Sting Says His Children Won’t Rely on a Massive Inheritance: ‘Go to Work’

Sting says he has no intention of giving his children a life in which they never have to work.

During a recent appearance on CBS Sunday Morning, the musician opened up about money, privilege, and why he believes shielding children from responsibility can ultimately do more harm than good. The former Police frontman, whose decades-long career helped build a fortune estimated at hundreds of millions, explained that his six children were raised with the expectation that they would eventually build their own careers and achieve financial independence.

“Go to work,” Sting said when describing the message he has consistently given his family.

The singer, born Gordon Sumner in Newcastle, England, said he does not view that philosophy as harsh or unsupportive. Instead, he framed it as an act of trust, confidence that his children are capable of building meaningful lives on their own rather than depending on inherited wealth.

Sting has six children from his relationships with actress Frances Tomelty and filmmaker Trudie Styler. Several of them have already established careers in creative industries. His daughter Eliot Sumner has worked as a singer-songwriter and actor, while daughter Mickey Sumner has appeared in television and film projects over the last decade.

Still, Sting emphasized that success should come through work, not family money.

He argued that telling children they never need to earn a living can actually damage their sense of purpose and independence. In one of the interview’s more striking moments, the musician described that mindset as harmful rather than generous. “You don’t have to work” is “a form of abuse,” he said, adding that he hopes he never treats his children that way.

The comments reflect a philosophy Sting has discussed in various forms over the years. Despite his global fame and long-running success as both a solo artist and member of The Police, he has often portrayed himself less as a celebrity and more as a working musician, someone who still sees creative work as central to identity and personal fulfillment.

That distinction appears important to him. Rather than describing his career as the result of fame or glamour, Sting spoke about the years before his breakthrough success, when music existed alongside ordinary jobs and financial uncertainty.

Before becoming one of the defining voices of late-1970s and 1980s rock music, Sting worked a variety of jobs in England. He recalled spending time in offices, working construction, teaching in mining villages, and performing aboard cruise ships while trying to establish himself as a professional musician.

Like many artists from working-class backgrounds, he said employment was never optional. That mentality helped shape not only his career but also the way he raised his children. According to Sting, they developed strong work habits partly because there was never an expectation they would simply inherit enough money to avoid responsibility.

In recent years, children of actors, musicians, and filmmakers, often labeled “nepo babies” online, have faced growing scrutiny over the advantages that come with famous parents and financial security.

Sting’s comments place him among several high-profile celebrities who have publicly questioned the idea of leaving enormous fortunes to their children. Some wealthy public figures have argued that massive inheritances can reduce ambition or distort a person’s understanding of work and purpose.