Just when the world thought Robert De Niro had done it all, the 81-year-old acting legend delivered one more twist — and it’s the kind of plotline even The Godfather wouldn’t dare touch.

The man who’s played gangsters, kings, and ruthless tycoons has now stepped into his most chaotic role yet: dad to a newborn baby, at an age when most men are writing wills, not birth certificates.

The child — born to his much younger girlfriend Tiffany Chen, a martial arts instructor he met on set — has become the center of a firestorm so intense, it’s said to be tearing the De Niro family apart from the inside out.

And at the heart of it all?

Half a billion dollars.

The Baby Bombshell That Shook Hollywood

When news first broke that De Niro had become a father again, fans were shocked — and a little amused. Late-in-life celebrity parenthood isn’t new (Al Pacino, 83, welcomed a baby in 2023), but De Niro’s sudden announcement had a strange air of secrecy.

There was no big red carpet reveal, no gushy People magazine spread. Just a quiet confirmation, a blurred photo, and a cryptic response from the actor when asked if he was surprised to be a father again:

“This baby was planned,” he said flatly.
“She was wanted.”

But not everyone in the De Niro clan agrees — or feels included.

Inside the Growing Family War

Robert De Niro has seven children with four different women, ranging in age from under 1 to over 50. And now, for the first time in decades, those children are reportedly at war — not just with each other, but with the woman they believe has taken control of their father’s life.

According to a source close to the family:

“Some of his kids think Tiffany Chen is building her own dynasty — one that cuts them out completely.”

Tiffany, 45, is said to be living in De Niro’s Manhattan penthouse, managing his schedule, and even screening which family members can visit.

“She’s essentially his gatekeeper now,” the insider said.
“She decides who gets access, who doesn’t. The older kids feel shut out — and furious.”

A Fortune at Stake

Robert De Niro’s empire isn’t just cinematic — it’s financial. With an estimated net worth of over $500 million, the Oscar-winner owns everything from luxury properties in New York to stakes in the Nobu restaurant empire and the Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca.

That kind of wealth doesn’t just disappear — it gets fought over.

And according to reports, De Niro has already begun reshaping his estate plan to include his new daughter. Some family members fear a massive portion of the inheritance is being redirected to Tiffany and her child — possibly leaving the rest with crumbs.

One insider revealed:

“There are whispers of a new trust fund already set up. Some of the older kids are panicking — they’ve never seen their father so under someone else’s influence.”

Behind Closed Doors: Lawyers, Wills, and Allegations

The whispers have turned into closed-door meetings with lawyers, according to multiple tabloid sources.

Several of De Niro’s older children — especially Raphael (from his first marriage) and adopted daughter Drena — are said to be seeking legal counsel about how the baby and Tiffany’s influence may affect De Niro’s will, power of attorney, and business holdings.

“They’re not just concerned about money,” said the insider.
“They’re worried about manipulation. About elder abuse. About their father being used at his most vulnerable.”

While no legal documents have been filed publicly, one family friend hinted that things could escalate:

“Don’t be surprised if this ends up in probate court. Or worse — in a full-blown public feud.”

Get to know Robert De Niro’s family below.

What to know about Robert De Niro’s 6 other kids

Robert De Niro and Drena De Niro at Balthazar on April 24, 2017 in New York City.
Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage via Getty Images, FILE

Born in 1967, Drena De Niro was adopted by Robert De Niro while he was married to his now ex-wife Diahnne Abbott, and took his surname.

Drena De Niro is Abbott’s daughter from a previous relationship.

After making her debut as a model at New York Fashion Week, she began to work with famed designers including Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, Giorgio Armani and more. She briefly became a DJ after modeling and worked as a fashion consultant before getting into acting and producing, according to her website.

In 2004, she and her then-boyfriend welcomed a son, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez.

Nearly two decades later, in 2023, Drena De Niro shared in an Instagram post that Leandro had died. The New York City Chief Medical Examiner’s office later ruled the 19-year-old’s death was accidental and stated that he had died from the “toxic effects” of a combination of illicit drugs.

