With an estimated net worth of US$160 million (AU$220 million) thanks to his stint as James Bond – plus another freshly-inked deal involving Netflix and Rian Johnson’s forthcoming Knives Out sequels, which will direct a tidy $100 million paycheque his way – it’s safe to say Daniel Craig has accumulated a decent fortune… but his children won’t be enjoying any of it through inheritance.
During an interview published in the latest issue of Candis Magazine (via The Times), the 53-year-old actor revealed his offspring are on track to receive a phat 00-nothing, before describing inheritance as a rather gross concept.
“Isn’t there an old adage that if you die a rich person, you’ve failed?” says Daniel Craig.
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“I think Andrew Carnegie gave away what in today’s money would be about $11 billion, which shows how rich he was because I’ll bet he kept some of it, too.”
“I think inheritance is quite distasteful… My philosophy is get rid of it or give it away before you go.”
Craig currently has two children of his own: 29-year-old daughter Ella Craig from his previous marriage to Fiona Loudon, as well as a 3-year-old daughter with his current wife and fellow actress, Rachel Weisz. Weisz also has a son of her own from a previous relationship with Requiem For A Dream and Black Swan director, Darren Aronofsky.
As fascinating and somewhat contrarian as it may seem, Daniel Craig isn’t exactly the first high-profile figure to deny his children an obscene financial inheritance. Action cinema icon Jackie Chan, for one, has stated his dropkick of a son Jaycee won’t be copping a single cent of the old U$370 million (AU$511.5 million) fortune, either.
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“If he is capable, he can make his own money. And if he is not, he will just be wasting mine.”
Outside of the entertainment industry, the Oracle of Omaha and legendary investor – Warren Buffett – intends to direct his US$103.7 billion (AU$143.4 billion) net worth towards philanthropic endeavours instead of his kids’ pockets. Although we should point out they are in their mid-60s and have already lived pretty full lives.
“After much observation of super-wealthy families, here’s my recommendation: Leave the children enough so that they can do anything, but not enough that they can do nothing,” Buffett wrote in a note to shareholders.
“I’m delighted that my three children pursue philanthropic efforts that involve both money and time. More important, they are happy that they can be involved in helping others. They have their mother’s genes.”
Whatever the case, even without any inheritance, being the child of Daniel Craig, Jackie Chan, and Warren Buffett still beats the hell out of working a salt mine. One can only assume what other perks come with the blood relation.
