Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson‘s son, Chet Hanks, has openly discussed the challenges of growing up under the influence of his renowned parents.
“Bro, I felt worthless,” Chet, 35, shared during the “Artist Friendly” podcast hosted by Joel Madden on Wednesday, July 8. When asked about his upbringing, he explained that people often have a misconception, imagining a life of luxury with a butler at his service. “That wasn’t it, dude. It was, like, just feeling worthless.”
Tom, 70, and Wilson, 69, have been married since 1988 and are parents to sons Chet and Truman, 30. Tom also has two older children, Colin, 48, and Elizabeth, 44, from his previous marriage to the late Samantha Lewes.
Chet has consistently been open about the difficulties of being the child of two superstars.
Chet expressed his frustration, noting that people often assume his life was one of luxury, which he finds maddening. “You could be like, ‘Yo, that’s not my life at all. I don’t live like that,’ and they’ll be like, ‘Yeah, whatever,’” he explained.
While Chet is eager to share his experiences, he often finds that others are dismissive of his perspective.
“You know how they say pressure makes diamonds? Pressure also busts pipes,” said Chet, who acted in Running Point. “I’ve definitely had some pipes busted, like you can snap and then you have to recollect yourself over and over again. It’s a cycle until the diamond is formed.”
Madden, 47, who has two children with Nicole Richie, sought Chet’s insight on parenting in the shadow of Hollywood fame.
Chet noted, “What it is, is just someone else’s identity.” He explained that when people meet children of celebrities, they often think of their famous parent first. “They’re just imagining Joel, so getting to know your son … is all in contrast to you.”
Despite the challenges, Chet maintains a strong relationship with his parents, who fully support his endeavors in music and acting.
“The Surreal Life is a different kind of show. It’s not messy and negative,” Chet told Us Weekly in 2024 about joining the MTV reality TV series. “It’s more about personal growth and relationships with people and vulnerability. It’s a completely different type of reality TV. I had full support in doing it.”
