- “The White Lotus” star Patrick Schwarzenegger says he sometimes wishes he didn’t have a famous last name.
- He says people who criticize him for being a nepo baby don’t see the work he puts into his career.
- But nepotism isn’t only in Hollywood; the business and tech worlds have their fair share of nepo babies, too.
Patrick Schwarzenegger, 31, says a famous last name like his can sometimes be a burden — especially since he’s also trying to break into Hollywood.
In an interview with The Times published on Sunday,”The White Lotus” star pushed back against nepotism claims from people who say that he only landed the role on the award-winning HBO show because of his familial ties.
“I know there are people who’ll say I only got this role because of who my dad is,” Schwarzenegger told The Times. “They’re not seeing that I’ve had 10 years of acting classes, put on school plays every week, worked on my characters for hours on end or the hundreds of rejected auditions I’ve been on.”
Schwarzenegger is the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger, a bodybuilder, actor, and former governor of California, and Maria Shriver, a journalist and niece of former US President John F. Kennedy.
“Of course, it’s frustrating and you can get boxed in and you think at that moment, I wish I didn’t have my last name. But that’s a small moment. I would never trade my life with anyone,” Schwarzenegger said.
At the end of the day, he is “very fortunate” to have the life and family that he has, including “the lessons and values” that his famous parents have instilled in him.
Nepotism is everywhere
Nepo babies, or “nepotism babies” have been a hot topic since New York Magazine published a story in 2022 about the famous kids of Hollywood celebrities.
Many nepo babies have criticized the label, saying that it diminishes the work that they put into their careers.
In June, Emma Roberts — Julia Robert’s niece — called out the use of the label, saying that people who criticize nepo babies “don’t see all the rejection along the way.”
Some parents of nepo babies have weighed in on the discourse, too.
In 2023, Tom Hanks — whose son was cast to play his younger self in the film “A Man Called Otto” — said it’s no surprise that all four of his kids are in the industry since it’s “the family business.” He added that if he had been in a different field, “the whole family would be putting in time at some point.”
But nepo babies aren’t just in Hollywood; The business and tech worlds have their fair share, too.
All five of LVMH chairman and billionaire Bernard Arnault’s children work at the company and its brands.
Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, the eldest sons of US President Donald Trump, manage the Trump Organization together.
Even regular people who aren’t rich or famous use their connections to gain an advantage in the workplace.
A 2023 survey of 2,000 workers conducted by Applied, a recruitment company, showed that 68% of Gen Z workers have used nepotism to land a job offer.
Career coaches previously told Business Insider that it’s fine to use your network sometimes.
“Using your network and personal connection to learn information and gain introductions is generally seen as acceptable, even sensible. However, using your network to get unfairly hired into a role you may not be deserving of is generally seen as unacceptable,” Hannah Salton, a UK-based career coach and author, said.
Although most reputable companies tend to have fair recruitment processes that don’t allow nepotism, in practice, it’s often hard to ensure impartial hiring always happens, she said.
A representative for Schwarzenegger did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours.
