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Salma Hayek is setting the record straight regarding her financial independence and the dynamics of her marriage to billionaire François-Henri Pinault. The 58-year-old actress, known for her acclaimed role in Frida, made it clear in a recent interview that she values her own financial success and prefers to keep her finances separate from her husband’s considerable wealth.
In an interview with WSJ. Magazine, Hayek asserted, “I support a lot of the aspects of my life and myself.” This statement emphasizes her desire to be self-sufficient, even in a marriage without a prenuptial agreement that divides assets. She elaborated on her relationship with money, stating, “I have the pressure to make a certain amount of money, and I like it. And now, I decided, I want to make more.”
Hayek’s comments come on the heels of her 15th wedding anniversary with Pinault, 62, the CEO of luxury retail group Kering. Together, they share a 17-year-old daughter named Valentina. The actress’s commitment to maintaining her independence extends to her work ethic, which she claims her husband finds attractive. “I think he finds it kind of sexy,” she revealed, highlighting the mutual respect they have for each other’s ambitions.
The actress, who hails from a wealthy family that faced financial difficulties during her youth, reflected on the superficiality she has encountered in her social interactions since rising to fame. She expressed her disappointment with people who reach out to her simply because of her financial status. “To me, the excitement about having a lot of money was that I didn’t have to think about money, and it turned out all people wanted to talk to me about was money,” Hayek said.
She went on to explain her experiences with strangers who assume they should be friends due to their shared wealth. “Strangers coming to me that aren’t even friends, but they think we should be friends because they’re rich too,” she added, illustrating the challenges of navigating relationships in affluent circles.
Hayek’s journey has been shaped by her family’s financial struggles, which began when she moved to Los Angeles in her 20s. Despite these hardships, she credits those challenges with helping her become the best version of herself. “That’s when I became the best version of myself,” she said, reflecting on how adversity has propelled her success.
Through her experiences, Hayek has established a strong sense of self-worth and independence, even while married to one of the wealthiest men in the world. Her candid reflections on wealth and self-sufficiency serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of personal agency in relationships, regardless of financial status.
