Why Tom Hanks’ son is living in a trailer park

Chet Hanks, the 35-year-old son of Hollywood icons Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, has traded in luxury living for a more unconventional lifestyle—settling into a Jayco Eagle RV in a Nashville trailer park.

The actor and aspiring country music artist shared the details of his unique living situation during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on April 28, 2026.

Hanks explained that after furnishing a condo in Los Angeles, he wasn’t eager to go through the hassle of setting up another apartment in Nashville. “I didn’t want to get an apartment because I literally just got a condo in L.A. and I furnished it. I didn’t want to do that again,” he said.

Having initially stayed in rental homes and hotels, Chet grew tired of the temporary setups and decided to make the move to an RV after a trip to Northern California, where he stayed in an Airstream. The mobile home, according to Chet, had “everything you need,” including a kitchen and a walk-in shower—a luxury in trailer parks.

The move has given Chet more than just a place to live; it’s provided a sense of community. He noted that, contrary to the typical “sketchy” stereotype, his trailer park neighbors, mostly retirees, have been “great people.”

Chet’s new Nashville life is paying off professionally as well. He recently performed at Stagecoach country music festival, where his father, Tom Hanks, made an appearance to support him. The actor was seen enjoying the performance, bopping along with the crowd, while Chet and his band, Something Out West, played their song “You Better Run.”

“It was a big deal,” Chet said of the performance, admitting he was nervous but excited, as it was only their second live show.

Chet’s unorthodox living situation is just another chapter in his journey, as he carves out his own identity in both the music world and beyond, all while maintaining a close-knit relationship with his famous family.