Gen Z "born with a silver spoon" and the trend of showing off wealth on TikTok

While the world once celebrated “quiet luxury” and “stealth wealth,” a new generation is bucking the trend. Gen Z “nepo babies” are openly “showing off their parents” on TikTok like a badge of honor.

The “Holy Airball” Trend: When Flaunting Lineage Becomes a Trend

“Holy Airball” - this hot trend - is roughly understood as “overshoot”, borrowing the basketball term for a shot that doesn’t touch the basket, but on TikTok, it’s a sarcastic twist moment: “Oh, who do you think I am, I’m that person’s son!”

One standout video comes from Ava Phillippe, daughter of Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon. In the clip, Ava says, “I told the guy my mom was a lawyer, and he said, ‘What law firm do you work for?’” The video then cuts to a behind-the-scenes photo of Ava and her daughter on the set of Legally Blonde , where Witherspoon plays a… lawyer.

The video reached over 2 million views in a few days, and Ava is just part of the “nepo baby” wave that is flooding TikTok.

From the children of director Martin Scorsese, rapper Akon to the daughter of the founder of Airbnb or the famous candle designer of Anthropologie, all are present, creating an extremely vibrant "parent-showing universe".

Among them are Sarah Zildjian, heiress to the famous drum brand Zildjian, and Ava Dash, daughter of the producer of the reality TV show "My Super Sweet 16".

Interestingly, many “nepo babies” exhibit humor and self-awareness, not only bragging but also playing with stereotypes – which leaves viewers feeling both shocked and amused.

Gen Z born with a silver spoon in their mouth and the trend of showing off wealth on TikTok - 1

In an era where billionaires are increasingly showing off, their children are no less impressive with “Holy Airball” - the latest trend that is causing a stir on TikTok (Photo: Getty).

The fake glory and the shock of "empty-handed" inheritance generation

The trend of showing off famous parents is causing TikTok to explode, but it also brings with it a lot of tricks. When anyone can go online and declare “my family owns an empire,” it is inevitable that there will be a mix of truth and lies.

Some TikTokers claim to be heirs to famous brands like Abercrombie, Buc-ee's, Folgers, and even... McDonald's. Two accounts named Greyson and Gracie Abercrombie claim to be descendants of the founder of the fashion brand Abercrombie - despite the fact that he sold the company in 1907. Another girl named Abigail McDonald even joked: "My family owns the McDonald's chain!"

Borrowing the name of a celebrity to “attract views” makes the “Holy Airball” trend both humorous and controversial. But whether it is real or staged, aura or a joke, it all reflects one reality: never before has Gen Z’s wealth (and even “pretending to be rich”) been so blatant in showing off their wealth.

However, behind the flashy videos, another "airball" awaits many nepo babies, which is the uncertain possibility of inheriting assets.

While analysts expect Gen Z to be the generation that inherits a huge fortune, with an estimated $84 trillion to be transferred over the next few decades, the reality is less rosy. Many wealthy parents are quietly planning to... leave nothing behind.

According to a survey by financial firm Northwestern Mutual, 60% of wealthy people have written wills, but the most common content is not the division of assets, but funeral instructions. In fact, more than half of the baby boomer generation in the US has no intention of leaving an inheritance. Only about 20% confirmed that they will leave assets to their children and grandchildren.

A philosophy that is spreading among the super-rich is “Die with Zero” – living life to the fullest, spending all your money. Singer Sting once declared that he would “spend away” hundreds of millions of dollars instead of leaving it to his six children. Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is adamant that he will not inherit his assets but will only support his children with a deposit to buy a house, similar to the way many middle-class families today apply.

Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs, also said bluntly: she will not pass on billions of dollars to her three children, even though Steve Jobs was estimated to have a net worth of about $7 billion when he died. “If I live long enough, I will spend it all. This fortune will end with me,” she shared.

Warning for Gen Z "born with a silver spoon"

The “Holy Airball” trend reflects a generation of Gen Z who confidently show off their roots, but also unintentionally shows the gap between family reputation and actual property ownership.

Are today’s “nepo babies” living in a bubble of illusion? When the parents’ generation is determined to “die of all their money”, is showing off their fame still meaningful?

However, it must be said that many “rich kids” of Gen Z are using their family brand to build their personal image, monetize their content, and create their own careers – not a bad direction in the digital age.

While millennials once admired the “rich in secret” lifestyle, Gen Z wants to own their story, express their personality, and use their background as a competitive advantage. They are not hiding behind ivory doors, but taking their family’s reputation to TikTok.

Is this arrogance, or the courage of the generation that grew up with social media?

One thing is for sure, if the world was once crazy about “stealth wealth”, TikTok is now leading the new wave: “Proudly privileged and unapologetically loud”.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/gen-z-ngam-thia-vang-va-trao-luu-khoe-cua-ran-ran-tren-tiktok-20250602164843778.htm