100 Best Teen Dramas Part 3: Elite Lives & Luxury Dramas

There is a specific sub-genre of teen drama that focuses on the “1% of the 1%.” These shows are filled with designer clothes, penthouses, and scandals that make the front page of tabloids. Here are 10 shows that perfected the “Rich Kids” aesthetic.

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21. Gossip Girl (2007–2012)

“You know you love me. XOXO.” The ultimate show about the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite. It followed Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf as they navigated high school, college, and social warfare.

• Why it’s a must-watch: The fashion, the New York setting, and the sheer audacity of the drama. It’s the peak of aspirational teen TV.
• Best Character: Blair Waldorf (The undisputed Queen B).

22. 90210 (2008–2013)

The CW’s glitzy reboot of the 90s classic. While it starts with a similar premise (siblings moving to Beverly Hills), it quickly carves its own path with wilder plotlines and a very 2010s aesthetic.

• Why it’s a must-watch: It’s pure, soapy fun. It’s the perfect “beach watch.”
• Best Character: Naomi Clark.

23. The Carrie Diaries (2013–2014)

A prequel to Sex and the City, following a teenage Carrie Bradshaw in the 80s as she discovers New York City and falls in love with fashion (and her first boyfriend, Sebastian Kydd).

• Why it’s a must-watch: It’s colorful, nostalgic, and has a lot more heart than the original series.
• Best Character: Dorrit Bradshaw.

24. Privileged (2008–2009)

A short-lived but beloved show about a Yale graduate who becomes a live-in tutor for two wealthy, rebellious twin sisters in Palm Beach.

• Why it’s a must-watch: It was witty, charming, and focused on the value of education and sisterhood over just parties.
• Best Character: Megan Smith.

25. The Lying Game (2011–2013)

From the author of Pretty Little Liars, this show follows identical twins separated at birth who swap lives to find their biological mother, only for things to go horribly wrong.

• Why it’s a must-watch: The mystery is genuinely gripping, and Emma/Sutton are fascinating characters to watch.
• Best Character: Sutton Mercer.

26. Make It or Break It (2009–2012)

Set in the world of elite competitive gymnastics, it follows a group of teenage girls training for the Olympics while dealing with the intense pressure of the sport.

• Why it’s a must-watch: It captures the “luxury” of elite athletic facilities and the extreme sacrifices required for greatness.
• Best Character: Payson Keeler.

27. Bunheads (2012–2013)

Created by the mind behind Gilmore Girls, it follows a Las Vegas showgirl who impulsively marries a man and moves to his small coastal town, where she begins teaching at his mother’s dance studio.

• Why it’s a must-watch: It has the same fast-paced, quirky dialogue that made Gilmore Girls famous.
• Best Character: Michelle Simms.

28. Hellcats (2010–2011)

A drama set in the world of competitive college cheerleading. It followed a pre-law student who had to join the cheer squad to keep her scholarship.

• Why it’s a must-watch: It’s high-energy and features some incredible athletic choreography.
• Best Character: Marti Perkins.

29. Jane by Design (2012)

A teenage girl who is mistaken for an adult and lands a job at a high-end fashion house. She has to balance her life as a high school student and a fashion executive.

• Why it’s a must-watch: It’s like The Devil Wears Prada meets Hannah Montana.
• Best Character: Billy Nutter.

30. Gossip Girl (2021–2023)

The HBO Max reboot that brought the series into the age of influencers and social media. It was darker, more diverse, and focused on the power dynamics of a new generation of Upper East Siders.

• Why it’s a must-watch: The production value is incredible, and it offers a fascinating (if cynical) look at modern Gen Z wealth.
• Best Character: Monet de Haan.

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Next: Part 4 - Supernatural High: Vampires, Werewolves & Witches