“He will just be wasting my money”: Jackie Chan Proved Why He Was Right in Not Giving Away His $400M Fortune to His Children After Son’s Arrest Left Him Embarrassed in China
Andrew Mccoy
Updated on April 03, 2026
Discussions about wealth and inheritance frequently involve debates on passing down fortunes to future generations. Recently, legendary actor Jackie Chan’s decision regarding his substantial $400 million fortune has become a topic of interest. The action superstar has made it publicly known that he does not intend to leave his vast wealth to his son, Jaycee Chan.
By choosing not to pass down his wealth to his son, Jaycee Chan, Jackie Chan’s unconventional decision challenges the notion of automatic inheritance. It prompts contemplation on topics such as personal responsibility, self-reliance, and the pursuit of individual aspirations, sparking a broader conversation about the true meaning of wealth and its role in shaping the future generation’s path.
Jackie Chan Won’t Leave His Fortune For His Children
Jackie Chan is a father to two children, Jaycee, and Etta Ng Chok Lam. Despite his substantial net worth of $400 million, Chan has no plans to share his fortune with either of his children, making a conscious decision to keep his wealth separate from their lives.
Chan expressed that he would prefer to donate his fortune to charitable causes rather than bestow it upon his son. “If he is capable, he can make his own money. If he is not, then he will just be wasting my money,” Chan said.
In 2014, Jaycee faced legal troubles after being arrested for marijuana possession, a time when Jackie Chan was serving as an anti-drug ambassador in China.
“When I first heard the news, I was absolutely enraged. As a public figure, I feel very ashamed; as his dad, I’m very sad and disappointed. But the person who feels heartbroken the most is his mom,” Chan wrote on his website.
Furthermore, he reflected on Jaycee’s “mistake” as a cautionary tale, acknowledging his own responsibility for not providing sufficient guidance and teaching to his son.
Jackie Chan Had A Drinking And Gambling Problem
In the pages of his memoir Never Grow Up, first published in Chinese in 2015 and now available in English, the actor revealed candid details about his past struggles. He openly confessed to engaging in frequent drunk driving and even admitted to an unthinkable act of throwing his two-year-old son, sharing these deeply personal and challenging aspects of his life with his readers.
“I really was quite a nasty jerk,” Chan wrote in the book. “Going out and drinking every night did start to erode my professionalism. I went through a phase that was known as ‘one before lunch, one after lunch’.”
In his candid revelations, Jackie Chan disclosed that he had a history of engaging in drunk driving regularly, recounting specific incidents such as crashing his Porsche and totaling a Mercedes-Benz. These occurrences left him in a constant haze throughout the day, shedding light on the challenges he faced during that period of his life.
Source: Cheatsheet
