When I look at Leif Naess, his story begins with a well-known family tree shaped by oceans and several generations. He is the oldest son of Ross Arne Naess and Kimberly Ryan, and was born in the US on June 5, 2016. His famous and wealthy lineage gave his family story plenty of public interest, but his early days were still marked by simple family moments. His parents became engaged in May 2016 when Leif was one month old adding another family milestone to an already exciting period.
Like any child Leif cried, grinned and grew while his family celebrated each stage with genuine excitement. The meaning behind Leifs name also connects him to his grandfather and his Norwegian origin. Leif’s Norwegian background helped inspire the character of Leif’s name, which gives it a link to exploration and the outdoors. I find this detail interesting because the image of an explorer discovering the world fits neatly with the family’s history of mountaineering and its earlier predecessors.
That connection became part of Leif’s early family story when Leif appeared at his parents Santa Barbara wedding on June 10 2017 aged one year old. At the boho event Leif became part of the celebration in a memorable way crawling around the altar while barefoot people and flower crowns created a fairy tale meadow atmosphere at Rancho Dos Pueblos. Two months later, in August 2017, his younger brother, Indigo Naess, arrived, beginning the close friendship later seen in many family photos.
Leif Naess’s Parents: Ross Arne Naess and Kimberly Ryan
Looking at Leif Naess’s family life the story starts with his parents, Ross Arne Naess and Kimberly Ryan, whose lives mix a love of nature, family and a spirited way of living. Ross, born on October 7 1987 is known for an outdoorsy spirit that comes from his father and his choice of the quiet excitement of nature over red carpets or the spotlight. He asked Kimberly to marry him in a place that matched their life, which led to their special 2017 wedding, which was led by his mother, Diana Ross.
Kimberly added her bohemian style to the day wearing a custom ivory and gold dress by Maria Korovilas with loose beach waves and a natural look while she was pregnant with Indigo showing her happiness as a mother. After marriage, their lives moved to Malibu, where Leif and Indigo may want to experience the ages away from their usual interests and desires. Ross occasionally shared moments of the clan on Instagram, including a photo of his brothers hugging trees in 2021, showing his satisfaction at being a father.
To me these small moments tell more about their family than any public event does showing a steady life in the middle of celebrity chaos with simple things like hikes, beach days and laughter. As a couple they worked on raising their sons while keeping them away from the public finding a balance between glamour and Norwegian strength.
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Leif Naess |
| Date of Birth | June 5, 2016 |
| Place of Birth | United States |
| Parents | Ross Arne Naess and Kimberly Ryan |
| Grandmother | Diana Ross |
| Grandfather | Arne Naess Jr. |
| Sibling | Indigo Naess |
| Nationality | American |
| Heritage | Norwegian and American |
| Known For | Being the son of Ross Arne Naess and grandson of Diana Ross |
| Family Residence | Malibu, California |
| Parents’ Wedding | June 10, 2017, in Santa Barbara |
| Public Profile | Mostly private childhood with occasional family appearances |
Grandparents and the Iconic Legacy
For Leif Naess his grandparents are an important part of his story almost like big strong pillars that help hold up a big archway of family history. Diana Ross, born March 26 1944 in Detroit, Michigan became a name in music as the lead singer of The Supremes known for songs that never go out of style such as “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” Her reported net worth has reached more than $250 million.
Her marriage to Arne Naess Jr. in 1986 brought Ross and Evan into the family, although the couple later ended their marriage through divorce in 2000. Her influence on Leif remains palpable, shown in a personal gesture when she embroidered his name onto her 2025 Met Gala shawl as a fabric tribute to her eight grandchildren. From my perspective, small family gestures like this often make a legacy feel more personal than public achievements alone.
Another major branch of Leif’s heritage comes through Arne Rudolf Ludvig Raab, better known as Arne Naess Jr., who was born December 8, 1937, and died on January 13, 2004, following a South African climbing accident. He was a Norwegian shipping magnate and adventurer whose first marriage to Filippa Kumlin d’Orey produced three children, Christoffer, Katinka, and Leona Naess, making them Leif’s half-aunts and uncle.
His philosophical roots traced back to his father, Arne Naess Sr. giving the family story an intellectual dimension. Going back Leif’s great-grandparents, Ernestine Moten and Fred Ross also played a role in shaping this heritage. Diana’s parents, a schoolteacher and Baptist minister, together with August Oskar German, represent humble beginnings and diverse influences that add more depth to the family’s history.
Public Appearances and Media Moments
Although Leif’s life has remained mostly private, a few public spectacles have given people rare glimpses of his childhood. In November 2017, when he was five months old, the family attended the American Music Awards, creating a whirlwind of lights and applause around the young family, shortly after Indigo’s birth and its birth echo in their growing story. By 2021, Instagram posts offered more natural moments of Leif bonding outdoors,
with his long hair mirroring Indigo’s and becoming part of their family lore. The 2025 Met Gala brought another quiet connection when Diana’s shawl included names such as Leif, a subtle nod during the fashion frenzy. Across social media, rare peeks have included Ross’s 2017 caption about the brothers’ happy day and 2021 tree-hugging scenes, while X fan threads and
Reddit communities sometimes discuss the family’s names and the Ross grandkids. These small moments make Leif’s childhood seem both shielded and celebrated, while the numbers show a family story stretching from 2016 engagements through 2025 galas, with eight grandchildren connected through these family events.
Conclusion
Leif’s journey can be understood as a river’s course, beginning at its source and slowly moving into widening streams of family memories. Before 2016, his father and mother met through friends, and their marriage slowly grew and warmed up before their engagement in May 2016. That same 12 months began his June fifth, celebrated through wedding on June 10, 2017, where his children themselves became one in the family August 2017, Indigo joined the family, in 2018 to 2020 Malibu terms, .
And signs of growth were introduced. 2021 highlighted the bond between siblings through nature portraits, and 2025 brought the Met Gala tribute and photos that additionally marked their closest within the family history The timeline stops at the beginning of 2026 and yet many unwritten future episodes. Earlier dates, including 1986 for Diana and Arne’s marriage, the 2000 divorce, and 2004 Arne’s passing, remain important precursors to Leif’s era, giving his story a wider family context without defining what comes next.
FAQS
Who is Leif Naess?
Leif Naess is Ross Arne Naess’s and Kimberly Ryan’s child and Diana Ross’s grandson, the singer.
When was Leif Naess born?
Leif Naess was born on June 5 2016 in the United States.
Who are Leif Naess’s parents?
Leif Naess’s parents are Ross Arne Naess and Kimberly Ryan.
Who is Leif Naess’s grandmother?
Leif Naess’s grandmother is Diana Ross, the singer who once led The Supremes.
Does Leif Naess have siblings?
Yes. Leif Naess has a brother named Indigo Naess, who was born in August 2017.
Where did Leif Naess’s family live after his parents’ wedding?
After the wedding Leif Naess’s family moved to Malibu, where Leif and Indigo grew up away from most of the eye.
