Sting said that he won't be leaving his fortune to his six children.
'Form of Abuse’: Sting Explains Why He Is Not Leaving His $550 Million Fortune to His Six Children
Sting has said that he does not plan to leave his estimated $550 million fortune to his six children, arguing that inherited wealth removes the incentive to work and that his children are capable of building their own success.
With over four decades in the music industry, Sting is one of the most well-known names of the rock genre.
Opening up about his decision, the 74-year-old stated that he will still continue to support his children.
'They're Tough, My Kids'
An X post about Sting refusing to give inheritance to his children.
The musician, born Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner and known professionally as Sting, first discussed his position on inheritance in 2014 and has reiterated it in a recent interview.
During an interview on CBS Sunday Morning, Sting was asked whether he still tells his children they will not inherit his fortune.
"I think the worst thing you can do to a kid is to say, 'You don't have to work,'" he answered.
"I think that's a form of abuse that I hope I'm never uh guilty of," Sting added.
The Every Breath You Take singer stated that he knows his children are blessed with his “extraordinary work ethic” and that he tells them they must work, adding, "I'm spending our money" and "I'm paying for your education."
He said he does not consider this approach "cruel," explaining, "There's a kindness there and a trust in them that they will make their own way. They're tough, my kids."
In a 2014 interview with the Daily Mail, Sting said that he did not want to leave his children trust funds because inherited money would be "albatrosses round their necks."
The singer said that he would support them if they encountered financial difficulty. "They have the work ethic that makes them want to succeed on their own merit," he said.
Sting Discusses His Early Career
In the same CBS Sunday Morning interview, host Mark Phillips asked about Sting's work history before he established himself in the music industry.
The musician said that he began playing in bands in his late teenage years and held a range of jobs, including office work, construction, performing on a cruise ship and teaching in a mining village.
After having a child, Sting said he decided to move to London to pursue music.
"I have to now, I have to go to London," he said. Sting mentioned that he slept in a friend's living room and relied on a single contact to break into the industry.
The singer said that his goal was never fame but rather to make "a living as a musician," a belief he said continues to define him.