Gene Simmons: 'My Kids Won't Be Living Off My Millions'

[Brian Damage]

Kiss star Gene Simmons is determined not to let his teenage children live off his money when they reach adulthood. The multi-millionaire rocker wants his son Nick, 18, and daughter Sophie, 15, to fend for themselves in the world.

Speaking on the TV show Conversations With Michael Eisner, due to air on Wednesday, he says, "What I wanna do is what every bird does in its nest - it forces the kids to go out there and figure it out for themselves. By the way, in terms of an inheritance and stuff, they're gonna be taken care of, but they will never be rich off my money. Because every year they should be forced to get up out of bed, and go out and work and make their own way."

"The point is, there's gonna be a yearly allowance so that their rent and their food and all that stuff's gonna be taken care of, but if you want riches, you should do that yourself - you should never thank your parents, 'I was born into money.' 'Well, that's nice, but what have you done lately?' Because I don't them to say, 'Thanks, dad, for making me rich.' No, you wanna be able to stand on your own two feet and say, 'I did that.'"

[Ireneparalegal]

Well, I did see that interview and I will say on one hand, Kudos to him for making his kids see that they can't get their hands on his millions, on the other hand, "here kids, I will pay your rent, your groceries and so forth." A yearly allowance. What happened to kids going to college, getting an education and making a career so they can pay for those things themselves and go without having that safety net?

[88survivor]

He's Gene Simmons. What did you expect? Nothing ever rings true in that man's mouth.

[Ireneparalegal]

Well, the man is brutally honest. He stated on the show that he lived with Cher and Diana Ross and he told these two ladies that if they wanted marriage, not to expect it from him because he would never marry. He also stated a lot of things that so far, he has remained true to. I do believe he will stick with not giving his kids his millions. I just don't see what he is doing if he is going to give them a yearly allowance. What will that accomplish? I can see if he was going to give them a yearly allowance for the next FIVE YEARS til they get themselves established with an education and eventually a career and then cut them off of that allowance, but if you know you will have your rent, food and other items taken care of by daddy, then why bother getting a career or job? What is the incentive here?

[ThomasE]

I thought that he was going to be cruel, but the fact that he will cover only the basics is still a blessing to me. I would love that. There are people like myself that have vision and having someone to invest in you regarding the basics while elevating to success is a wonderful thing.

[Lodee]

Well, I did see that interview and I will say on one hand, Kudos to him for making his kids see that they can't get their hands on his millions, on the other hand, "here kids, I will pay your rent, your groceries and so forth." A yearly allowance. What happened to kids going to college, getting an education and making a career so they can pay for those things themselves and go without having that safety net?
Yeah, I agree. They are still living off his millions to a degree. :rolleyes:

[Ireneparalegal]

Yeah, I agree. They are still living off his millions to a degree. :rolleyes:
Exactly. You got what I said. I don't think if I had that kind of money I would let my kids live like paupers, however, I would put their money in a trust account/trust fund and when they have reached a certain age and have agreed to establish themselves by getting a college education and having a job/career I would decide whether to release that money to them or they would have to wait til I passed on.

If my bills, rent, food and other essentials were being paid for at the age of 18, why should I ever get my butt off the couch and go out and get a job or career? As long as Daddy pays for it, why should I bother? :rolleyes:

[An 80s Guy]

Well, the man is brutally honest. He stated on the show that he lived with Cher and Diana Ross and he told these two ladies that if they wanted marriage, not to expect it from him because he would never marry. He also stated a lot of things that so far, he has remained true to. I do believe he will stick with not giving his kids his millions. I just don't see what he is doing if he is going to give them a yearly allowance. What will that accomplish? I can see if he was going to give them a yearly allowance for the next FIVE YEARS til they get themselves established with an education and eventually a career and then cut them off of that allowance, but if you know you will have your rent, food and other items taken care of by daddy, then why bother getting a career or job? What is the incentive here?

eww,Cher what year?

[Ireneparalegal]

eww,Cher what year?
This was back in the 70's dear. After Cher and Sonny were divorced. I remember the tabloids had a field day with this romance. What was even funnier, was seeing the pics of these two together out in public and Gene was wearing a mask, similiar to Michael Jackson, so as to hide his face. Remember, this was the era when KISS members were not seen without their make-up on.