance instructor. She was previously involved with MNR Dance Factory and, according to their site, has a BA in Dance from Kenyon College.
