Celebrity chef and Food Network star Guy Fieri, famously known as the Mayor of Flavortown, is not dishing out a life of privilege to his teenage sons just because of their famous last name.
Fieri recently revealed that he has some serious expectations for his boys when it comes to their education and self-sufficiency.
In an interview with Fox News, Fieri, 55, shared that he is following in his father's footsteps when it comes to instilling values in his sons. He stated, "I’ve told them the same thing my dad told me. My dad says, 'When I die, you can expect that I’m going to die broke, and you’re going to be paying for the funeral,' and I told my boys, 'None of this that we’ve been … that I’ve been building are you going to get unless you come and take it from me.'"
Fieri is adamant that his kids earn their own way in life, and by the time they finish their education, he expects them to have multiple degrees and be self-sufficient individuals.
However, his youngest son, Ryder, who is 17 and a high school senior, had some reservations about his father's stringent rules. Ryder felt that it was unfair for his dad to push for an MBA even before he had started college.
Fieri humorously shared his son's reaction, saying, "And he’s like, 'Dad this is so unfair. I haven’t even gone to college yet, and you’re already pushing that I’ve got to get an MBA? Can I just get through college?'"
Fieri explained that he took inspiration from former basketball superstar Shaquille O’Neal, who once said, “If you want any of this cheese, you’ve got to give me two degrees.” Fieri adapted this philosophy to mean postgraduate degrees for his own children.
As for his eldest son, Hunter, who is 27 and recently got engaged to professional pickleball player Tara Bernstein, he's already on his way to fulfilling his father's expectations. Hunter is pursuing a master's degree while also working alongside his famous dad.
Fieri couldn't be prouder of Hunter and believes he has a bright future. "I think the kid’s going to explode," Fieri exclaimed about his son's potential.
In addition to his two sons, Fieri and his wife, Lori, took guardianship of their nephew, Jules Fieri, in 2011 after his mother passed away. Jules is currently pursuing a music career and studying law in Southern California, demonstrating the family's commitment to education and self-improvement.
This isn't the first time Fieri has made headlines for his parenting approach. In September 2022, he revealed his strict rule for his kids' first cars: they must drive older vehicles for a year without any tickets or accidents before being allowed to purchase newer models. Fieri sees this as a rite of passage and a way to teach responsibility and car care.
Hunter, who started his driving journey with his grandfather's 1996 truck that had "no working windows," commended his father's dedication to preparing them for the real world. He praised Fieri's teaching style, emphasizing that his father leads by example and instills discipline, hard work, and the importance of not giving up.
In the world of Guy Fieri, there are no shortcuts to success, and his parenting philosophy reflects those values. His sons are learning to earn their stripes, one degree and one responsible car ride at a time.