Reese Witherspoon has shared that she believes every woman she knows has experienced a “disaster financial story,” whether due to a breakup or general debt issues.
The renowned Hollywood actor, famous for her roles in films like *Legally Blonde* and *Wild*, has accumulated a net worth of approximately $400 million over her career.
In discussing financial matters and how to manage them, Witherspoon draws from her lengthy experience in the entertainment industry.
During an episode of the *Aspire With Emma Grede* podcast, Witherspoon spoke about how her observations of women becoming financially dependent on their partners have shaped her understanding of financial literacy.
“I do not know a woman who doesn’t have a disaster financial story in her past,” she stated on the podcast. “Whether it’s her, her best friend, her sister, her mom, her grandma, her auntie – she lost all her money or she got divorced and she got stuck with the bill, or, you know, debt, so much debt.”
At 49, Witherspoon remains committed to learning about financial management and making informed decisions about her finances.
“A lot of what we learn is one course in three days in high school. We’re lucky if you get three months,” she remarked. “I did well, but I could have done amazing. A lot of them are mindset.”
The actress from *Big Little Lies* also shared the most valuable financial advice she ever received.
“Don’t get into debt,” she advised. “Do everything you can to not get into debt, and pay off those credit cards or don’t spend the money like it’s yours. It’s not yours, girlfriend.”
In addition to professional wisdom, Witherspoon has received life guidance from her mother, Betty Reese, who is 77 years old, as she discussed in the podcast.
Witherspoon emphasized: “Don’t ever let somebody control you with money. If someone says, ‘I’ll take care of it, I’ll take care of you, I’ll handle this…’ that person could leave. That person could hurt you. You always keep your job. Your job is your life insurance. My mom always used to say that to me.”
Reflecting on her mother’s experience, Witherspoon added: “My mom went through some tough stuff in a marriage with finances. Really tough stuff. And so did my grandma, not in marriage, but with our family structure. My mother worked night shifts, she worked weekends, so I had to kinda take care of myself; my brother and I would make dinner and everything. She was so tired, but she just loved her patients.”