Born Rich

Born Rich is a 2003 documentary film about the experience of growing up in wealthy families. It was created by Jamie Johnson, an heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, and filmed primarily between 1999 and 2001. The film consists primarily of Johnson interviewing 10 other young heirs. These interviews are offset by Johnson's exploration of his own experience and family as he comes into a large inheritance on his 21st birthday. He seeks out how to be a productive person, avoiding the dysfunction that he sees affecting many of the very rich. The film explores the taboo the ultra rich have against talking about their wealth. Johnson believes this secrecy about wealth causes the wealthy to be dysfunctional, and exists because the discussion of their wealth challenges the notion that America is a meritocracy and their right to have their wealth. Cast Georgina Bloomberg — born to New York City mayor and media mogul, Michael Bloomberg. Stephanie Ercklentz — born to socialite Mai Harrison and New York corporate lawyer, Enno W. Ercklentz Jr., son of banker and industrialist Enno W. Ercklentz Sr. Christina Floyd — born to golf champion, Raymond Floyd. Cody Franchetti — an Italian baron and Milliken textiles heir, born to actress Angelica Ippolito and Baron Andrea Franchetti, son of Baron Mario Franchetti and American heiress Anne Milliken. Juliet Hartford — born to model Diane Brown and A&P heir, Huntington Hartford, grandson of a principal founder of A&P, George Huntington Hartford. Josiah Cheston Hornblower — a Vanderbilt / Whitney heir born to Alexandra Thorne, daughter of Whitney Tower, a grandson of Gertrude Vanderbilt and Harry Payne Whitney. He is also a descendant of Josiah Hornblower, a delegate from New Jersey to the Continental Congress. Jamie Johnson — born to Johnson & Johnson heir, James Loring Johnson, son of John Seward Johnson I. S.I. Newhouse IV — born to Condé Nast publishing heir, Samuel Irving Newhouse III, son of Samuel Irving Newhouse Jr. Ivanka Trump — born to real estate tycoon and 45th US President, Donald Trump, son of real estate developer Fred Trump. Benjamin Luke Weil — son of Scientific Games Corporation Chairman & CEO, A. Lorne Weil. Carlo von Zeitschel — Kaiser Wilhelm II's great-grandson who is both a German baron and an Italian viscount. Production Development and pre-production Made over a three-year period while he was a history student at NYU, the documentary started out as his graduation thesis.