In the world of Japanese animation, heroes and villains alike grow up in all kinds of households and environments, some more typical or relatable than others. For example, many anime characters in real-life settings are born into middle-class families, and some are born into poverty, forcing them to work very hard to find success. Humble beginnings are often quite compelling.
Some other anime characters were born into vast fortunes and grew up in the wealthy elite. These characters are used to being around huge mansions, private butlers, a vacation house, and more, and they might be oblivious to the lifestyles of regular folk. Fortunately, not all of these rich kids are conceited about their status. Some of them are humble and totally selfless, even if they live like royalty.
10 Momo Yaoyorozu Has Serious Cash (My Hero Academia)
The creation hero Momo Yaoyorozu was born with a lot - a fabulously wealthy family, good looks, a remarkable Quirk, and, most of all, incredible intelligence. Despite all these envious advantages, though, Momo is never conceited or lazy. In fact, she envies the accomplishments of her working-class classmates.
Momo knows she has it all, but she won't coast on it. Her heart burns with determination to become a great hero, just like Izuku, and she has a generous spirit to match. She even tutored her classmates at home, for which they were thankful. Momo is better known for her big heart than her massive bank balance.
9 Byakuya Kuchiki Is A Wealthy Nobleman (Bleach)
Captain Byakuya Kuchiki has a lot on his mind. Not only is he the responsible commander of squad 6 in the Gotei 13, but he is also the esteemed head of the wealthy Kuchiki noble family. A lot was expected of him, and he's been pressuring himself to be the best since his boyhood.
Byakuya is one of the Soul Society's richest men, and he sure acts like it, too. He is aloof, condescending, and stern, and he takes tradition and the law very seriously, too. Fortunately, after fighting Ichigo in the Soul Society story arc, Byakuya started valuing his foster sister, Rukia, more than tradition and money.
8 Erika Amano Is Used To Luxury (A Couple Of Cuckoos)
The comedy slice-of-life anime A Couple of Cuckoos begins with a baby swap, when the humble Umino family and the wealthy Amano families accidentally take home each other's babies from the hospital. This means that Nagi Umino never experienced the wealth and comforts of his biological parents' lifestyle, but Erika Amano sure did.
Erika grew up surrounded by wealth and luxury items, and she is used to doghouses being the size of regular homes. She is also rather sheltered and had no idea what to do when she visited Nagi's family's humble household. She didn't even know where to sit.
7 Kirari Momobami Is All About Money & Family Politics (Kakegurui)
Not all rich anime characters are kindhearted adolescents who downplay their wealth like Momo. Others are more villainous and see their money as a reason to look down on everyone else, and that is certainly the case with Kirari Momobami, the president of Hyakkou Academy's student council.
Kirari and her twin sister, Ririka, were born into the powerful Momobami family, which is a juggernaut in the world of finance and business across Japan and possibly the world. Kirari really lives in her own world, and it warped her mind to the point she sees her entire school as her personal playground.
6 Kaguya Shinomiya Is Set To Inherit Trillions (Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War)
Interestingly, many wealthy anime protagonists tend to be female ones, perhaps to fit the "ojou-sama" archetype. This may be the case with Kaguya Shinimoya, a lovestruck young lady whose family is worth at least 200 trillion yen. That makes her one of the richest girls in the entire world.
Kaguya is used to her family's enormous wealth, but she knows that money isn't everything. All the yen in the world won't help her figure out her love life with Miyuki Shirogane. This is a personal matter, where Kaguya must understand her own heart, not the stock market, to find true happiness.
5 Chitoge Kirisaki Belongs To A Rich Crime Family (Nisekoi)
Chitoge Kirisaki is a beloved tsundere anime character who found herself in a false relationship with Raku Ichijo, all so their respective crime families can finally reconcile and get along better. Chitoge's family is a wealthy criminal organization, and Chitoge is used to living in a large, luxurious house. She's totally an ojou-sama.
In addition, Chitoge's distant mother is a successful and very busy businesswoman, but she rarely has the time to enjoy her money or even visit her lonely daughter. Mother and daughter may be loaded with endless cash, but this wealth is actually driving a wedge between them.
4 Chiyo Mihama's Family Lives Quite Well (Azumanga Daioh!)
The child prodigy Chiyo Mihama is the youngest but smartest character in the wacky comedy series Azumanga Daioh!, not to mention the richest. The Mihama family isn't on the same level as the Shinomiyas or Kuchikis, but they are still affluent enough to casually buy a nice vacation home and visit it whenever they like.
Chiyo is similar to Momo Yaoyorozu, being a smart and hardworking girl who doesn't let her family's wealth define her entire being. She is humble and selfless, despite being much richer than her classmates, and she is always eager to invite her friends to the Mihama family vacation home to study and have fun.
3 Akito Sohma Inherited An Ancient Fortune (Fruits Basket)
The head of the reclusive Sohma family is the verbally abusive and privately miserable Akito Sohma, who grew up wealthy and affluent. She has it all, from a vast compound to fancy kimonos and a great deal of power, but she has problems that not even money can solve.
Akito is terrified that the cursed Sohmas will leave her, so she does whatever she must to keep them mentally imprisoned with her, no matter what. Eventually, though, Yuki and the others broke free anyway, and Akito finally redeemed herself. Her mother Ren was never redeemed, though.
2 Lucy Heartfilia Walked Away From The Family Fortune (Fairy Tail)
The celestial wizard Lucy Heartfilia was born into wealth, where she got used to being an obedient daughter who made sure to always look good in fancy ball gowns. But she soon grew weary of this lifestyle, and she directly defied her widower father, Jude, one day before walking away from all this.
Lucy was determined to find success all on her own and cut all ties with her wealthy family and its businesses. For the first time, Lucy knew what it felt like to fall behind on rent, but it was still worth it if it meant befriending everyone in the Fairy Tail guild. Pocket change is nothing compared to the wealth of true friendship.
1 Erina Nakiri Is A Rich Ojou-Sama (Food Wars!)
Erina Nakiri is a sharp-tongued tsundere chef who definitely embodies the "rich ojou-sama" archetype, not to mention being a himedere, or wannabe princess, at times. Erina was born into the rich and influential Nakiri estate, but that didn't mean she was happy. She and her mother, Mana, were soon driven apart, and her father, Azami, had selfish schemes in mind.
Erina may have grown up with wealth, influence, and a closet loaded with fancy clothes, but what she really wanted was a happy family, and she didn't get that until the very end of Food Wars!, when she made up with both her parents. Now Erina cooks for love, not to show the peasants who's boss.