Gene Simmons' Tough-Love Financial Rules for His Kids, ‘Money Doesn't Grow On Trees'

Music icon Gene Simmons recently shared why he doesn't believe in handing out money to his adult children. Even though the KISS co-founder has millions to his name, the legendary rocker reportedly doesn't feel the need to give his kids a free ride.

In a recent interview with Us Magazine, Simmons spoke candidly about parenting, "Well, the word ‘no' means no. The word ‘no' in these, let's say, progressive times, and these woke times is children are allowed to roll their eyes or go into their rooms and slam the door, and that's not allowed. It's not your door. It's my door."

The bassist continued, "Every breath of air you take is my air, at least in this house. So we have strict rules. There was never allowance." Simmons then mused, "For doing what? For being alive? You're training losers."

So what does it take for Simmons to give his kiddos some cash? He shared, "When the kids were growing up, we had to negotiate." Simmons continued, "What do you want to do for the 20 bucks? What are you going to do? ‘Well, I'll take the garbage out and then cut the lawn.' Okay, well, let's negotiate. How about 10 bucks? No, I think then you settle on 15. Life."

While other celebrity kids may see their parents as a financial safety net, Simmons doesn't subscribe to that line of thinking. He told Us, "You got to make sure they understand that money doesn't grow on trees. And I didn't make up these rules. I'm just aware of it."

Despite requiring his kids to work for their money, Simmons did give freely to his mother, saying, "I hope I helped make my mom's life easier so she didn't have to worry about houses and food. It's all taken care of, but only through work and through wisdom." But he did note, "She went to work in a sweat factory, no minimum wage, and never complained about anything, because she understood the glory that is America."

And what does Simmons see as that ‘glory'? The rocker continued, "The American dream is not that the streets are paved with gold, but that if you work hard enough, harder than the person next to you, it doesn't matter if you're a first-generation legal immigrant, you can reach the top."

Who Are Gene Simmons' Children?

Simmons has two children with wife, actress and model Shannon Tweed-Simmons. The pair's eldest child, Nick Simmons (born in 1989), is a writer and a musician. Their daughter, Sophie Simmons (born in 1992), is a singer-songwriter who also founded an inclusive fashion line, designs jewelry, and co-founded Sophie's Place, a child advocacy center.

Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 11:45 AM.