I was a millionaire by age 12 & paid my parents’ annual salary – I even gave my big sister an allowance
MOST young girls can only dream of being an actor on their favourite TV channels, but it was a reality for Keke Palmer.
Now 31, Keke reveals all about working in Hollywood as a teenage girl and how she became a millionaire at just 12 years old.
Speaking on the Club Shay Sahy podcast, Keke, who got her first acting role at 11 reveals why she has no regrets about sharing her salary with her family.
She revealed that at one point she was being paid £31,000 ($40,000) shooting just one episode of the Nickelodeon show True Jackson VP – the same as her parents’ yearly salary.
“My parents, at their best, made $40,000 a year growing up a year, I was making that a show,” she said.
Keke revealed that her parents gave her an allowance using her salary, as well as her big sister.
While there have been many debates on who should handle working children’s salaries – Keke has no qualms with how her money was divided among the family.
The actor continued: “We’re family, and everybody sacrificed for me to be where I’m at.
“My dad gave up his pension, he had worked at the company he worked at for over 15 years.
“Gave up his pension for me to have the opportunity for my dreams.
“My mother, they gave up everything. She gave up everything so she could travel with me.
“So how I feel about it is what’s mine is theirs. What’s theirs is mine.”
Keke also detailed how at an early age it was up to her to provide for the family – something she was fully aware of even as a child.
She said: “It’s just one of those things where I feel like I could be sad, but why?
“Look what I gained. I gained so much more than what I sacrificed.”
The podcast clip shared on TikTok (@clubshayshaypod) went viral with over 4.9 million views and 839k likes.
Richest Nepo Babies
NEPO babies - children of celebrities or influential individuals who benefit from their parents' fame and connections - often have a leg up in their careers. Here are some of the wealthiest nepo babies:
Blue Ivy Carter
- Parents: Beyoncé and Jay-Z
- Worth: Estimated to be worth millions due to her parents’ combined wealth and her own ventures in music.
Brooklyn Beckham
- Parents: David and Victoria Beckham
- Worth: With parents who are icons in football and fashion, Brooklyn has carved out his own space in photography and modelling.
Kaia Gerber
- Parents: Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber
- Worth: Following in her supermodel mother’s footsteps, Kaia has a flourishing modelling career.
Jaden Smith
- Parents: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith
- Worth: Jaden has succeeded as an actor, musician, and entrepreneur, leveraging his parents’ fame and his own talents.
Lila Moss
- Parents: Kate Moss and Jefferson Hack
- Worth: As the daughter of a supermodel, Lila has quickly risen in the fashion world with numerous high-profile modelling gigs.
Lourdes Leon
- Parents: Madonna
- Worth: Lourdes has made a name for herself in fashion and music, benefiting from her mother’s legendary status.
North West
- Parents: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
- Worth: Even at a young age, North is already a social media sensation and has appeared in several fashion campaigns.
These individuals exemplify how familial connections can provide significant advantages in building wealth and achieving success.
People were quick to take to the comments, praising Keke for her selflessness.
One person wrote: “The fact that she understands everybody sacrificed.”
Another commented: “I love how wise she is! Her parents did a GREAT job raising her.”
“A family that actually loves each other.,” penned a third.
Meanwhile a fourth said: “I could watch Keke Palmer talk all day about life.”
“Bravo to her parents for raising such a phenomenal woman,” claimed a fifth.
Someone else added: “Keke is proof that when you have great parents who love and respect you, you will turn out great.”
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