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The Mayor of Flavortown ain’t no dummy. Guy Fieri currently has a $100 million deal with Food Network and his two sons, Hunter and Ryder, stand to inherit that fortune at some point down the line. But Fieri has a strict ground rule. If they want to inherit that money, his children must graduate from college with two degrees.
“If you want this cheese, you got to get two degrees,” Fieri said to Business Insider when asked what he told his sons about the money. He says he took the saying from NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal. Fieri also looks after his nephew Jules, whose mother (Fieri’s sister) passed away in 2011.
Both Hunter, 28, and Jules, 26, have had immense success in the classroom. Hunter is set to graduate with an MBA from the University of Miami in May while Jules recently graduated from the law program at Loyola Marymount University. But Fieri’s youngest son, Ryder, is having a bit harder time with things.
“Poor Ryder is just finishing his freshman year at San Diego State University,” Fieri said of the 19-year-old “The boys rib him all the time. They’re like: ‘You know, we’re done. You still have to go finish college and go get your postgraduate.'”
Guy Fieri Shuts Down Son Ryder’s Attempt To Get Out Of Two-Degree Mandate
According to Fieri, Ryder has tried to negotiate his way to an easier deal. But the Guy’s Grocery Games star isn’t having it.
“He’s like: ‘Dad, come on, give me a break. How about if I get great grades the whole time?'” Fieri said. “It’s a thing that my dad said to me when I was a kid. He said, ‘When I die, I’m leaving you nothing except a funeral bill,’
“It’s a joke because my dad already gave me everything. My dad gave me an education. My dad gave me awareness. My dad gave me the tools of life. It was very clear at a very young age that I was going to have to go make it on my own.”
Ryder also spends his time as a manager for the San Diego State men’s basketball program. So he’s not completely sitting around doing nothing. But it’s clear his famous father has some high standards before he just passes down his hefty fortune.