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Nigella Lawson cutting kids out of will
Filed under: Celeb Kids, Celeb Parents
Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson knows a thing or two about privileged childhoods. Her father is a former Conservative chancellor and her mother is an heir to the Lyons Corner House restaurant empire. But instead of living a life of leisure with her family money, she went to work. After failing at Oxford University, she took several jobs in publishing and later as a freelance food critic. Eventually, she built her own empire as a celebrity chef and best-selling author of several books, including How to Be a Domestic Goddess.
On her own, Lawson is thought to be worth about £15million. Add that to husband Charles Saatchi's own self-made fortune and the couple is estimated to be worth £110million. One would imagine the couple's three children would pretty much be set for life. One would be wrong.
As they say, you can't take it with you. But you can decide who gets it when you're gone, and Lawson says she has no intention of leaving her fortune to her children. Between them, Lawson and Saatchi have three kids ages 11, 12 and 13. And even though her husband disagrees, Lawson is adamant that her kids won't be living the easy life.
"I am determined that my children should have no financial security. It ruins people not having to earn money," she says. By cutting the kids out of the will, Lawson hopes they will learn that you have to work in order to earn money. Her husband, however, wants to leave the money to the kids. "I think we'll have to agree to disagree," she says.
She isn't saying just where she will leave her money, but she has been very involved with cancer charities after losing her mother, sister and first husband to the disease.
I see her point about hard work and she has every right to do whatever she pleases with her money. But I just can't imagine leaving nothing to the people who mean the most to me.
On her own, Lawson is thought to be worth about £15million. Add that to husband Charles Saatchi's own self-made fortune and the couple is estimated to be worth £110million. One would imagine the couple's three children would pretty much be set for life. One would be wrong.
As they say, you can't take it with you. But you can decide who gets it when you're gone, and Lawson says she has no intention of leaving her fortune to her children. Between them, Lawson and Saatchi have three kids ages 11, 12 and 13. And even though her husband disagrees, Lawson is adamant that her kids won't be living the easy life.
"I am determined that my children should have no financial security. It ruins people not having to earn money," she says. By cutting the kids out of the will, Lawson hopes they will learn that you have to work in order to earn money. Her husband, however, wants to leave the money to the kids. "I think we'll have to agree to disagree," she says.
She isn't saying just where she will leave her money, but she has been very involved with cancer charities after losing her mother, sister and first husband to the disease.
I see her point about hard work and she has every right to do whatever she pleases with her money. But I just can't imagine leaving nothing to the people who mean the most to me.
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ReaderComments (Page 5 of 12)
1-30-2008 @ 4:48PM
isis said...Several have said--"it's her money" and she "doesn't owe them an education" BS--most of it is her husband's money and they do owe the children an education. All parents do---I did not have kids expecting them to succeed w/o my assistance. My husband and I have no intention of having our girls have loans of any kind for school. Do not misunderstand- my children have chores and expectations are consistently being enforced--but I do not believe children should work while in high school and would prefer such for four yrs of college.
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2-03-2008 @ 9:57PM
ninainindia said...She is not saying she won't pay for their education, she is talking about the inheritance after she dies!
No where does it says that she won't pay anything for them while she is still alive.
1-30-2008 @ 4:52PM
Linda said...I think that, having seen both sides (having inherited money & having earned money) that Nigella Lawson is in as good a position as anyone to have seen examples of what works best.
Some have commented that they can't imagine leaving nothing to those they love. Could it be that Nigella and others who have not left fortunes to their offspring are actually showing MORE love for their offspring, by being concerned for their CHARACTER more than their living in the lap of luxury? Buffett did not entirely cut his offspring off......he simply did not leave the enormous bulk of his estate for them.
I received a small inheritance, with which I payed off the remainder of my mortgage and invested for retirement. It is interesting how differently even CLOSE friends treat you, even with a MODEST inheritance. I have heard comments like, "If I had the money YOU have.....", or "My parents weren't rich like YOURS" (they weren't...they lived very frugally, planned for their old age & died without debt, though).
Besides, their kids had their chance to take advantage of all the benefits....probably a college education,even.....so they have the chance to make a decent life for themselves, if they so choose. The kids aren't ENTITLED to ANY of the money, because it isn't THEIRS (it was earned & managed by their parents). It's better to let them have the challenge of making their own way, along with the satisfaction that comes with it. They will appreciate it WAY more than if they're handed it. Even a college education itself is appreciated more by many/most students if they aren't handed it, right out of high school.
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1-30-2008 @ 5:02PM
cfergie64 said...I'm not sure I beleive this, didn't her husband die a few years ago?
