Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have been making the headlines pretty frequently since they skyrocketed to stardom on That 70s Show back in the 90s and early 2000s. First, it was for their beautiful love story and for being everyone’s #RelationshipGoals. Now, more often than not, it’s for their parenting style. Most recently, the couple announced that they would not be setting up trust funds for their two children. This is their reason why.
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis Will Not Be Giving Their Wealth Away To Their Kids
Children born to celebrities and/or extremely wealthy parents seemed to have won the life lottery. After all, with that kind of financial security behind them, they certainly have a leg-up in life over their less-privileged peers. While still Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis’ children fall into this category, they maybe aren’t quite as lucky as some of the other kids with celebrity parents.
In a February 2018 episode of Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Ashton Kutcher revealed that he and Mila would not be leaving any money to their two children. (1)
“We’re not setting up a trust fund for them,” he said. “We’ll end up giving our money away to charity.”
This is not the first time the pair have been open about the values they are trying to instill in their children. Mila grew up in communist Russia in a poor family. Kutcher also comes from an underprivileged background in the United States. Because of their upbringing, they both acutely understand the meaning of a dollar. Their lack of privilege growing up meant that they had to work hard to achieve their financial success. This is what they want to teach their own children.
“You Are Poor”
In an interview on Australia’s Kylie and Jackie O Show”, Kunis explained that both she and Ashton growing up poor meant nothing was handed to them. They worked for what they have, and they want their children to do the same. She semi-jokingly explained that she and Ashton often remind their children that while mommy and daddy may have money, their children, in fact, do not. (2)
“It’s a matter of teaching them from a very early age that, you know, mommy and daddy may have a dollar, but you’re poor. You are very poor. You have nothing. Mommy and daddy have a bank account.” Kunis explained on the show.
The couple does not shower their children with gifts at Christmas or on their birthdays. Instead, as a family, they give gifts to charity. In 2017, they said that the kids were just too young to even really get gift receiving and understand how to appreciate the sentiment behind a gift rather than just getting something. They were becoming less concerned about the actual things and more that they were getting lots of them.
“So far, our tradition is no presents for the kids,” Kunis said in 2017. “We’re instituting it this year because when the kids are [younger than] one, it doesn’t really matter. Last year when we celebrated Christmas, Wyatt was two and it was too much. We didn’t give her anything — it was the grandparents. The kid no longer appreciates the one gift. They don’t even know what they’re expecting; they’re just expecting stuff.” (3)
Father Ashton has said that he plans on taking his kids on plenty of camping trips. Despite their inherent privilege, he wants to teach his kids to be resourceful. The parents want to teach their kids to value experiences and connections rather than stuff. They want the children to know that the secret to happiness isn’t having tons of things but rather learning to appreciate what you have.
Business Support
Of course, just because the Kutcher-Kunis aren’t setting up a trust fund for their children doesn’t mean they aren’t financially investing in their futures. Naturally, the children will still have access to a high-quality education that many less fortunate people don’t necessarily have. Ashton also said on Shepard’s podcast that he would happily invest in his kids’ futures one day as long as they knew what they wanted and needed to do. For example, if one of his children approached him with a business idea, he would of course support that venture.
“As long as they know what to do, when they don’t have things, they know how to be resourceful,” Kutcher said.
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis sure seem to be good parents intent on instilling proper values and good work ethics in their children. It will be fun to watch these children grow and see what they decide to do with their good fortune in the future.
Keep Reading: Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis don’t believe in bathing their kids or themselves too much
Sources
- “Ashton Kutcher.” Armchair Expert pod
- “Why Mila Kunis Will Tell Her Kids That They Are “Very Poor”” Refinery29. Morgan Baila. August 10, 2016.
- “Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher Aren’t Giving Their Kids Any Christmas Presents.” Cosmopolitan. Lilian Min. October 9, 2017.