Meet the Peltz Family: Nicola Peltz Beckham’s Billionaire Roots

Behind Nicola Peltz Beckham’s celebrity life is a family story built on finance, influence, and a carefully guarded private world. From boardrooms to philanthropy, the Peltz name carries weight far beyond red carpets, and its legacy helps explain why the family draws so much attention.

Nicola Peltz Beckham is known to many as an actress and as the wife of Brooklyn Beckham, but her family background is a major part of why she is often described as Hollywood-adjacent and high-society connected at the same time.

Nicola is the youngest daughter of investor Nelson Peltz and former fashion model Claudia Heffner Peltz, a couple whose business success and social influence have made them prominent figures in elite circles.

In recent headlines, the Peltz family has also become tied to a much more personal story: reports of Brooklyn Beckham’s estrangement from his famous parents, David and Victoria Beckham, after marrying into Nicola’s billionaire world.

Nelson Peltz: From Brooklyn to the Boardroom

Nelson Peltz was born in Brooklyn, New York, on June 24, 1942, to Jewish parents Claire and Maurice Peltz. The youngest of three children, he attended Horace Mann School in the Bronx and later enrolled at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He ultimately left before graduating, taking an unconventional route that included work as a ski instructor.

His career foundation was built in the family business. Nelson began working at his grandfather’s wholesale food distribution company, A. Peltz & Sons, and partnered with his brother Robert to expand the operation. The brothers grew the business into a public company with around $150 million in sales under the name Flagstaff Corp.

From there, Nelson made moves that would define his reputation as a strategist with a long-term appetite for scale.

The brothers later acquired a stake in Triangle Industries Inc., a vending machine and wire company they transformed into one of the world’s largest packaging companies and a Fortune 100 industrial firm. The company was sold in 1988, cementing Nelson’s standing in the business world.

The Snapple Deal and a Reputation for Big Bets

Nelson’s investment history includes one of the most talked-about beverage deals of its era. In 1997, his investment vehicle, Triarc Companies, Inc., acquired Snapple from Quaker Oats. Three years later, the brand was sold to Cadbury Schweppes for approximately $1.45 billion.

Over time, Nelson co-founded Trian Partners, an alternative investment management fund known for investing in major corporations. As of 2026, the firm holds $7.15 billion in assets and has been associated with investments in companies such as Heinz, Cadbury, Kraft Foods, Wendy’s, PepsiCo, and Procter & Gamble.

Nelson is reported to have a net worth of $1.6 billion, reflecting decades of high-level corporate influence.

Claudia Heffner Peltz: Modeling, Then Philanthropy

Claudia Heffner Peltz was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 12, 1955. Unlike her husband’s boardroom story, Claudia’s early career was built on fashion and advertising. She rose as a model in the late 1970s, focusing on editorial and commercial work.

Her résumé includes appearances in publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and Cosmopolitan, along with campaigns for major beauty and fashion brands including Revlon, L’Oréal, Calvin Klein, and Chanel.

After marrying Nelson in 1985, Claudia stepped away from modeling and shifted her focus toward philanthropy and raising their family.

Together, she and Nelson co-founded the Nelson and Claudia Peltz Family Foundation, a private charitable organization supporting efforts tied to education, healthcare, the environment, and youth development.

The Peltz Children and Where They Are Now

Nelson and Claudia share eight children: Nicola, Matthew, Will, Brad, Brittany, Diesel, Zachary, and Gregory. Nelson also has two children from his first marriage to Cynthia Abrams, whom he was married to from 1964 to 1981.

Their children’s careers span industries, with several following high-profile paths. Matthew became a financier and works for Trian Fund Management. He also serves as a non-executive vice chairman of Wendy’s.

Will pursued acting like his sister and has appeared in films including “Unfriended” and “Sierra Burgess Is a Loser,” as well as TV shows such as “Manifest” and “Entourage.”

Brad, Zachary, and Gregory became hockey players, Brittany went into interior design, Diesel moved into tech entrepreneurship, and Nicola has continued to work as an actress.

Nicola began acting in 2006 and later appeared in films such as 2010’s “The Last Airbender,” 2024’s “Lola,” and the 2026 thriller “Pretty Ugly.”

Brooklyn Beckham’s Marriage and the Family Rift

Brooklyn Beckham was welcomed into the Peltz family when he married Nicola in 2022 at a star-studded wedding in Palm Beach, Florida. Brooklyn, who founded Cloud23 hot sauce, began dating Nicola in 2019.

In January 2026, Brooklyn publicly confirmed he had no plans to reconcile with David and Victoria Beckham, addressing the matter in a lengthy Instagram statement.

“I have been silent for years and made every effort to keep these matters private,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, my parents and their team have continued to go to the press, leaving me with no choice but to speak for myself and tell the truth about only some of the lies that have been printed.”

The Peltz family’s story is bigger than wealth alone. It is a mix of business legacy, cultural visibility, and a private influence that extends into philanthropy and high society.

For Nicola Peltz Beckham, that background has always been part of her public image. And as Brooklyn Beckham’s family tensions continue to draw attention, the Peltz name remains central to a celebrity narrative that sits at the intersection of love, power, and reputation.