Anthony Mackie's Kids Have 'Never Had A Pair Of Jordans'—The 'Captain America' Star Says He's Keeping Them Humble And Hardworking

Actor Anthony Mackie isn't splurging on designer sneakers for his kids, despite his superhero-sized paycheck. The 46-year-old "Captain America: Brave New World" star made it clear during a recent episode of "The Pivot" podcast—his four sons won't be keeping up with celebrity kids who rock $200 Jordans and luxury fashion.

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"I keep my boys humble. Like, my boys have never had a pair of Jordans. My boys don't do all that internet fly s—. I could be the biggest star in the world. Do not let me catch you being stupid," Mackie said.

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For him, character matters more than cash. He's been teaching his kids respect and responsibility, and the value of hard work from an early age.

"I raise my boys to be young men… they will always be respectful," Mackie explained. "They will always say, ‘Yes ma'am. No ma'am.' They will always say ‘Thank you.' They will always open the door for a lady. They will always make sure that their mother is taken care of and provided for."

Mackie's strict parenting style isn't just talk. He grew up in New Orleans as the youngest of six kids. His father, a carpenter, left school in eighth grade to pick cotton with his grandfather. During summers, Mackie worked for his dad's roofing business, learning firsthand what hard work really means.

"I try to keep my boys outside of [my celebrity]. I don't want my boys affected by it, or even acknowledge the idea of what Hollywood is and what it means to the general populace," Mackie said. "I want them to find their own path."

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Mackie isn't the only Hollywood star pushing back against raising spoiled kids. In a 2018 CNBC Make It Interview, self-made real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran said she makes her children work summer jobs and save their earnings 

"When you have rich kids — which, if you think about it, I have rich kids — you have to be very, very careful. It's complicated not to let them feel privileged."

Similarly, billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban takes a tough-love approach. "You have to accomplish these things on your own," he told NBC's "Today" in 2022. "You don't want to be ‘Mark Cuban's son or daughter' your entire life."

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Ben Affleck recently echoed the same sentiment when his 13-year-old son admired a $6,000 pair of Dior Air Jordans at the Got Sol sneaker convention. "That's a lot of lawns you've got to mow there," Affleck teased in a video posted on Got Sol's instagram account. 

Later, he doubled down in an interview with Access Hollywood at the South by Southwest festival: "He's like, ‘We have the money.' I'm like, ‘I have the money. You're broke!'"

While Mackie and others promote discipline and hard work, some experts warn about going too far. In his blog post titled “How You Parent Matters: Don’t Screw Up Your Kids,” parenting researcher Dr. Tim Jordan argues that when parents are too strict and demanding without showing warmth, it can lead to kids acting out or rebelling. 

On the flip side, when parents guide their children while also being responsive and supportive, it helps kids develop self-control and a sense of responsibility. 

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