Tyler Perry on Family Support and Work Ethics
Tyler Perry is quite protective of his finances.
The successful media mogul, with a net worth exceeding $1.4 billion, expressed that he prefers not to give handouts to his family.
During a recent appearance on the YouTube series “Den of Kings”, he shared an experience where he nearly had to dismiss an aunt for taking her job too lightly.
Perry mentioned that family members often ask for financial assistance. “She said she wanted a job. She always asks for money, and I do send her some,” he explained to host Kirk Franklin and guests Derrick Hayes and Jay “Geezy” Jenkins.
He continued, “I want to help you, but not in a way that makes you dependent. So I offered her a job instead.”
However, he noted that this aunt frequently made excuses, leading him to take a firmer stand on the matter. “I finally said, ‘Well, you have to go.’ If you want money but not to earn it, that’s just not going to work for me,” he recalled.
Amid facing a $250 million sexual assault lawsuit, Perry shared that he uses a similar method in raising his son, Aman. “We don’t believe in giving anything that might hinder growth,” he said. “It’s really the worst thing you could do.”
Reflecting on family dynamics, Perry recounted a letter he wrote to relatives after his mother’s passing in 2009. He urged them to find work within about 60 days. “I told them I couldn’t keep supporting them in that manner,” he said, noting that they all eventually secured jobs.
“They might not have been high-paying, but it gave them a sense of pride, which is what they wished for me,” he added.
Perry’s net worth stands at about $1.4 billion, with complete ownership of his projects. His top franchise, Madea, has grossed over $660 million.
This isn’t the first time he has discussed his parenting approach. In December 2024, on the “Sherry Shepherd Show”, he mentioned gifts for Aman, saying he got a book and LEGO set for Christmas after flying coach.
“He complained once… about the long lines at the airport,” Perry shared, adding that he and Aman’s mother, Jerilla Bekele, reached an agreement on how the child would travel.
“He understands I worked hard, and since he hasn’t yet, he’s got some lessons to learn. He won’t be one of those spoiled rich kids. I just can’t stand that,” he emphasized. “He doesn’t have any money.
