09/13/2022
Food Network star Guy Fieri got his son Ryder a car to drive to school after he turned 16, but it's not the kind of flashy number you'd expect a celebrity's kid to receive. It’s a Chrysler Minivan with more than 250,000 miles on it, and it’s actually more of a test than a gift. The minivan belonged to Guy’s parents, and he wants to make sure his son is responsible on the road before he lets him get a cooler car.
"Show me that you can spend a year driving the car, not getting any dents, not getting any wrecks, not getting any tickets,” he said to People about his approach to his son getting his driver’s license. “Prove that you've got it all together. Then you can take your own money out of the bank and go buy a car."
Guy, a very rich person, said he wants his kids to be self-sufficient. An appropriate move to try and keep your rich kids grounded. Maybe kind of a bummer from the kid’s perspective, though. One of the perks of having a crazy rich parent is getting a truly badass car you do not in any way deserve. Instead, he’ll have to buy something with his own money like a normal person.
Ryder’s older brother Hunter is 26 and faced the same situation when he turned 16, albeit it was an old truck and not a minivan. Now that he’s older, wiser, and has a contract with the network that employs his dad, Hunter appreciates Guy’s lesson.
"He's a great teacher and a great father and leads by example," he said in an interview. "He does the right things to train you for the real world. And teaches you discipline and hard work and to not give up, and that not everyone's going to hold your hand through life."
Driving a minivan isn’t the coolest ride in Flavortown, but it comes with a good life lesson, an earned sense of responsibility, and hey! Still beats walking.