“I don’t like the idea of giving them money to do tasks they already need to do anyway.”
When it comes to the children of major celebrities, many people assume that these famous kids are used to a life of luxury. From extravagant gifts to big holidays, it may seem like these young people are given everything they need. However, this isn’t the case for every young person born into a famous family. In fact, many celebrities say that they don’t spoil their children in any way, hoping to give them a traditional upbringing, regardless of whether they’re raised in Hollywood. From mandatory chores to working for the things they need, these young superstars are holding their own through it all.
Find out why these stars don’t spoil their kids…
1. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr.
Sarah Michelle Gellar started teaching her daughter about the value of money when she was just a little girl. Back in 2016, she shared that her daughter would often ask for a glass of milk but then not drink any. Sarah decided to start charging her 1/4 of her piggy bank every time she didn’t drink the milk she asked for. She also noted that she and her husband Freddie Prinze Jr. also make sure their kids are helping out around the house.
“I cook a lot with the kids. I’m big on child labor. The kids have to help with the mashed potatoes,” she advised At Today, adding that she didn’t give them an allowance. “I don’t like the idea of giving them money to do chores that they need to do anyway.”
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2. David and Victoria Beckham
David Beckham says he and his wife rely on their children to work for the things they need. David explained that when his eldest son, Brooklyn, became a teenager, he started asking for new shoes regularly — and the couple decided he should work to spend his money.
“It got to the point where (Brooklyn) turned 14… and I thought, ‘You know, if you want something, then go work and you’ll have your own money.’ So, much to his dismay, we sent him to the French café, and he works there every Saturday and Sunday for a few hours and earns his own pocket money,” he said in The late late present.
3. Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper may leave a large inheritance to his children, but he says that is not in the plans. He has set out to Morning Assembly This money has destroyed his dynastic home and he doesn’t want that to happen to his children. Instead, he says he plans to pay for their schooling and wants them to work after that.
“I don’t envision passing on huge amounts of money. I don’t know what I’ll have. I’m not that greedy for money, but I don’t envision having some kind of pot of gold for my son. I’m going to go with what my parents said, which is, ‘School will be paid for, and then you definitely have to go to school,’” Anderson said.
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4. Julia Roberts and Danny Moder
Julia Roberts and her husband Danny Moder aren’t spoiling their kids as they grow up. While she says some people see spoiling their children as a way to show them love, that’s not the case for her family.
“I feel like some people confuse unconditional love with spoiling. None of my kids would think I have a problem with that distinction,” she told Good Housekeeping.
5. Viola Davis and Julius Tennon
As Viola Davis and her husband Julius Tennon raise their daughter Genesis, she says one of her biggest considerations is that she grows up to be worthy. While she wants Genesis to have more than she had as a child, she hopes her daughter can recognize all that she’s been given. Viola says she’s making sure to keep her grounded by not spoiling her with fancy gadgets and always holding her accountable for her actions.
“I’ve never had a home; Genesis has a home. I shop at Goal, I buy all her clothes at Goal or H&M. And possibly, if I’m feeling really good, Nordstrom Rack,” she advised Folks.
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6. Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher are very non-traditional in the way they raise their children. Mila says that they don’t give their children gifts to ensure that they don’t become spoiled and that they always have tons of new toys. Instead, they simply get a few gifts from the rest of the family and participate in charitable donations.
“So far, our custom is not to give presents to young people… Last year, after we celebrated Christmas, Wyatt was two, and it was too much. We didn’t give her anything — it was her grandparents. The child doesn’t appreciate the only present. They don’t even know what they’re expecting; they’re just expecting things,” Mila told Leisure Tonight.
She continued, “We advised our parents, ‘We’re begging you. If you need to give her something, choose a gift. If not, we’d like to make a charitable donation, to Children’s Hospital or a pet (or) whatever you need.’ That’s our new custom.”
7. Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal says he’s raising his six kids to work for the issues they need. Speaking about his parenting philosophy, he’s stated that he won’t just hand them money for a celebration. If they need money, he expects them to do their “due diligence” and come up with a “marketing strategy.” Shaq also says he rewards education and if any of his kids go to law school, he plans to compensate them financially.
“I’m like, ‘If you go to law school and graduate, you get a giant scholarship,’” he advised Insider. “So I’m trying to bribe all of them like, ‘Hey, just go to law school for me and I’ll get you whatever you need.’”
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8. Elton John and David Furnish
Elton John and his husband David Furnish want their children to have a comfortable life, but he says they don’t spoil them too much. He believes that giving them too much can ruin their lives. Instead, he tries to provide them with some semblance of normality and hopes that they will work someday.
“I really want to leave my boys in a really solid financial state. But it’s horrible to hand young people a silver spoon. It ruins their lives. Mind you, boys live essentially the most incredible lives, they’re not normal kids, and I’m not pretending they are. But there needs to be some semblance of normality, some respect for money, some respect for work,” he advised The Mirror.
9. Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld is pretty straightforward about his kids’ relationship with their money. When Kevin Hart asked Jerry how he keeps his kids grounded, he replied that he likes to remind them that they’re not rich.
“You know what I say (when people ask if we’re rich)? I am. You’re not,” he said in Comedians in cars drinking espresso.
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10. Gordon and Tana Ramsey
Gordon Ramsey doesn’t afford his children the same luxuries that he will experience. The celebrity chef explained that his children can’t join him and his wife Tana in first class when they travel because they didn’t work for it.
“They don’t sit with us in first class. They haven’t worked anywhere near enough to pay for it. At that age, at that rate, are you telling me they should sit in first class? No, they don’t. We’re really strict about that,” he told The Telegraph.
11. Daymond and Heather John
Daymond John doesn’t need his kids to rely on a faith fund. Instead, he hopes to encourage them to push themselves and work hard. He’s even written a children’s book called Little Daymond Learns to Win about becoming an entrepreneur at a younger age.
“Take a look at the young people at the bottom of the creed. Where are the Fords, the Carnegies and the Mellons? What happens is that the first generation does it, the second takes it and the third destroys it,” he said in The Marie Forleo Podcast. “If you want a car, go to work. I’ll match that.”