“I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly. You have been my joy my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life,” Drena De Niro wrote on Instagram at the time. “I wish I was with you right now. I wish I was with you.”

Raphael De Niro

Drena De NIro and Raphael De Niro attend VANITY FAIR TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL Opening Night Dinner at The State Supreme Courthouse, April 20, 2010. in New York.
Patrick Mcmullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Robert De Niro and his ex-wife Abbott welcomed son Raphael De Niro in 1976.

Since 2004, Raphael De Niro has led the De Niro Team at the real estate firm Douglas Elliman in Manhattan, according to the firm’s website.

On his own website, Raphael De Niro says his celebrity real estate clients have included Renee Zellweger and Kelly Ripa.

Julian De Niro and Airyn De Niro

Julian De Niro attends “The Sign In Sidney Brustein’s Window” Gala performance celebration at Virgin Hotels New York City on May 4, 2023 in New York City.
John Nacion/Getty Images

Julian De Niro and Aaron De Niro, now Airyn De Niro, were born via surrogate on Oct. 20, 1995, to Robert De Niro and his former girlfriend Toukie Smith, an actress, whom he began dating in 1988.

Following in his parents’ footsteps, Julian De Niro became an actor, appearing in 2016’s “In Dubious Battle” and played a young Barack Obama in the Showtime drama series “The First Lady,” according to his IMDb profile.

He also studied computer science and math at New York University.

Airyn De Niro has maintained a private life out of the spotlight.

In April, Airyn De Niro gave a rare interview to Them, opening up on her transition and growing up out of the spotlight but with famous parents.

Airyn De Niro poses for “them.”
Aleck Venegas/them

“Obviously no parent is perfect, but I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight. They wanted it very private,” she said. “They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible.”

She told Them her decision to start hormone therapy last year came after seeing trans women speaking about their experiences “especially [in] public spaces like social media.”

“I think a big part of [my transition] is also the influence Black women have had on me,” she said. “I think stepping into this new identity, while also being more proud of my Blackness, makes me feel closer to them in some way.”

Elliot De Niro

Robert De Niro and son, Elliot, in Central Park, New York, May 11, 2001.
Lawrence Schwartzwald/Getty Images

Robert De Niro and ex-wife Hightower welcomed son Elliot De Niro on March 18, 1998.

In 2016, amid backlash over a film about vaccines and autism, Robert De Niro shared that one of his children with Hightower has autism, saying, “”We believe it is critical that all of the issues surrounding autism be openly discussed and examined.”

Three years later, in 2019, Robert De Niro and Hightower opened up about Elliot De Niro’s passion for tennis in an ESPN series honoring the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics.

“[Playing tennis] helps him. He is more confident when he sees that he is actually good at this,” Robert De Niro said of Elliot. “That’s the best self-motivator anyone can have.”

Helen Grace De Niro

Robert De Niro and ex-wife Grace Hightower welcomed their second child, a daughter named Helen Grace, via surrogate on Dec. 23, 2011.

The actor and his ex-wife have mostly kept Helen out of the spotlight.

Why Is De Niro So Silent?

Throughout the chaos, Robert De Niro has remained eerily quiet. No media interviews. No red carpet statements. No Instagram posts.

Those close to him say he’s tired, overwhelmed, and wants peace — but his silence has only added fuel to the fire.

“He’s letting Tiffany speak for him,” one longtime associate said.
“And that’s exactly what’s making everyone nervous.”

What’s Next? A Legacy on the Brink

Robert De Niro is one of the most respected actors of his generation — a two-time Oscar winner, the face of timeless classics like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Casino, and The Irishman. But now, his real-life drama is threatening to overshadow his legendary career.

Will this family fracture become public?
Will De Niro revise his will — or even cut out some of his own children?
And who will control his fortune, once he’s gone?

Hollywood insiders are watching closely. So are lawyers. And so, it seems, is the rest of America.

“De Niro may be a Hollywood icon,” one source said, “but even icons bleed when family and money collide.”

So What Do YOU Think?

Is Tiffany Chen protecting her family — or plotting her own empire?
Are De Niro’s older kids entitled — or just trying to stop a scandal before it’s too late?