NBA star Jayson Tatum is living a semi-frugal life, all thanks to his mom, Brandy Cole, according to Business Insider.
The Boston Celtics forward revealed that piece of information in an interview with journalist Graham Bensinger on "In Depth." He said that his mother is his manager and she helps him handle his finances. One of his mom's rules is that he can only spend his endorsement money and not his earnings from the NBA.
Tatum told Bessinger that they had a deal before he got drafted that he could not spend the money he makes from the Celtics and that he has to live off his endorsements. He said that his mom and his accountant agreed.
Tatum spends only money from his endorsement deals
Tatum had an ace up his sleeve, though. He said they did not know that he'd make as much as he did off the court. Tatum said with a laugh that in his mind, he gotta spend that money. He has endorsements with Subway, Gatorade, Jordan Brand, among others. He said that his first signature shoe with the Jordan Brand would be debuting this coming March.
Tatum is banking a good amount of cash from the Celtics as well. Spotrac said that he will have already made $88 million in the NBA after this season. Tatum is only in the second year of a mammoth five-year, $163 million extension.
Tatum said that his mother's access to his finances can sometimes be awkward. He shared with Bensinger the time when he went on vacation with his friends and spent $12,000 in one night. Tatum said he once woke up to a call from his mother, with Cole asking him where all that money went.
Tatum shares same spending plan with NFL legend Rob Gronkowski
Cole revealed in the interview that Tatum occasionally splurges. She said that Jayson likes nice things, particularly watches. Cole said that she can't say no to him, technically. Tatum's spending style is not unique in the sporting world.
NFL legend and future Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski followed the same spending plan as Tatum. He spent only the money he got from his endorsements and not his earnings from the NFL, according to Bleacher Report. The former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end said back in 2018 that he told fellow players to live simple and to save their extra money.
Though Tatum does like to spend his endorsement money, he also told Bensinger that when he spends, it is in moderation. He said that there was a time when he would have to check with his mother to see if he could buy gas for his vehicle. Cole said she thinks they just have a different level of appreciation.
