16 Famous Gen Z Celebrities Out There Getting It Done

Generation Z, or Gen Z as they are commonly known, is the term used to describe people born between the mid-1990s and the mid-2010s. This group of individuals represents the up-and-coming stars of today achieving celebrity status before our very eyes as they go from awkward teenagers to superstars. Gen Z celebrities come from all corners of the globe and comprise actors, influencers, musicians, content creators, and everything in between. They are the new breed of celebrities that understand the power of social media and are using it to their advantage to make bank. 

In this article, we aim to take a look at some of the most successful and famous Gen Z celebrities who are out there getting it done. They range from TikTok star Charli D’Amelio and actor Maude Apatow to musician Lil Nas X and influencer Kylie Jenner. 

1. Kylie Jenner

Is there a bigger Gen Z celebrity than Kylie Jenner? A member of the Kardashian clan, Jenner is a social media icon who is the fifth most followed person on Instagram. She parlayed her fame appearing on the reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians into lucrative endorsement deals that led to Kylie Cosmetics, her own super-successful cosmetic company. 

Jenner also teamed up with her sister Kendall for the clothing line Kendall & Kylie, had her own TV series Life of Kylie, and is worth around $900 million. Not bad for someone who is only a quarter of a century old. 

2. Jacob Elordi

Aussie actor Jacob Elordi might be the most hated character on HBO’s Euphoria but he’s killing it in the real world. After getting the acting bug while performing as an extra on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Elordi’s first acting role came in the comedy Swinging Safari. He was then cast in The Kissing Booth, appearing in both sequels, before landing the role of Nate Jacobs in Euphoria, sending his career into the stratosphere. 

3. Charli D’Amelio

When it comes to social media stars it doesn’t get any bigger than Charli D’Amelio. The TikTok creator is one of many Gen Z celebrities using the platform to become a global name. Born in 2004, D’Amelio has amassed over 150 million followers on the platform thanks to her dance videos and engaging content. She has since launched a successful merchandise line and has even appeared in a Super Bowl commercial. She’s not the only D’Amelio to make it in the entertainment world, with younger sister Dixie D’Amelio also a TikTok celebrity who also sings. 

4. Lil Nas X

Before he hit the big time with “Old Time Road,” Lil Nas X, born Montero Lamar Hill, had dropped out of college and was living on his sister’s couch. A purveyor of pop culture, the rapper was already a social media star thanks to his Twitter account where he posted hilarious memes and gained a loyal following. Everything went next level when he decided to give music a crack and dropped “Old Time Road,” a song that spent 19 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. 

Having released his debut album, Montero, in 2021, 

5. Maude Apatow 

The daughter of director Judd Apatow and actress Leslie Mann, nepo baby Maude Apatow is finally stepping out of the shadow of her famous parents. Beginning her career as a child actor in her father’s films Knocked Up, Funny People, and This Is 40, Apatow is now an established star churning out memorable performances on both television and movies. 

Best known for playing Lexi Howard on HBO’s hit teen drama Euphoria, Apatow is a talented thespian who is currently treading the boards in London performing in the most recent adaptation of the classic musical Cabaret. 

6. Olivia Rodrigo

Getting her first taste of fame by starring in the television series Bizaardvark and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Olivia Rodrigo is now a three-time Grammy Award winner. Releasing her debut album, Sour, in 2021, Rodrigo quickly became a hit with young consumers who helped her singles “Drivers License” and “Good 4 U” go to number one on the Billboard 100. 

As well as being famous for her acting and musical talents, Rodrigo is known for her philanthropy and activism and is a big advocate of mental health and women’s rights. 

7. Addison Rae

If you want to get famous these days, TikTok is the way to go. Along with Charli D’Amelio and her sister, Addison Rae is one of the biggest creators using the platform. Rae built up a large following thanks to her iconic dance videos, landing deals with American Eagle, Reebok, Hollister, and L’Oréal to become the highest-earning TikTok celebrity in 2020.

Rae has gone on to release the top ten charting Billboard single, “Obsession,” appear in the Snapchat series Addison Rae Goes Home, and has recently been cast in Eli Roth’s upcoming horror Thanksgiving. 

8. The Kid Laroi

Aussie rapper the Kid Laroi seemingly came out of nowhere in 2021 when he appeared on Justin Bieber’s hit “Stay.” While he is now a chart-topping artist with several number-one singles and a well-received Coachella performance, it hasn’t always been plain sailing for the young muso. 

