Being the child of an international rockstar isn’t always glamorous! In a new interview with the Daily Mail, British music legend Sting spoke about his plans for his six children and his £180 million (about $300 million in U.S. currency) fortune.
“I told them there won’t be much money left because we are spending it,” the former Police frontman, 62, said. “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.”
Sting, whose real name is Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, has been married to wife Trudie Styler since 1992. They share children Brigitte “Mickey” Michael (30), Jake (29), Eliot “Coco” Pauline (23), and Giacomo Luke (18). Sting is also dad to son Joseph (37) and daughter Fuchsia Katherine (32), whom he shares with ex-wife Frances Tomelty. Mickey appeared in Greta Gerwig’s 2012 comedy Frances Ha, and Coco is the lead singer of the band I Blame Coco.
“Obviously, if they were in trouble I would help them, but I’ve never really had to do that,” the 16-time Grammy winner revealed. “They have this work ethic that makes them want to succeed on their own merit. People make assumptions, that they were born with a silver spoon in their mouth, but they have not been given a lot.”
In addition to lacking the financial perks of having a famous father, the musician’s children have also had to deal with the negative aspects of his success.
“With my children there is great wealth, success—a great shadow over them—so it’s no picnic at all being my child,” he admitted. “I discuss that with them; it’s tough for them.”
