When Oprah Winfrey interviewed Diana Ross back in 2011, the experience had a profound effect on the legendary talk show host.
“Imagine, for me, being ten years old watching ‘The Ed Sullivan Show,'” she said to her audience. “On welfare, [and] with no possibility that I could ever sing. We had no Black people on television. We had nobody on TV but Buckwheat. There was nobody on TV that looked like you. You’re always trying to identify with ‘your tribe,’ and the reason you do that is so you can get validated. [And] when you see somebody on TV that looks like Diana Ross, glamorous and beautiful and cool…it was life-changing for me.”
Many of us take for granted that we have people that “look like us” in mass media: on television shows, in films and on the Internet. But for folks of a certain age, Diana Ross represented something that had never been seen before. And though she had humble beginnings, she had (and still has) a larger-than-life talent — and this talent earned her a $250 million net worth, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Today, her children continue her legacy, whether in front of the camera or behind the scenes. Let’s take a look at how they’re living the dream and building careers on of their own.
Editorial note: The net worth listed in this piece is a speculative estimate drawn from a variety of online sources.
Rhonda Ross Kendrick
Rhonda Ross Kendrick is Diana’s oldest child and has followed her mother onto the stage with an entertainment career (According to O Magazine, she even was her mother’s opening act on her 2013 tour!).
Tracee Ellis Ross
What can we say about Tracee Ellis Ross that hasn’t been said already? With a $16 million empire, she’s made her way in the world through acting, producing and even her own line of Black hair care products called Pattern Beauty. But, as we previously told you, she’s always going to be our once and forever “Joan Clayton.”
Chudney Ross
Chudney Ross Silberstein is the youngest of Diana Ross’s daughters, and she’s remained behind the scenes of the entertainment industry. In addition to working as a production assistant on such films as “Fame,” she’s written a children’s book called “Lone Bean,” and is the founder of Books & Cookies, which is a bakery and bookstore all in one.
Ross Naess
Unlike his siblings, Ross Naess chose to become a businessman, though he did act for a brief period of time when he was younger. According to his Instagram page, he’s the co-founder of the Warwick bar, the Untapped festival series and the Like A Gentleman barbershop.
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Evan Ross
Even though he’s the “baby” of the Ross clan, Evan Ross has made quite a big name for himself as an actor. He made his acting debut in the cult classic, “ATL,” and has since gone on to star in “The Hunger Games” films and the “Star” television show. With his career, he’s built an estimated $25 million empire, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
