We recently shared a post with stories from nannies who have worked for incredibly wealthy families. We then received even more submissions from nannies offering a peek behind the curtain of their jobs, and their stories were wildly interesting. Here's what they revealed: 1.
"One time, I worked for a billionaire and his wife. They had two kids who were 12 and 9 when I started to work for them. The husband (billionaire) always spoiled them and tried to make me do everything with the kids.
The family lived in a four-story mansion and had maids for each child and parent. The mother told me I was fired one day because I hadn't cleaned the 9-year-old's room the night before. Until then, they were nice people and gave me four times the minimum wage, and I enjoyed time with the kids.
That's how it goes." —Anonymous 2. "I worked for a now retired NBA player.
He was very nice, but his wife was a nightmare. The children were 3 and 4. He was injured and did not play during my time with them.
He did a lot of golfing and had other business ventures. She, on the other hand, did nothing but spend his money. I lived in a small apartment on the third floor.
I was the first person the children saw in the morning and the last person they saw at night. She didn't cook, so I did because I loved to cook. She had people who cleaned for her and did her laundry.
" "One time, we were at their home in Florida, and she gave me the day off, and they all went to Disney. I didn't know anyone and sat in their 150,000-square-foot home all alone. On the flight there, the daughter had a meltdown and hit me; the mother was totally unbothered by that and got upset when her husband disciplined the child.
She was 24 and had no desire to be a mom. The kids were paraded around like accessories. I lasted a year and a half.
Last I heard, they divorced, and she remarried and had another child. That marriage didn't last either." —Anonymous 3.
"I nannied for a working couple, but also, the dad was a trust fund kid. Super rich. After a few months of working for them, they went on vacation to some exotic location I had never heard of.
The airfare and accommodations alone cost over $58,000. They had two boys; one had awful behavior, and one was just spoiled. The awful one grew to trust me, and we developed a good relationship.
The father had a temper and would do and say awful things, some of them directed at me. The mother had a medical condition and spent a lot of time in bed. When she felt well, she shopped.
I did all the shopping for the family and the errands and took the boys to all their activities and the dogs to the groomers. I was paid well and given a credit card." "I was on-call at least 16 hours a day if I wasn't physically there.
They rented me a beautiful apartment nearby and paid all expenses, including the furnishings. I enjoyed seeing how the other half lived, but I can't say they were happy. All of them were in therapy.
It was an experience for sure, and I was happy for the opportunity to have the job. I missed the boys and even one of the dogs when I left the job. I still think of them fondly, especially my time with the youngest son, who was bright and funny.
I would do it again." —Anonymous 4. "I was a nanny in Switzerland and lived in a chateau on the fifth floor.
I had my own convertible car. I would get in trouble for buying anything on sale. When I let the kids pick out their clothes to wear, I would get in trouble again because all they wanted to wear was their Mickey T-shirts instead of the designer clothes and shoes.
Whenever the kids broke dinner plates, crystal, or any other china, I was there to blame. I was done seven months later. The people in the village told me I lasted the longest.
" —Anonymous 5. "For seven years, I was a nanny for one of the wealthiest families in the United States. They owned companies that make products we all have in our homes.
They had three jets and a second yacht that traveled with their main one. The wealth was totally unlike anything you can imagine. I was one of 147 people they employed to help throughout their homes, planes, and boats.
All that being said, they were the nicest, most down-to-earth family. You would have never known their immense wealth if you encountered them on the street. They knew every staff member's name and kept up with what went on in their lives.
When I started, their son was 7 and their daughter 5. Both could hold their own in any conversation. I think it's proof that money doesn't always corrupt and that one can always be kind.
" —Anonymous 6. "My great niece is a daughter of a Hollywood type of family. Limos, nannies, chefs, etc.
They came to visit for an older relative's birthday and stayed at a resort. The two parents were encouraging her NOT TO play with the other children. The OTHER CHILDREN were biracial and 'ordinary' kids.
I don't think she even attends school anymore. She and her mother fly around so she can ride horses in 'events.' She's totally controlled by her mother's fantasies.
" —Anonymous 7. "I nannied for a wealthy family one summer. It was a total mess.
The kids were brats. They were teenagers but didn't know how to do anything for themselves. When asked to clean up her plate (aka pass it to me to clean in the kitchen), the 14-year-old said it was my job to clean up after her because she was better than me.
Even though they were brats, I also felt bad for the children. They had no life skills because they always had live-in nannies doing everything for them. I also remember feeling like I had never met kids so lacking in ambition or future goals.
When I asked the 14-year-old what she wanted to do with her life, she responded: 'I don't know. I guess I'll just stay here. I like living here, and I don't want to work.
' They had no hobbies, goals, or passions. They had a pool, tennis court, stunning gardens, and a spa in their home, which they never used. They sat on their phones in bed all day.
