Now that Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg has flown out of the nest, money has become a major part of his life.
During his lone collegiate season with Duke, Flagg reportedly earned $28 million in name, image, and likeness deals, according to longtime sports journalist Howard Bryant. Flagg is also set to make around $62.7 million over the course of his four-year rookie contract with the Dallas Mavericks, in addition to whatever he is compensated for his various endorsement deals.
It's safe to say that Flagg already has a high net worth, which is only going to grow over time. But his mother is making sure he doesn't spend all that money right away — and especially not on a new car.
Flagg's mother sets price point for son's first car purchase
One of Flagg's current brand partnerships is with Chime, a financial technology company. To announce their partnership, Chime uploaded a video featuring Flagg on its YouTube page as part of its "Mama, I Made It" campaign, where famous celebrities are interviewed alongside their mothers and asked questions related to smart money-saving habits.
Flagg admitted at one point in the video that he wasn't a big spender but was excited to buy his own vehicle in the near future. His mother, Kelly, interjected and made it clear that she wanted him to avoid purchasing an expensive car.
"Do not buy a Bugatti right way," she said.
The interview then shifted to a separate segment where a producer would ask both of them a question, and they would provide their answer on a white board. One of the questions was, "What's the most Cooper should spend on a car?"
Both of their answers differed. Cooper Flagg believed that he should spend up to $200,000 on his first car, while Kelly Flagg believed that amount should be a little lower at $180,000.
"People might assume that I might buy a sports car, but I don't see myself doing that," Cooper Flagg said.
Kelly Flagg completed the humorous interaction by making a face that expressed her disbelief in her son's statement.
Cooper Flagg surely has enough wiggle room in his bank account to pay an extra $20,000 for his first car, but smart financial habits will be a valuable asset for him as he transitions into a professional career.