Contrary to some beliefs, Jaden Smith is not a completely spoiled celebrity kid. Will Smith tells Esquire that his son only owns one pair of shoes and refuses to get caught up in material possessions.
“Jaden, my sixteen-year-old, he has one pair of shoes,” says Will. “He has three pair of pants and he has five shirts.” The all-around entertainer continues, “He has refused to be a slave to money. I so respect that.” Even though he admires his son’s determination, Will admits that he would like Jaden “to get another pair of shoes.”
The actor, who became a recording artist at 17-years-old, also talks about his kids’ battle on the Web. “With this generation of kids growing up, the technological battering is almost the norm,” explains Will. “[Willow is] really well-adjusted with it. And Jaden understands that that’s a part of this business. If he wants to do it, there’s a certain amount of battery that you have to be willing to live through.”
Will certainly knows about battery and self-criticism. “I’m the type of person who is always going to be somewhat dissatisfied with myself,” shares the star. “I’m never going to be smart enough. I’m never going to be a good enough father. I’m never going to be a good enough husband. I’m never going to be a good enough actor for myself. I just never will be, and I have to get comfortable with waking up every day and trying to move some little increment closer to the person I have always dreamed of being.”
Still in all, “I love creating music and television and film. I love the hustle, I love the grind, I love working sixteen- and eighteen-hour days and waking up at four the next morning and going to the gym. I love that.”
You can learn more about Will and his incredible career that has spanned nearly thirty years in the March issue of Esquire. Will and wife Jada Smith have two children together. Will Smith has three kids in all.
