Tech investor, Reddit co-founder, and self-proclaimed “Chief Dad Officer” Alexis Ohanian just released a parenting gem that’s part financial literacy lesson and part adorable family sitcom, and the internet is eating it up.
In a clip from his interview with The Jemele Hill podcast that resurfaced, Ohanian shared the hilarious and heartwarming story of how he and tennis legend Serena Williams set up a legitimate allowance system for their daughter Olympia. We’re talking real chores, real cash, a real contract, lawyered up, and everything.
How much a week?
Ohanian explained that Olympia, who’s now 6, gets $7 a week in allowance. But she doesn’t just get that cash for existing; she earns it. The tasks include feeding the dog, putting clothes in the hamper, making the bed, and not slacking: she has to do it five days a week. Weekends off, all thanks to Serena.
“Serena was her lawyer in the negotiation. I drew up a real contract. We negotiated it. Her mom was her counsel, which was really frustrating,” Ohanian laughed.
© Variety via Getty ImagesHere’s where it gets peak Gen Alpha: When Olympia first started getting an allowance, she didn’t even want real money. She wanted Robux, the digital currency in Roblox. Because what’s financial independence without a new skin in your favorite game?
“I figured out how to get her to value cash, which was helpful,” Ohanian said, noting that the goal was to teach her the connection between effort, money, and desire.
Basically, they’re trying to build a “flywheel,” where she does chores, earns money, and understands how to delay gratification.
One of Olympia’s significant financial milestones was saving up for a Tamagotchi watch that cost around $125. At one point, she had nearly $100 saved and realized she wasn’t there yet. So, she buckled down, stuck with the chore grind, and finally bought it.
Not long after, Olympia set her sights on an American Girl doll outfit, but her piggy bank wasn’t feeling generous. She even tried her “puppy dog eyes” on Dad, but Alexis held firm. “I wanted her to feel the pain of having to wait until her next paycheck,” he said.
© WireImageWhat’s particularly refreshing here is Ohanian and Williams’ candid take on parenting with privilege. They both didn’t grow up wealthy and now that they have the means to give their daughter just about anything, they’re trying not to.
“We’re both trying to navigate how to create the circumstances for her to be a functional adult, while also having resources that we couldn’t have imagined,” Ohanian said.
While celebrity parenting stories often lean into lavish gifts and viral cuteness, this one’s different. It’s about financial literacy, earned rewards, and teaching empathy through everyday experiences. It also proves that, yes, even kids of multi-millionaires have to take the trash out.
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