" "The parents were awful too. They seemed to hate each other and definitely needed to get a divorce. They fought constantly in front of the kids and me and spoke so badly to each other.
The mother was bizarre and had a real hang-up about me being young, as I was 20 and she was in her 50s. She would comment that she could look as good as me if she had all the time in the world like I did (I didn't, incidentally, as I worked for them 24/7), that she used to have a body like mine, hair like mine, etc. She also told me she refused to hire Spanish nannies because she caught one in a compromising position with her husband.
...
as if that was the nanny's fault or anything to do with her nationality. One evening, we were out at a fancy restaurant, and some family friends commented that she was brave for hiring a 'hot nanny' in reference to me. She freaked out! She went off on me that night for no reason.
I lasted two weeks after that. Overall, it was an interesting experience. It taught me about what money does to people and how to be a good parent.
" —Anonymous 8. "I worked for a physician who was an admin in a large hospital system. He had me call his architect one day to see how the plans for his kid's tree house were progressing!" —Anonymous 9.
"I worked for a few super wealthy people in NYC. I was the night-time nanny. They had a daytime nanny, a weekend nanny, and a housekeeper, so they did not have to spend one single minute with the kids! They did not treat me poorly because I'm white and American, but many of the others had rich people COUNTING THE GRAPES on the vine to see if the nanny ate them!" —Anonymous 10.
"I currently nanny for a ridiculously rich family. They are the opposite of stereotypical rich people. They respect my time, raised nice kids who were taught boundaries and manners, and are involved in their kids' lives.
But they also constantly remind me how rich they are. Last year, they flew me out to Vail with them for four days (they paid for my car service, my direct flight into Vail, my own hotel suite, all my food and travel needs, and paid time and a half) because it was easier than finding a babysitter out there." —Anonymous 11.
"In 2001, I was living in Milwaukee where I interviewed for a family on the north shore with three girls, 7, 9, and 11. The parents were both lawyers and loaded. Part of my job duties included picking the girls up after school.
On the first day, the two younger ones were fun and easy to get along with, while the older one wouldn't be seen in my old, smelly car because she was embarrassed. She kept hoping her friends didn't see her with me in my car because it didn't meet her tastes." "When we got home, I commented on something I saw on her dresser, which her parents notarized.
They were taking her to get her navel pierced on her 12th birthday. I pointed out that it was an important piece of paper and a big responsibility. She said she didn't like me, didn't want me there, didn't have to listen to me.
She said she had the perfect body and would have the perfect body for the rest of her life, along with the fact that she always got what she wanted, no matter how much it cost. She was 11 years old. They paid $15/hour, which was good money back then.
I quit that day and couldn't find the words to tell the parents their daughter was a spoiled brat. I'd love to see her in her mid-30s and see if she still has the perfect body while getting what she wants, no matter what it costs." —Anonymous 12.
"I worked for a family from the UAE. They had an incredible house in a wealthy California beach community as a vacation home. My interview was conducted by a 3-year-old who was sitting by me while our feet were dangling in the pool.
The adults remained inside watching. The 'test' was to see if the child liked me, and when he climbed into my lap, the interview was over. I got the gig.
He was my only charge as the other kids were older and well-behaved. If the family went anywhere, I was to keep my eyes on him at all times, see to his needs, and make sure he didn't bother anyone in the family. Fortunately, he was taught to be respectful and was a sweet kid.
It seemed weird to isolate him the way they did, but overall, it was low-stress, and everyone fully respected me. And, they paid weekly and well." —Anonymous 13.
"I had a bad live-in nannying experience with a wealthy family in a wealthy town, but I'm reluctant to share my experience. However, while working as a nanny, I befriended some au pairs from Germany in the neighborhood. One of the au pairs told me that she accidentally broke a dish (the kind you use for everyday meals).
The parents made her buy a replacement. Both parents were doctors. The other au pair was forced to work 55 hours a week, even though, by law, they are only allowed to work 45 hours a week.
I told them they should report their stories to the au pair agency. They were both too afraid to do so." —Anonymous 14.
"I nannied for a wealthy family in Brooklyn where the dad was in finance, and the mom was an artist. One Christmas, just before the holiday, the mom came into their three-story brownstone home crying. I went to comfort her, and she said her husband's brother had died.
I told her I was so sorry and asked if she and her husband were okay. She told me, 'I don't care about that! This is going to ruin Christmas with the distraction!' Priorities." —Anonymous 15.
"The rich are really different from you and me. I was a nanny for a high-level female TV executive, and her husband was retired with grown children of his own. They knew a lot of famous people.
Together, they had a boy and a girl. The children ate a pound of bacon each morning. The boy took a hamburger for lunch every day.
