13 Celebrities Whose Kids Attended Ivy League Schools

Stars from Ben Affleck to Conan O'Brien boast children at prestigious colleges

Denzel Washington, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jodie Foster all have more than just their Oscar-winning resumes in common: They all have kids who've studied at Ivy League universities.

Some celebrity children went to their parents' own Ivy alma maters — like Conan O'Brien's son, who went to Harvard University — while others blazed their own academic paths to institutions like Brown, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania and Yale.

The kids' accomplishments have made for some proud parents. "Malcolm has studied film history at the University of Pennsylvania and then filmmaking at the American Film Institute. And John David is working his way up the line as an actor and getting better and better," Washington told IMDb in November 2024. "And his sister, Olivia, is a theater actor. Do I sound like a proud father? She just starred in Slave Play here in London."

He continued, saying, "You know, I’m just proud of my children."

Below, see 13 celebrities whose children have attended Ivy League schools.

01 of 13

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Daughter

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's oldest child, daughter Violet Affleck, is a student at Yale University.

Violet has had a host of accomplishments since she started at the college. In May 2025, she published an academic paper in the Yale Global Health Review describing living through the Los Angeles wildfires and the impact it had on her family, including questions it raised from her younger brother, Samuel.

In September of that year, she spoke at the United Nations in favor of clean air and masking to prevent the transmission of long COVID-19.

02 of 13

Candice Bergen's Daughter

Before becoming head of editorial content at Vogue, Candice Bergen's daughter Chloe Malle studied comparative literature and literary arts at Brown University.

In a 2014 interview with Into the Gloss, Malle reflected on her academic experience at Brown.

“I was so excited to be with an entire community of people who just loved reading, and our job was to read a bunch of books and then talk about them,” she said. “I was like, ‘This is heaven.’ ” 

03 of 13

Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker's Son

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick's son, James Wilkie Broderick, graduated from Brown University in May 2025.

In June 2023, James told Entertainment Tonight that he wants to pursue an acting career, like his A-list parents. "Recently, I’ve tried it out a little bit," he said. "I tried it out and really liked it."

04 of 13

Michael Douglas and Catherine-Zeta Jones' Daughter

Like James, Michael Douglas and Zeta-Jones' daughter Carys graduated from Brown University in 2025, where she majored in film and international relations.

In October 2025, Carys told PEOPLE that while she didn't study acting in school, she grew up doing theater and is eager to pursue the craft more.

05 of 13

Heather and Terry Dubrow's Daughter

Real Housewives of Orange County star Heather Dubrow and Botched surgeon Terry Dubrow's daughter, Katarina, goes to Yale University.

"CONGRATULATIONS KATARINA!!!! We are so proud of you and excited to watch you SHINE in college !!!!" Heather wrote on Instagram following her daughter's admission. "WE LOVE YOU !!!!! 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙."

06 of 13

Jodie Foster's Sons

Both of Foster and Cydney Bernard's sons attended Ivy League colleges.

Charles "Charlie" Bernard Foster followed in the Oscar winner's footsteps and graduated from Yale University in 2021, where he performed in and worked in the crew of several productions.

Meanwhile, Christopher "Kit" Foster received his bachelor's degree in chemistry from Princeton in 2024. He is currently pursuing his master's degree in chemical sciences from the University of Pennsylvania, according to his LinkedIn.

07 of 13

Kimora Lee and Russell Simmons' Daughter

Kimora Lee and Russell Simmons' daughter Aoki Lee graduated from Harvard in 2023.

"I feel grateful, proud and relieved — in that order! It's a surreal feeling to be done with something that was such a huge part of my life. Now, like every other graduate, I'm on to the next chapter," Aoki told PEOPLE at the time. "I'm so thankful for the village of people that spurred me along and helped keep me focused. My mom, my sister, my little brothers back at home. It took a whole tribe, trust me!"

08 of 13

Tobey Maguire and Jennifer Meyer's Daughter

Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire and ex-wife Jennifer Meyer's daughter Ruby Maguire is a student at Brown University.

In September 2025, Meyer opened up about dropping Ruby off at college. “Here are a few photos that I love from the last two months, " Meyer wrote on Instagram. "Turns out dropping your daughter off at college really makes you cry a lot, but she’s good so now I’m good 😉♥️🫶.”

09 of 13

Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow's Son

Coldplay singer Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow's son Moses is a student at Brown University.

In March 2024, Paltrow opened up about becoming an empty nester. "On the one hand, incredible sadness," she told The Sunday Times at the time, reflecting on how she felt about Moses moving out of the house. "A deep sense of impending grief."

"On the other hand, this is exactly what should be happening," she continued. "Your kids are supposed to be, you know, young adults who can achieve and cope and make connections and be resilient. That's exactly what you want. And that means they leave the house."

10 of 13

Conan O'Brien's Daughter and Son

O'Brien and wife Liza Powel O'Brien's daughter, Neve, graduated from Yale University in May 2026, where she majored in history and was an illustrator for the Yale Daily News Magazine, according to her LinkedIn. She's now working as a podcast researcher for iHeart Media.

Meanwhile, the comedian's son, Beckett O'Brien, is a third-generation Harvard student. Conan graduated from the Ivy League in 1985, and Conan's father, Dr. Thomas O'Brien, graduated from and was an associate professor at Harvard Medical School.

11 of 13

George Stephanopoulos and Ali Wentworth's Daughter

Good Morning America anchor George Stephanopoulos and writer Ali Wentworth's older daughter, Elliott Stephanopoulos, graduated from Brown University in May 2025. Wentworth joked on Instagram that Elliott did so with "her father's brain and my legs."

12 of 13

Meryl Streep's Daughter

Meryl Streep graduated from the Yale School of Drama in 1975. Over four decades later in 2019, her daughter Louisa Jacobson — whom she shares with estranged husband Don Gummer — got her fine arts master's degree in acting from the Yale School of Drama as well.

Of attending the same school as her mom, Jacobson told Elle in May 2025, “There are always going to be people who don’t believe in you. What matters is how you show up in the room.”

13 of 13

Denzel Washington's Daughter and Son

Two of Washington and wife Pauletta's four children attended Ivies.

The couple's older daughter, Katia, graduated from Yale in 2010 and works as a producer, including on some projects close to home. She was part of the team behind Fences, which starred her Oscar-winning dad, and Malcolm & Marie, which included her brother John David Washington.

Meanwhile, Pauletta and Denzel's son Malcolm played basketball at the University of Pennsylvania. After graduating in 2013, he went on to study film directing at the AFI Conservatory and made his feature directorial debut with The Piano Lesson (2024), which starred his brother, John David.

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