By Harry Wilson 
Diana Ross built a legacy that still fills arenas. Her son Ross Naess built his own career on both sides of the camera. Indigo Naess, at just 8 years old, is already one of the most searched names in the Diana Ross family tree. He did not do anything to earn that attention. The family around him did.
Who Is Indigo Naess?
Indigo Naess is the youngest son of Ross Naess and Kimberly Ryan. He is also the grandson of Motown legend Diana Ross. He was born on August 15, 2017, in the United States, and grows up in Malibu, California. In 2026, he turns 9 years old.
| Full Name | Indigo Naess |
| Date of Birth | August 15, 2017 |
| Age in 2026 | 8 years old (turns 9 on August 15, 2026) |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Birthplace | United States |
| Raised In | Malibu, California |
| Father | Ross Naess (photographer, producer, businessman) |
| Mother | Kimberly Ryan |
| Brother | Leif Naess (born June 5, 2016) |
| Grandmother | Diana Ross (The Supremes, Motown icon) |
| Grandfather (deceased) | Arne Naess Jr. (Norwegian billionaire, died 2004) |
| Father’s Instagram | @rossnaess |
| Grandmother’s Instagram | @dianaross |
Early Life and Childhood in Malibu, California
Indigo Naess was born on August 15, 2017, exactly two months after his parents married. He arrived into a home that already had a 14 months old brother named Leif. His father marked the moment for the world on Instagram.
Ross Naess posted a black and white photo of baby Indigo asleep in his crib. The caption read: “The first day of friendship that will last the rest of their lives.” That single line told the world everything about how this family sees itself.
Indigo grows up in Malibu, California. His parents have kept his school, friendships, and daily routine completely out of the public eye. No confirmed school name exists on record. No friend details have ever been shared. What fans know comes from birthday posts and family photos. That is exactly what Ross and Kimberly intend.
Kimberly posted on Indigo’s first birthday: “Happy 1st birthday sweet boy. You bring this family so much love, happiness, joy, and laughter.” That caption is the most direct public statement the family has ever made about Indigo as a child.
Father Ross Naess: Diana Ross Son Who Built His Own Path
Ross Arne Naess was born on October 7, 1987, in Northern California. He is the fourth of Diana Ross’s five children. His father was Norwegian billionaire and mountaineer Arne Naess Jr. That background gave Ross both an entertainment lineage and a global business sensibility, and he has used both.
Ross works as a photographer, actor, and producer. He produced the Diana Ross documentary and built a film credit list across several projects. On the business side, he founded the Warwick nightclub in Los Angeles. He also launched the Like A Gentleman barbershop in Hollywood and the Untapped festival experience.
What made Ross a household name outside entertainment circles was one Instagram post. He shared a photo of himself with Leif and Indigo, all three dressed in matching white shirts and jeans. The caption was two words: “My boys.” The image spread immediately. Fans noted how strongly both boys resembled their father. A second photo of the brothers with their long hair drew even more attention. Those two posts are the reason Indigo Naess became a searchable name.
Ross shares family moments deliberately and sparingly. His Instagram reflects a man who is proud of his sons but protective of their childhood.
Mother Kimberly Ryan: The Woman Ross Naess Chose
Kimberly Ryan met Ross Naess in Los Angeles in the early 2000s. A mutual friend introduced them at a gathering at his apartment. The two crossed paths repeatedly over the following years before a relationship developed. By 2016, after roughly 11 years together, Ross proposed.
Their first son Leif arrived on June 5, 2016, just one month after the engagement. The wedding followed on June 10, 2017, at Rancho Dos Pueblos in Santa Barbara, California. It was a three day bohemian weekend. Guests stayed in luxury tents overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Kimberly walked down the aisle barefoot, wearing a white and gold gown by designer Maria Korovilas. She was seven months pregnant with Indigo at the time. Ross wore a black Ralph Lauren tuxedo with a top hat.
Diana Ross took the stage at her son’s wedding and sang for the newlyweds. Younger brother Evan Ross performed the couple’s first dance song. Tracee Ellis Ross, Chudney Ross, Rhonda Ross Kendrick, Ashlee Simpson, and Jessica Simpson were all in attendance.
Ross posted about it on Instagram. He called it: “A perfect moment during a perfect weekend with my mom, my pregnant bride, and my firstborn son.”
Two months after the wedding, Indigo arrived. Kimberly has kept both boys away from media attention since. She shares selected photos and lets them speak for the family.
Brother Leif Naess: Indigo’s First Friend
Leif Arne Naess was born on June 5, 2016. He is 14 months older than Indigo and turns 10 in 2026. Kimberly carried Leif when she walked down the aisle. Ross called him “my firstborn son” in his wedding post.
The brothers have appeared in some of the most widely shared photos in the Ross Naess family’s social media history. In one early photo, four month old Indigo holds Leif’s hand while both boys wear matching striped jumpers. A later photo shows both boys standing side by side. Their matching long hair mirrors their father’s look almost exactly. That image spread across celebrity family forums and became the photo most associated with the name Indigo Naess online.
Ross’s birth announcement showed Leif keeping watch over his sleeping brother. That image set the tone for how the family publicly frames their bond. Two brothers. One family. One story.
Grandmother Diana Ross: The Legend Behind the Family Name
Diana Ross was born on March 26, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan. She grew up in the Brewster-Douglass housing projects and auditioned for Motown Records as a teenager. What followed was one of the most decorated careers in American music history.
