Sarah Jessica Parker Lived on Welfare — After Making Millions, She Keeps Her Kids Grounded & Wants Them to Work

• Growing up, Sarah Jessica Parker and her big family lived a poor life in a mining town. They had no electricity, no clothes, and no money.

• Nonetheless, she grew up to be a world-famous Hollywood star earning $200 million.

• Parker keeps her three children out of the limelight and encourages them to be independent and work for their dreams.

A-list actress Sarah Jessica Parker knows what going to bed hungry feels like in a home with no electricity. Her parents could not afford to buy clothes for her and her siblings.

Parker was born to parents Stephen Parker and Barbara Forste in a mining town called Nelsonville in Ohio. Barbara was a nursery school teacher and her husband Stephen was an aspiring writer. The couple divorced when their daughter was only three years old. They had had three other kids by then.

After the divorce, Barbara remarried truck driver Paul Forste, and the pair welcomed four children. Paul was sometimes out of a job leading to financial constraints in the household of a blended family. He and Barbara had to take care of their eight kids.

Parker once described her childhood as "Dickensian" as they frequently went without electricity in their home and rarely celebrated birthdays and Christmases.

Being an elementary school kid became even more stressful for young Parker, who often wore hand-me-downs and owned items bought from thrift stores.

Ultimately, Paul and Barbara's children had to rely on welfare and state aid to survive. In July 2000, Parker recounted a time when a school teacher called out the names of kids who were receiving free lunch in front of the whole class.

At that stage, young Parker was already aware that her home situation was far different from the living circumstances of other children who had money to "pay for lunch" and those who brought food from home. She said:

"[...] It was a stigma thing. I was not the only person receiving a free lunch, but you are aware."

The situation at home would become so dire that the bill collectors would stop by, and if not, they would call and tell them that they would cut off their phones, recounted Parker. She and her siblings were old enough to notice what was happening and would see their parents "shuffling the money around."

As a child, her mom took her to free ballet, opera, and theatre shows, where she developed a love for acting. Barbara bartered for her daughter to get training – even cleaned studios so she could get lessons.

When Parker was eleven, the family relocated to New Jersey to support her acting career. That same year, she landed her first New York stage role and became the family's breadwinner.

Parker slowly started getting recognition, and she soon became successful after bagging a role in the television show "Square Pegs," including several minor film roles.

Having grown up in an impoverished family, Parker became an advocate for those living under similar conditions, saying that it does not mean they do not amount to anything in life or want the easy way out.

She explained that they were only going through tough times as her family did. Parker added many people assume that those living on welfare and other government aids are predominantly "people of color," which is far from the truth:

"Welfare is for all varieties of people."

Net Worth of $200M

The "Sex and the City" star conquered life's adversities and saw to it that she made her acting career a Hollywood success. She is best known for playing Carrie Bradshaw in the "Sex and the City" franchise.

The six-time Golden Globe Award winner reportedly earned $15 million for the first movie of "Sex and the City" and walked away with $20 million for the sequel.

When it comes to the "Sex and the City" TV show which aired from 1998 to 2004 for six seasons, Parker reportedly made $50 million during the first three seasons.

She later became a producer on the series and started making $3.2 million per episode. The Hollywood leading lady bagged $147 million between seasons 4 and 6.

For the comedy-drama "And Just Like That," Parker reportedly takes home $1 million per episode. The show's first season had ten episodes, meaning she raked in $10 million.

The two-time Emmy Award winner has also invested millions into real estate. She and her husband, actor Matthew Broderick, own two townhouses sitting beside one another in New York City, which they converted into one mega-mansion. The Hollywood couple invested $34.5 million into the property, presumably worth more today.

The pair also dabble into flipping homes. One of their projects is a home they purchased for $3 million in 2000 and later sold for $15 million. Including other lucrative businesses, Parker is reportedly worth $200 million.

Living a Normal Life

After experiencing a rough childhood, Parker wants to instill values in her kids mainly because they have a privileged life, unlike she did growing up.

She and Broderick are parents to their eldest son, James, whom they welcomed in 2013, and twins, Marion and Tabitha, who arrived in October 2002.

The "Hocus Pocus" star said charity begins at home, explaining parents who are not famous could have children who know no boundaries because they do not set prime examples in their households.

The "Honeymoon in Vegas" star revealed that she learned best from Grammy Award winner and country singer Dolly Parton who gave her sound advice.

The Queen of Country, who also comes from a humble background, said she would only cater to what her loved ones need rather than what they desire. Parker took that advice and applied it to her children.

She once said of her children: "I will do my best to make sure you always have what you need," adding she wants them to want to achieve something.

The mother of three emphasized that she wants her brood to be independent individuals, to become dreamers, and to ensure that they strive to make their dreams a reality.