You’ve probably heard the name Will Kopelman and immediately pictured him walking a red carpet with Drew Barrymore. It’s the standard reflex. For years, the tabloids painted him as the "rebel princess's" steady hand, the guy who finally brought a sense of WASP-y normalcy to the life of a Hollywood icon. But honestly? That’s a pretty thin slice of who the guy actually is.
Will Kopelman is a creature of high-society New York, a man born into the kind of "old world" luxury most people only see in Succession or Gossip Girl. He isn’t just some guy who married a celebrity. He is a high-end art consultant, a former actor, and the son of a man who basically built the modern Chanel empire.
The Chanel Connection and Growing Up Kopelman
To understand Will, you have to look at his father, Arie Kopelman. If you’ve ever bought a bottle of Coco Mademoiselle or seen a Nicole Kidman ad for Chanel, you’ve felt Arie’s influence. He was the President and COO of Chanel for nearly two decades. Will didn't just grow up with money; he grew up around "The Brand."
His childhood wasn't exactly typical. While other kids were hitting theme parks, Will and his sister, Jill Kargman (the creator and star of Odd Mom Out), were being dragged to museums and auction houses. His parents were art history majors who treated "visiting a picture" like a religious experience.
It rubbed off.
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Will attended the University of Pennsylvania, just like his father, and eventually carved out a niche that sits right at the intersection of taste and commerce. He didn't follow the corporate retail path. Instead, he leaned into the visual.
Making a Name in the Art World
Kopelman isn't just a "collector" in the sense that he buys pretty things for his walls. He’s a professional advisor. His firm, Kopelman Contemporary, LLC, focuses on secondary-market fine art. Basically, he helps high-net-worth individuals and estates navigate the shark-infested waters of the art market.
He’s the guy people call when they want to acquire a "distressed asset"—maybe a piece from an estate that needs to be moved quietly—or when they want to build a collection that actually has soul. He’s famously picky about his clients. He once told an interviewer that he won't just tell a stranger what to buy; he needs to know what they are actually attracted to.
His own taste? It’s all over the place.
- Contemporary Favorites: He’s a massive fan of Ed Ruscha.
- The Eclectic Mix: He’s been known to pair a 19th-century ship carpenter’s toolbox with a post-war painting.
- Outsider Art: He’s a big supporter of the Creative Growth Art Center in Oakland, which works with artists who have developmental disabilities.
He’s spent years arguing that collecting shouldn't be about ego or "big-game hunting." He thinks people should buy things that they actually want to live with. It’s a refreshingly un-pretentious take for someone who operates in such a snooty industry.
The Drew Barrymore Years (and the Aftermath)
We have to talk about it because Google definitely is. Will and Drew Barrymore married in 2012. At the time, it felt like the ultimate "happily ever after." She was the wild child finding peace; he was the stable, sophisticated New Yorker. They had two daughters, Olive and Frankie.
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When they announced their divorce in 2016, it wasn't a "scandalous" breakup. It was, as Drew later described it, "tragic." She felt like a failure because she wanted to give her kids the solid family unit she never had.
But here is the thing that makes Will Kopelman actually interesting: the co-parenting.
In a town where divorces usually end in "sources say" hit pieces, Will and Drew became the gold standard for staying friends. They spend holidays together. They go trick-or-treating as a group. When Will got remarried in 2021 to Vogue fashion editor Alexandra Michler, Drew was right there cheering them on, calling Alexandra "the dream" and a wonderful stepmother.
Life in 2026: A Growing Family
As of early 2026, Will’s life looks very different from his Hollywood days. He’s 47 now and firmly settled into his role as a "boy dad" alongside his two older daughters.
Just this month, in January 2026, Will and Alexandra welcomed their second child together, a son named Hugh Radcliffe Kopelman (they're calling him "Hughie"). This follows the birth of their first son, John, back in 2023.
The family seems to split their time between the Upper East Side and Nantucket, continuing the Kopelman tradition of being "the" New York family. Sadly, the family lost its patriarch, Arie, in late 2024, which reportedly hit Will hard, as the two were incredibly close. Will has since taken on more of the family's philanthropic mantle, continuing his father’s work with organizations like the Winter Show and various arts-focused charities.
Why People Still Search for Him
People search for Will Kopelman because he represents a specific kind of American archetype: the "Quiet Luxury" guy before that was even a TikTok trend. He has the pedigree, the career, and the high-profile associations, but he’s remarkably private.
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He doesn't have a verified TikTok where he does "GRWM" videos. He isn't selling a masterclass on art. He’s just a guy who knows exactly which Calder mobile is worth the investment and which one is just hype.
Actionable Insights for Art and Lifestyle Enthusiasts
If you’re looking to follow the "Kopelman approach" to life or art, here are a few takeaways:
- Invest in Skill, Not Trends: Will often says he’s drawn to "actual skill" and draughtsmanship. When looking at art (or even furniture), look for the hand of the maker, not just the name on the label.
- Juxtapose Everything: Don't be afraid to put a modern print next to an antique. The most interesting rooms are the ones that don't look like they were bought from a single showroom.
- Prioritize the "Long Game" in Relationships: His ability to maintain a healthy relationship with his ex-wife is a lesson in ego management. It turns out, being a "class act" actually pays off in the long run.
- Support Outsider Art: If you're looking to start a collection on a budget, look at places like Creative Growth. You can find incredible, museum-quality work while supporting artists who are often overlooked by the traditional gallery system.