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1-31-2008 @ 10:12AM
isisaquaria said...Remarried? Not sure....
1-30-2008 @ 5:06PM
Quinnette said...If any of you have seen "Born Rich", I understand it. The one kid who was working "hard" in finance for 60K a year, even though what he got from his trust fund was high six figures. From what i heard, he is not pulling those 14 hour days. I work with guys who don't have nearly that kind of wealth and their kids are spoiled rotten with a air of entitlement. But they will still have about 100 million from the dad to knock about between them.
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1-30-2008 @ 5:07PM
jen said...She feels strongly about this for a reason, but I don't agree with her. I can't imagine being able to give my children a financially secure future. I agree with several of you that suggested she can instill other values in her children that will make them appreciate the inheritance and perhaps choose to do something of value to society with their financial blessings. This is something she can wish, perhaps even insist, in her will. She can set this up so that they can't legally touch it until a certain age...or until they've completed college and worked on their own for 5 years. There are many alternatives than to simply just cut them off. And, if she insists that money can ruin people why doesn't she give it all away NOW. It's a little cruel and somewhat selfish on her part, hypocrytical even.
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1-30-2008 @ 5:11PM
Darin said...WOW a parent with morals and ethics..Guess no Paris Hilton in that family.. Way to go...
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1-30-2008 @ 5:16PM
Karen said...I'm glad she's not my mother!
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1-30-2008 @ 5:20PM
Chaz said...Come on,a little start up money to get going in life,like say $10,ooo grand to each kid each year till they are 21,and then they are on their own.
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1-30-2008 @ 5:23PM
David said...I think she's going to die a lonely, old hag. Why not spend some of your fortune on helping others, especially on someone you suppose to love?? Her children are going to hate her. She could buy her children their own land, house, car, furniture, and to have a supplemental income. EVERYONE should have a supplemental income that they don't have to work for. She doesn't have to spoil her children rotten, like a Paris Hilton, but she could help them like most every other parent would want to help their children! I don't she's even a good parent. It sounds like she thinks withholding money will do the parenting for her! One thing is for certain....way too many people wasted their hard-earned money on her books!!!! She obviously doesn't appreciate who made her rich!
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1-30-2008 @ 5:25PM
Mr. bob said...Hmmm...I wonder if Nigella ever made the kids eat raw meat - or spanked them with WIRE HANGERS...?
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1-30-2008 @ 5:24PM
devaughan68 said...As parents of four, everything we do is for and about the well-being of our children. If we had the opportunity to insure our children would have little, if any, financial worries, that would be wonderful! However, I think it's not about how much you have. It's about raising children that understand the money is available to them if necessary...maybe to help get their dreams off and running. Not allowing them to be spoiled rotten 'Hilton' kids!
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1-30-2008 @ 5:28PM
david said...if you're not going to leave it to your kids, then whats the purpose of making more than you need... I work very hard just to pay my bills and take care of my life responsibilities and when i do work overtime, it is only to have extra money for my kids....why
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1-31-2008 @ 12:55PM
Elaine Somerville said...This woman has a couple of loose screws if you ask me.
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1-30-2008 @ 5:39PM
Bill said...Nigella should visit my site:
http://www.giversandreceivers.com
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1-30-2008 @ 5:43PM
Ken said...Sick bitch. Her kids should take her down before she signs the papers!
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1-30-2008 @ 5:47PM
Chas said...I say take hers away from her and let her start over again.
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1-30-2008 @ 5:47PM
angie b said...One can always say "it's her money and she can do with as she pleases"- that is true. Sounds like she came from one of those "cold-fish, emotionless aristocratic" families that didn't invest in her emotionally ansd she's doing the same to her children.
I can see her not leaving them ALL of her estate, but nothing? Maybe if she was home with them more and not off galavanting around the world peddling her wares she could actually be there to raise them and teach them how to be responsible and respected adults. Sounds like she thinks this is an impossible thing for her to do, so she has given up already and doomed them to being losers. If you don't/won't put the effort into your children, that is exactly what you will get back from them.
Sounds like a selfish, hateful cold woman to me who should invest in some extensive psychological therapy.
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1-30-2008 @ 5:56PM
Victoria said...Wow, what a nasty attitude towards her own children! She should leave the money in trust to her children with stipulations as to how they can spend the money and what is expected of them in order to obtain and retain the money. I would hate to have wealthy parents with her attitude. She doesn't believe her own children are entitled to what she worked for and yet, is willing to leave it to others who didn't earn it either.Where's the logic in that? Hopefully, her husband will outlive her, inherit her wealth and then when he dies leave something to the kids. And, his next wife.
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