Wait a second,I thought parents had no favorites lol

In my family there is more than one golden child. The first born is the sister who looks like my father's mother. She died when he was 9 years old and he was the first born too and his father's golden child. The only one who studied a career.
The youngest is almost a photo copy of my own mother and was also spoiled.
I don't look like any of my parents  who are brown eyed and dark hair. I look Brittish like my mother's dad and I am the middle child. I look and feel like a tourist who was born in the wrong country.

Some moms prefer boy children so they treat their sons the best and ignore or are mean to their daughters.

Yes! So glad you’re on youtube

My ex of 25 yrs is a malignant borderline narcissist. I never met his parents, they died before we met so I have no idea what kind of people they were. I suspect though that his maternal family was narcissistic and that he was raised to be a golden child. He was 3rd /middle child, elder siblings are highly narcisstic while younger two are people pleasers.

I think sometimes at least in certain families the golden child actually does do less wrong so everyone in the family does not see it as unwarranted especially if it's not that extreme a difference. If the kids are all pretty much acting and performing relatively the same n the reaction by the parents is extremely different that's the most unhealthy and obvious. I do think however a lot of the golden child syndrome is more subtle and a little understandable. You are right that the golden child or most favored will usually be the one or ones that each of the parent most identifies with and or the child who is performing the best in the things that the parent most values n society most values such as school,sports, physical attractiveness. Also the child who behaved the best by being quietest n most compliant will also be part of it as the parents see them as easier. I suspect over time as the child gets older n careers n money come into possibility the parent likely thinks hmm this is not only someone we won't likely ever have to financially help but if the bottom ever falls out they can help us becomes a consideration. Unfortunately for many of the golden children they spend a lifetime performing, never really knowing if they are loved for who they truly are n are less resilient.