It’s no secret that Kobe Bryant has a few issues with family stemming from finances, and a recent letter written to his 17-year-old self sheds a bit of light on the NBA star’s family and financial situation as he advises his younger self not to simply “give” money to family members.
In the letter, Bryant advises his younger self to “invest” rather than “give,” saying: “Use your success, wealth and influence to put them in the best position to realize their own dreams and find their true purpose. Put them through school, set them up with job interviews and help them become leaders in their own right. Hold them to the same level of hard work and dedication that it took for you to get to where you are now, and where you will eventually go.”
Most telling is the portion of the letter that describes his relationship to his parents, a relationship that has been nonexistent recently.
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“The most important advice I can give to you is to make sure your parents remain PARENTS and not managers,” he writes.
“Before you sign that first contract, figure out the right budget for your parents — one that will allow them to live beautifully while also growing your business and setting people up for long-term success. That way, your children’s kids and their kids will be able to invest in their own futures when the time comes.”
You can check out the full letter here.