As the lead singer of The Supremes, she recorded “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “You Can’t Hurry Love,” and “Baby Love.” Those songs defined the Motown sound globally. Her solo career added “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Upside Down,” and “Endless Love” to that catalog. Her 1972 role in Lady Sings the Blues earned her an Academy Award nomination.
Diana has five children across two relationships. Rhonda Ross Kendrick came from her relationship with Motown founder Berry Gordy. Tracee Ellis Ross and Chudney Ross came from her relationship with music executive Robert Ellis Silberstein. Ross Naess and Evan Ross came from her marriage to Arne Naess Jr. Through those five children, she has eight grandchildren. Indigo is one of the youngest.
The most recent viral moment connecting Diana to Indigo Naess came in May 2025. At the Met Gala, she wore a custom gown embroidered with the names of all eight grandchildren. Indigo’s name was stitched into the fabric alongside his cousins. Diana told reporters she almost did not attend until Evan persuaded her.
Grandfather Arne Naess Jr.: The Man Indigo Never Met
Arne Naess Jr. was born in 1937 in Norway. He built one of Scandinavia’s largest shipping empires and accumulated a fortune reportedly worth over 500 million dollars. He was also a serious mountaineer and the first Norwegian to summit K2, the second highest peak on Earth.
He married Diana Ross in 1986. The couple had two sons together: Ross Naess in 1987 and Evan Naess in 1988. They separated in 2000 and formally divorced that same year.
Arne Naess Jr. died in an accident in South Africa on January 12, 2004. Indigo was born 13 years later. He carries a surname belonging to a grandfather he never met. That name connects him to a Norwegian business dynasty on one side and an American music dynasty on the other.
The Ross Family Tree: Indigo’s Famous Cousins
Indigo belongs to one of the most recognizable family networks in American entertainment. Diana Ross’s five children have produced eight grandchildren in total. Indigo knows his cousins through family gatherings and Diana’s birthday celebrations.
Rhonda Ross Kendrick is Diana’s eldest daughter, married to jazz musician Rodney Kendrick. Their son Raif-Henok Emmanuel Kendrick was born in 2009. At age nine, he introduced his grandmother at the 2019 Grammy Awards.
Tracee Ellis Ross is a Golden Globe-winning actress known for Black-ish. She has no children. As Indigo’s aunt, she is among the most publicly visible members of the family.
Chudney Ross has two daughters with Joshua Faulkner: Callaway Lane, born in 2012, and Everlee Ernestine, born in 2019.
Evan Ross is an actor known for The Hunger Games franchise. He married Ashlee Simpson in 2014. He is stepfather to Bronx Wentz and father to Jagger Snow, born in 2015, and Ziggy Blu, born in 2020.
Ross Naess is Indigo’s father. His sons are Leif, born in 2016, and Indigo, born in 2017.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Indigo Naess?
Indigo Naess is the son of Ross Naess and Kimberly Ryan, born on August 15, 2017. He is 8 years old in 2026 and Diana Ross’s grandson through her son Ross. He grows up in Malibu, California.
How old is Indigo Naess in 2026?
Indigo is 8 years old in 2026. He turns 9 on August 15, 2026.
When is Indigo Naess’s birthday?
Indigo Naess was born on August 15, 2017. His zodiac sign is Leo.
Who are Indigo Naess’s parents?
His father is Ross Naess, a photographer, producer, and businessman based in Los Angeles. His mother is Kimberly Ryan, who married Ross on June 10, 2017.
Who is Indigo Naess’s brother?
His brother is Leif Arne Naess, born June 5, 2016. Leif is 14 months older than Indigo and turns 10 in 2026.
Is Indigo Naess Diana Ross’s son or grandson?
Indigo is Diana Ross’s grandson, not her son. Diana is his paternal grandmother through her son Ross Naess.
Who is Diana Ross’s youngest grandson?
Among Diana Ross’s grandchildren through her son Ross Naess, Indigo is the youngest. Overall, Ziggy Blu Ross, born in 2020, is Diana’s youngest grandchild.
Where does Indigo Naess live?
Indigo lives in Malibu, California, with his parents Ross Naess and Kimberly Ryan and his brother Leif.
Who is Arne Naess Jr. and how is he related to Indigo?
Arne Naess Jr. was a Norwegian shipping billionaire and mountaineer who married Diana Ross in 1986. He is Indigo’s paternal grandfather. He died in South Africa in January 2004, thirteen years before Indigo was born.
How many grandchildren does Diana Ross have?
Diana Ross has eight grandchildren in total. They come from four of her five children: Rhonda, Chudney, Ross, and Evan.
Did Diana Ross perform at Ross Naess’s wedding?
Yes. Diana took the stage at her son’s June 2017 wedding in Santa Barbara and sang for the newlyweds. Younger brother Evan Ross also performed during the couple’s first dance.
Final Thoughts
Indigo Naess is eight years old. His story already touches Motown Detroit, Norwegian shipping dynasties, and Hollywood red carpets. He did not choose that story. But the family around him makes clear they will carry him through it with care. A grandmother stitches his name into Met Gala gowns. A father calls him “my boy” in front of millions.
The real question is not who Indigo Naess is today. It is who he will choose to be when he is old enough to decide. That answer belongs entirely to him.