Key Points:
- Tyler Perry revealed he once sacked his aunt for not taking her job seriously.
- He told relatives to get jobs after his mother’s death, refusing to keep giving handouts.
- Perry said his 10-year-old son must do chores for rewards and flies coach, not private.
Tyler Perry Talks Tough Love With Family And Money
Tyler Perry, one of Hollywood’s richest creatives, has made it clear that being rich doesn’t mean handing out free money to family. In a recent chat on the YouTube show Den of Kings, Perry shared why he fired his own aunt and why his son won’t be raised as a “spoiled rich kid.”
Speaking to host Kirk Franklin, alongside Derrick Hayes and rapper Jeezy, Perry explained that he tried helping his aunt by giving her a job instead of money.
“She would always call asking for money. I said, ‘I want to help you build, not be your welfare. So, let me give you a job,’” Perry said.
However, things didn’t go as planned.
“She wasn’t coming to work and kept calling off,” he added. “I told her, ‘You gotta go. You want money but don’t want to work? That doesn’t work for me.’”
He Gave Family 60 Days To Get Jobs After Mum’s Death
Perry also revealed that when his mother passed away in 2009, she asked him to keep supporting some relatives. But he had a different plan.
“I sent them letters, saying they had 60 days to find work,” he shared. “I wasn’t going to keep supporting them like that.”
And it worked. Every one of them eventually found jobs.
“Even if they didn’t earn much, at least they had something. It gave them pride,” Perry said. “That’s the same thing I’d want if I were in their shoes.”
Perry Is Raising His Son With Hard Work Values
The Madea creator, who is now worth $1.4 billion according to Forbes, also applies this mindset to parenting his 10-year-old son, Aman. He believes rewards should follow effort.
“If he wants something, he must do chores,” Perry said. “I don’t believe in giving kids things that will handicap them. That’s the worst thing.”
Back in December 2024 on The Sherri Shepherd Show, Perry shared that Aman only gets books and Legos for Christmas. He also flies economy, not private or first-class.
“He once complained about the long airport lines,” Perry said. “So, his mum and I said, ‘He’s flying coach now.’ He didn’t work for this life, I did.”
Perry added: “He’s not going to be one of those spoiled rich kids I can’t stand. He has no money.”