That wasn't how I fed my children, but it's what these kids ate, and I was told to give them what they wanted. The daughter would have tantrums and jump off high things when something didn't go her way. Once, I tried to advise the mother that her son's playmates were often sneaky and maybe not the best influence.
Her response was, 'Oh, that's how all kids are in Connecticut.'" "Both children took bottles after kindergarten with their afternoon nap. They were 5 years old.
The mother demanded that the bottles and nipples be sterilized. I was also told to put them in diapers for their naps and apply lotion to their diaper areas. I told the maid I wouldn't do it because they were too old to be diapered and lotioned, so the maid did it.
After a frustrating day with the boy, I told him, 'One day, your parents will find out what you're really like.' His response: 'No, they won't because I know exactly what to say to them.' I wanted out of the situation and left after three long months.
Sometimes, I wonder how they turned out." —Anonymous 16. "During a gap year between college and university, I nannied for a family in Germany.
The father was a surgeon and medic for a top football (soccer) team, and the mother was an ex-aerobics teacher from Poland. The children were a 13-year-old girl and 9-year-old boy. The first week, they never said anything to me about pets, then suddenly asked how I was getting on with the rabbit.
The poor thing had been in its dirty hutch all week with no fresh water or food, and I had never looked after a rabbit before! Then, the son wet his bed every night. It didn't help that he was allowed to take a whole liter of water to his room every night. You can guess who had to change the bedclothes, often in the middle of the night.
" "The girl was given a champagne reception for her 13th birthday, along with Barbie dolls. One time, I tried to tell her off for something, and she dug her nails into my hand, causing a scar that festered and took weeks to heal. The straw that broke the camel's back came when the mother asked me to tone down my accent, as all her 'previous servants' had been Americans.
Additionally, my bed was in the cellar next to the washing machine, so there was zero privacy. I lasted two and a half months." —Anonymous 17.
"The family had two boys (9 and 10 years old) who I grew to love because they were very much like my own grown sons at that age. Their mother died when they were toddlers. They had a succession of nannies before and after me.
The youngest once asked if he could call me Mom. I thought it best if he saved that title for his stepmother. The dad and stepmom had a baby who I cared for from the time he was a few days old.
This was the first marriage for the stepmom and her first child (she was a later-in-life mom). I cared for the children 24 hours a day, five days a week. The baby slept in my room.
Both parents traveled frequently for their jobs, so it was mostly just the children and me. The mother gave me re-gifted Christmas candy as my Christmas gift. They would give me a weekly grocery allowance, and I often had money left over for the following week.
The children thoroughly enjoyed our meals together. Sometimes, we would have a theme meal for fun." "I once overheard a conversation between the parents.
Neither parent could believe the great meals I cooked for the children on the budget they provided. When he wasn't traveling, the father would come home early to participate in the home-cooked meals. When he was in town, I prepared dinner earlier than usual.
The children would sometimes ask why we were having dinner early, and I would provide a reasonable explanation. I cleaned the kitchen when the father arrived because I didn't want to eat with a controlling and superior attitude jerk. The time the children spent with their parents was regimented, and after successfully raising two children of my own, I allowed them some freedom, like being in the kitchen and doing homework while I cooked dinner.
Meanwhile, the baby was in the infant seat and watched all the activity going on. Sometimes, the boys would sing, and I would dance with the baby. They were always good students and thrived in a more 'family' atmosphere.
This became a problem when the mother and I disagreed on taking away a privilege for one of the children. I asked her, 'When will you let them be children?' I left a piece of my heart when I went away. The nanny service confided in me that they believed the stepmother was jealous because of how the children became attached to me.
The mother took revenge and gave me a bad reference when I found another good family to nanny for. My life went on, and I got a job in the corporate world. I think about the children now and then and have pictures of our happy times together.
I hope they are good men with families of their own now." —Anonymous 18. And: "I've babysat and nannied for wealthy families, and it is always the parents' disinterest in their children as people and their kids' daily lives that gets me.
So many of these children have behavior issues because their parents don't do any parenting and also because they keep pawning them off on other caregivers. These kids just want to spend time with their parents. I've worked with parents who don't know their child's bedtime routine because they've never done it.
They don't know their child's favorite color and are surprised when I mention it. They didn't even know he had one, even though he always chose the same item whenever he was given a chance to pick an item in a certain color." "They don't spend enough time with their kids to know they are outgrowing their clothes, need new shoes, or what diaper size they wear.
The saddest ones I've seen are parents who were raised by staff themselves, who then perpetuate a lot of the 'hands-off' relationship they grew up with." — lobster_lemon_lime Wow! Have you ever worked for a wealthy family as a nanny, babysitter, housekeeper, chef, driver, or other role? What was your experience like? Tell us in the comments or share your story anonymously using this form . Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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