Who Are the Peltzes? Inside the Billionaire Family Behind Brooklyn Beckham's Rift

For decades, Brooklyn Beckham was the heir apparent to Britain's most famous brand: a perfectly curated extension of 'Posh and Becks.' But following a recent sensational statement in which the 26-year-old accused his parents of 'bribery' and treating him as a 'commercial prop,' it is clear his allegiance has shifted across the Atlantic.

Brooklyn has traded the glare of London's paparazzi for the secluded, iron-gated world of the Peltzes, a family whose wealth and influence dwarf the Beckhams' combined fortune. But who exactly are the power players behind this rebellion?

The Peltz Dynasty and Its Billionaire Power

At the head of the table sits Nelson Peltz, an 83-year-old industry titan with a net worth of $1.6 billion (approx. £1.2bn), his third wife, former fashion model Claudia Heffner Peltz,and a reputation for boardroom brutality that makes David Beckham's PR machine look quaint.

Their daughter, actress Nicola Peltz Beckham, 31, is the youngest of their eight children together, part of a total brood of ten, including Nelson's two children from his first marriage.

The family represents a level of wealth and corporate power that dwarfs the Beckhams' own combined $900 million fortune.

Nelson Peltz is the co-founder of Trian Fund Management, an activist investment firm that oversees roughly $7 billion in assets and holds large stakes in global giants such as Janus Henderson, GE HealthCare, and Unilever.

The Peltz influence became a central theme in the Beckham narrative following Brooklyn and Nicola's April 2022 wedding, but tensions peaked in January 2026 after Brooklyn released a statement alleging that his parents attempted to 'bribe' him into a naming-rights contract before the nuptials.

The family's power is concentrated in 'Montsorrel,' their 13-acre, $372 million oceanfront estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and 'High Winds,' a 130-acre mansion in Bedford, New York, which features an indoor ice rink complete with a professional Zamboni.

'Anti-Hollywood' by Design

Unlike the Beckhams, who have built their brand on a curated, public-facing 'middle-class-done-good' story, the Peltzes have traditionally remained 'anti-Hollywood.'

Nicola has frequently described her upbringing as rooted in a 'hockey family' dynamic, in which her brothers, including former Ottawa Senators draft pick Brad Peltz and tech entrepreneur Diesel Peltz, prioritised athletics and business over celebrity status. This transition from the British 'paparazzi' culture to the secluded, ultra-high-net-worth world of the Peltzes, where the siblings include actor Will Peltz and interior designer Brittany Peltz-Buerstedde, is viewed by many as the primary catalyst for Brooklyn's recent social and legal distancing from David and Victoria.

The 'Corporate Parent' vs The 'Patriarch'

A significant source of the current rift reportedly stems from the clash between Nelson Peltz's 'patriarchal' style and David Beckham's 'commercial' approach to parenting.

Brooklyn's recent statement alleged that while his parents treated him as a 'commercial prop' for Brand Beckham, Nelson Peltz has offered him a sense of 'adult autonomy.'

Insiders suggest that Brooklyn has become deeply integrated into the Peltz inner circle, viewing Nicola's father as a mentor. However, this has created a 'proxy war' between the two families.

While David and Victoria are masters of the media, Nelson Peltz is a master of the boardroom; his willingness to engage in high-profile legal battles, such as his 2024 proxy fight with Disney and his 2023 lawsuit against Nicola's wedding planners, served as a public demonstration of the Peltz family's litigious and uncompromising approach to their private affairs.

A Legacy of High-Stakes Business

Nelson Peltz's reputation as a 'fearless' activist investor has clearly rubbed off on his children.

Nicola's eldest brother, Matthew Peltz, is the non-executive vice chairman of Wendy's and a partner at his father's firm, ensuring the family's billions remain tightly managed. This environment of high-level business negotiation is reportedly where the 'iron-clad' prenuptial agreement, protecting the Peltz's $1.6 billion estate compared to the Beckhams' assets, became a point of contention for the Beckhams.

By aligning himself with the Peltzes, Brooklyn has traded the 'celebrity circus' of London for a seat at one of America's most powerful tables.

As the rift with the Beckhams shows no sign of mending, it appears that the 'Family First' mantra, immortalised in Nicola's recent Yiddish tattoo (a piece she shares with her brother Will), applies strictly to the Peltz side of the Atlantic.