Keke Palmer's Money Comments Spark Divide

Buzz Feed

19-05-2025

Keke Palmer has long been open about living below her means.
Of course, Keke has been in the acting industry for decades, having landed her role at age 10. She starred in a bunch more movies and TV shows throughout her childhood and adolescence, perhaps most notably playing the lead role in the Nickelodeon series True Jackson, VP.
Six years after becoming the breadwinner of her family and having a business manager to help manage her finances, Keke once had to file for bankruptcy at age 18. 'I was so spooked. I was like, 'What went wrong?'' she recalled last year, before opening up about deciding to live well below her means going forward.
And now, Keke has discussed her finances once again, telling CNBC that she finds it 'incredibly important' to live frugally. 'I live under my means. I think it's incredibly important,' she said. 'If I have $1 million in my pocket, my rent is going to be $1,500 — that's how underneath my means I'm talking. My car note is going to be $340. I don't need a [Bentley], I'll ride in a Lexus.'
Numerous internet users have since praised Keke's mentality. 'This is EXACTLY how I'd be living too if I was rich. That's how you stay rich longer! There is zero reason I need a house with 14 rooms and 10 bathrooms,' one person wrote. 'It's smart, lots of celebs have gone broke and been left with high cost of living condos and mansions they could no longer afford,' someone else said.
However, while many fans presumed that Keke was hyperbolically saying that she's not blowing her money with ridiculous spending, some argued that her rent example felt 'disingenuous' and accused her of 'trying to be relatable.' Last year, Keke listed her NYC penthouse for just under $3 million, and a few months ago, she listed another $1.4 million studio city home; per Architectural Digest, she currently resides in a $5 million property in California.
'This quote makes me think she is more disconnected from reality than had she said nothing at all,' one person wrote in response to her comments. 'I just googled and she's had multiple million plus dollar properties,' someone else pointed out.
Several people defended Keke, arguing that she was simply 'giving an example of what she'd pay in rent relative to her wealth.' However, others pointed out: 'Given income inequality and crazy prices for rent, folks are extra sensitive to a rich celebrity speaking about how to save or live.'
Let me know what you think in the comments.