"Fields of Gold," yes. Oceans of money, no.
Sting told the UK publication The Mail on Sunday that he won't be
leaving his more than $300 million fortune to his six children.
"I told them there won't be much money
left because we are spending it! We have a lot of commitments. What comes in we
spend, and there isn't much left," he said. "I certainly don't want
to leave them trust funds that are albatrosses round their necks."
Not that they've needed the money. They all
have a good work ethic, he added.
"They have this work ethic that makes
them want to succeed on their own merit. People make assumptions, that they
were born with a silver spoon in their mouth, but they have not been given a
lot," he said.
Sting's children have done well for
themselves, particularly daughter Mickey, who had a major role in the film
"Frances Ha."
The former Police frontman, now 62, was born
Gordon Sumner and grew up working-class in Wallsend, near Newcastle in
northeast Britain. He told The Mail on Sunday that he couldn't wait to leave
his hometown.
"It was a pretty violent wrench. I
didn't feel I belonged there and the family was pretty dysfunctional in many
ways. My parents were not happy together," he said. "They loved their
kids but it was a toxic environment. I needed to escape and I am glad I
did."
Sting went on to great success, first with
the Police and then as a solo act. For his latest work, the musical "The
Last Ship," he's returned to his childhood.
"The irony is that I'm going back to
Wallsend, from where I had done everything in my power to escape," he
said.
The show, which is currently running in
Chicago, is expected to premiere on Broadway in the fall.
Sting said he doesn't feel guilty about his
wealth -- "I use my houses and love having them. I am grateful I have made
money" -- but he still tries to keep his feet on the ground.
"I demand a citizen's life -- I really
do. Walking the street; going to a bar on my own," he said. "I want
to be able to pick up my bags from the (airport luggage) carousel and walk to
the car. There are times when I don't want or need attention."
No comments:
Post a Comment