The social structure of celebrity: an empirical network analysis of an elite population

Celebrities are anecdotally one of the most observed groups in contemporary society, but are difficult to capture in large-scale quantitative empirical analyses. In this analysis, we use a unique dataset, Getty Images photographs, to study this social group and its various network structures. Overall, our analysis demonstrates that celebrity networks are characterised by low degrees of separation and high connectivity between one another. Higher industry status ('talent') and media profile form particular, more exclusive, networks within the larger universe of celebrities. Our empirical results stack up with the theory of 'superstars' and the 'rich-get-richer' model of preferential attachment and cumulative advantage. We speculate that there may be substantial social and economic outcomes to being more connected to other celebrities that transcend the social ties observed at the documented social events.