Home / News / Celebrity News Tom Brady raises eyebrows after saying the ‘hardest’ part of parenting is being rich @tombrady/Instagram "It’s not the sleepless nights, the difficult decisions about their futures, or the grocery aisle tantrums—apparently for him, it’s being rich." By Alexandra Frost August 1, 2022 @tombrady/Instagram Rectangle Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneer NFL player and husband to Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen, has revealed the toughest part of parenting. He has people’s attention after complaining in a recent episode of the Drive with Jim Farley podcast that it’s not the sleepless nights, the difficult decisions about their futures, or the grocery aisle tantrums—apparently for him, it’s being rich. The star is worth $250 million, which he describes in the podcast as both an immense blessing and a challenge in raising kids. “We have people clean for us. We have people that make our food. We have people that drive to the airport…that’s my kids’ reality.” The couple has three children together, ages 9-12. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tom Brady (@tombrady) Related: We’re ready for celebrity parents to get real about their privilege Brady’s admission got parents’ attention as many families struggle with pandemic-related financial woes and a potentially looming recession. He did nod to his appreciation of his wealth, having grown up in the midwest in middle-class America, and with his wife Giselle being raised with five sisters in a two-bedroom home in Brazil. “It’s probably the hardest thing for us as parents with myself and my wife, [who] grew up in rural Brazil, at the farther state, south Rio Grande…a very small farming town, a very simple girl. There were two bedrooms in their house, one for their parents and one for her and her five sisters,” he says in the podcast. “I grew up in a middle-class family in California—my dad worked his ass off for the family, and my mom stayed at home and took care of us kids.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gisele Bündchen (@gisele) He goes on to remember his mom making home-cooked meals, doing laundry and supporting him by showing up at games. But Brady says he has to manufacture some of these experiences for his own children to “create experiences that are more along the lines of what most kids go through.” Related: 9 things to do to set up your child for a smart financial future (before they turn 10) As rumors circulate of an impending recession, and Americans still work to recover from pandemic-related financial woes, some found it hard to sympathize with the millionaire’s parenting difficulties. Did Tom Brady really just say that the most difficult thing about parenting for him is being really really wealthy? Because I wish I had that kind of parenting problem, Tom!— Marthonius J. Gleason 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🌻 (@MrsMLG923) July 31, 2022 One tweet says, “I thought it was finding high-quality affordable childcare and getting paid family leave.” Another wrote, “@TomBrady you want to change your kids’ reality? You don’t allow the maid to clean their room or take out the trash. You assign chores to teach independence. Their [sic] are plenty of wealthy that have taught their children the value of hard work.” Others found the honesty refreshing, pointing out that Brady seems open and aware of his privilege. While most Americans won’t ever come close to being able to relate to Brady’s issue, his commentary opened the door to widespread conversation about privilege, responsibility and the impact wealth has on children. Celebrity News Hilary Duff says she’s ‘no longer responding’ to messages asking when her baby is coming Celebrity News David Beckham fangirls over Spice Girls reunion at his wife’s 50th bday and it’s EVERYTHING Celebrity News Mariska Hargitay paused a ‘Law & Order: SVU’ shoot to help a lost child who thought she was a real cop The latest Viral & Trending Mom’s parody about dance recital inflation will have you laughing (and crying) Celebrity News David Beckham fangirls over Spice Girls reunion at his wife’s 50th bday and it’s EVERYTHING Parenting Parenting coach shares insightful tips on how to develop self-esteem in children under 5 Viral & Trending Viral video urges millennial adults to bring back summer bucket lists—and we’re here for it