Sting, or Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner CBE, is the frontman for world renowned rock group, The Police. His talent has brought his immense financial success—somewhere in the range between $160 and $500 million—but that doesn’t mean his six children are set for life.
“I told them there won’t be much money left because we are spending it! We have a lot of commitments. What comes in, we spend, and there isn’t much left. I certainly don’t want to leave them trust funds that are albatrosses round their necks. They have to work. All my kids know that and they rarely ask me for anything, which I really respect and appreciate.”
He went on to explain, “People make assumptions, that they were born with a silver spoon in their mouth, but they have not been given a lot.”
Sting has six children, between the ages of 46 and 27; Joe, Fuchsia, Mickey, Jake, Eliot, and Giacomo, respectively. Though Sting has been clear that his children will have to earn their own place in the world, that doesn’t mean he’s leaving them completely in the lurch.
“Obviously, if they were in trouble I would help them, but I’ve never really had to do that. They have the work ethic that makes them want to succeed on their own merit.”
Sting cites modern “overnight successes” like Justin Bieber as an explanation of his logic. “If it had all been handed to me on a plate, I’m not sure I would appreciate it or have survived.”
Sources:
Sting says he won’t leave his kids a big inheritance (cnbc.com)
Sting says he won’t leave his kids a big inheritance (today.com)