His parents split when he was a child, forcing his mom to sell drugs to make ends meet as they couch-surfed around Sydney. Laroi began making music as a teen that he uploaded to Soundcloud, catching the attention of Lil Bibby, who signed him to a record deal. The rest is history. 

9. Bella Thorne 

The former Disney star who rose to fame on the series Shake It Up is no longer a little girl. Bella Thorne has transitioned from child actress to singer and now adult movie director. Not one to stay in her lane, Thorne is involved in many different projects and was the first person to make $1 million in 24 hours on OnlyFans. She’s even written a trilogy of young adult novels and done some theater work, which is impressive for a 25-year-old. 

10. Post Malone

Post Malone’s rise from Soundcloud rapper to international superstar is one nobody saw coming. The Syracuse-born, Texas-raised Malone began making music as a teenager before moving to Los Angeles after finishing high school. That’s when he hooked up with several local producers and released “White Iverson,” the song of the summer in 2015. The song brought him to the attention of Republic Records who quickly signed him, leading to the release of his debut album Stoney. 

Since then Malone has become one of the biggest stars in the music industry, with his hybrid of rap, rock, and pop appealing to a broad fanbase. With four albums to his name, four Billboard 100 number ones, and over 80 million records sold, Posty is a Generation X megastar that young people can’t get enough of. 

11. Jenna Ortega 

Jenna Ortega can thank her mom for her career in the movie business. As a youngster, her mom thought it would be a laugh to upload a video of a then nine-year-old Ortega performing a monologue on Facebook. A casting agent got in contact and Ortega began auditioning for roles. She had small cameos in several movies before getting her big break in Jane the Virgin and Disney’s Stuck in the Middle. 

Ortega is now carving out a fantastic career at the age of 20, having starred in the horror movies Scream, Scream IV, and X, as well as the hit Netflix series Wednesday. 

12. Sydney Sweeny

Another Gen Xer who got her big break on Euphoria is blonde bombshell, Sydney Sweeny. A sports-obsessed teen, Sweeny set her sites on becoming an actor, presenting her parents with a five-year business plan to prove how serious she was. Moving to Los Angeles at 14, Sweeny got small roles in several movies and TV shows before her big break came after being cast in Quinten Tarantion’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and the aforementioned Euphoria. 

Sweeny is now one of the most in-demand actresses in the industry whose roles in Euphoria and The White Lotus have seen her nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards. We have no doubt an award is in her near future. 

13. Billie Eilish

Is there a bigger pop star on planet Earth than Billie Eilish? Maybe, but we think the LA artist is completely running the game right now. Alongside her brother Finneas O’Connell, Eilish has dominated the Billboard 100 for the past six years since the release of her debut single “Ocean Eyes.” 

Her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, arrived in 2019, spawning eight singles and winning the then 19-year-old three Grammy Awards. What makes her such a well-rounded performer is not only her exceptional live shows but the fact that Eilish’s music is extremely relatable for Gen Z, with the artist singing about mental health, isolation, feminism, and body shaming. 

14. Lily-Rose Depp

The daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis is fast becoming the talk of the town in Hollywood. Kicking off her career as a model like her famous mother, Lily-Rose Depp is now following in the footsteps of her actor father. Depp got her first role in Kevin Smith’s wild horror Tusk, leading to her starring in the spin-off Yoga Hosers. 

Roles in The King, Voyagers, and Silent Night have only increased her profile, with Depp soon to be seen in the controversial series The Idol, which was created by The Weeknd, Reza Fahim, and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson.

15. Halle Bailey

As one half of the musical duo Chloe x Halle, singer Halle Bailey and her sister have released two well-received albums, earning five Grammy Award nominations. While the dup continues to make music together, Bailey is also branching out into acting, having a main role in the TV series Grown-ish and appearing in Beyoncé: Lemonade, the visual companion piece to the album of the same name. 

Bailey’s biggest role to date is in the forthcoming live-action remake of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, where she has been cast in the lead role of Ariel. She is also set to appear in the musical remake of The Color Purple. 

16. Timothée Chalamet

Born and raised in New York City, Timothée Chalamet has been hyped as one of the next big things in the acting world. After small roles in Interstellar, Worst Friends, and The Adderall Diaries, Chalamet set tongues wagging with his performance in the coming-of-age drama Call Me by Your Name. The movie showcased just why Chalamet is so beloved, and he hasn’t let anyone down with his following movies. 

Roles in Lady Bird, The King, Dune, and cannibal drama Bones & All have only confirmed the fact that Chalamet is the future. With Dune: Part Two and Wonka soon to be released, Chalamet is setting himself up for greatness.