With 11 kids, Nick Cannon is far from your average dad — but he’s also anything but the “deadbeat” he’s so often labeled.
The entertainment mogul sat down with the Los Angeles Times to dispel the “villainization” he’s experienced from fathering a dozen kids (including his late 5-month-old son Zen, who sadly passed away in 2021) with six different women. In his latest effort to fend off the near-constant vitriol he faces regarding his unconventional family, Cannon revealed just how much he does to ensure his children feel happy, secure, and cared for — including how much he has to make on an annual basis to do so.
“When you think about my lifestyle, I have to generate at least $100 million a year,” the All That alum revealed. The 12-time dad is known to treat his kids (and, by extension, his partners) to extravagant birthday parties (he recently rented out Six Flags in celebration of his and Mariah Carey’s twins turning 12 years old), elaborate holiday gatherings, and luxurious vacations.
It’s also worth noting that, if you scroll through his social media, Cannon shares smaller everyday moments with his children as well. He’s seen cuddling on the couch with one of his babies, laughing at one of his sons dressed up as him for Halloween, enjoying a pumpkin patch outing with one of his other babies, and so much more. While, yes, social media is only a series of curated snapshots of reality, it’s also abundantly clear that Cannon ispresent for his kids, despite the relentless criticism he faces.
On Being Wrongfully ‘Villianized’
Cannon explained that he constantly sees criticism regarding his ability to be present for all of his kids, and because of the assumptions made about him, he gets “this deadbeat-dad title.”
The Masked Singer host revealed that he has a dedicated calendar for each one of his kids, will occasionally bring them with him to meetings, and determines where he’ll sleep based on which child he drops off last.
And, despite all that effort, Cannon said he still feels guilty for not spending enough time with his 11 children.
Focusing on Quality Over Quantity
Despite his guilt, the Drumline actor shared he tries to approach fatherhood with a quality-over-quantity mindset. “It’s not about what I do for you or what I say to you, it’s about how you feel when I’m with you,” Cannon explained. He added, “If you feel loved when you see your dad, that’s what’s gonna resonate.”
Cannon’s Kids
The former America’s Got Talent host shares twin daughter and son, Monroe and Moroccan, with Mariah Carey; sons Golden Saigon and Rise Messiah and daughter Powerful Queen with Brittany Bell; twin sons Zion and Zillion and daughter Beautiful Zeppelin with Abby De La Rosa; late son Zen and daughter Halo Marie with Alyssa Scott; son Legendary Love with Bre Tiesi, and daughter Onyx Ice with LaNisha Cole.
Cannon has previously mentioned a possible expansion of his family in the future, being unwilling to rule out having more children because of the “joy and elation” he experiences thanks to his big brood of babies. Only time will tell if he’ll upgrade to a baker’s dozen — or even more!
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