Gabrielle Union learned an expensive lesson about money early in her Hollywood career. The actress recently revealed details about her first major purchase after achieving success—a decision her father warned against, but she made anyway, leading to immediate regret and a lasting impact on how she approaches financial choices.
Bad Money Decisions
Union’s career took off between 1999 and 2000 with roles in “Bring It On, Love & Basketball,” and “10 Things I Hate About You.” When the paychecks started rolling in, Union decided to celebrate her success with a car purchase that would prove both uncomfortable and financially unwise.
Speaking at the panel, “Sisterhood & Savings: A Conversation with Gabrielle Union,” moderated by Kelley L. Carter and presented by Ally Financial at the American Black Film Festival in Miami, Union candidly shared the story of her ill-conceived automotive purchase.
“So stupid. I went on the Mazda lot. I’m like, ‘Oh, I’ve made it when I have a Mazda,'” she recalled, according to US Weekly.
Her father, displaying practical wisdom, warned her against it.
“My dad’s like, ‘Don’t buy a brand new car. It depreciates the second you drive it off the lot,'” Union remembered.
Despite his advice, Union was determined to buy what she saw as a symbol of success. “I walked into Mazda and I bought myself a black-on-black Mazda Miata with leather seats,” she continued, describing the details of her purchase.
According to Kelly Blue Book, Mazda vehicles in 1999 ranged between $11,000 and $31,000—significant for an emerging actress still establishing her career. The car felt like a stylish milestone, but reality set in quickly.
The leather interior proved especially problematic in Los Angeles’ sweltering heat, creating a daily reminder of her impulsive decision.
“Lemme tell you about leather seats in Los Angeles. Do you know I scorched myself every time I got out? Yeah, that was my first purchase,” Union explained with humor.
Adding insult to injury, her father’s prediction proved accurate.
“And it depreciated the second I drove it off the lot!” she admitted.
This early financial misstep became a formative experience that influenced Union’s approach to money for years, creating a complex relationship with wealth that would show up in her personal life.
Union’s financial views became more complicated after marrying former NBA star Dwyane Wade in 2014.
With her estimated net worth of $40 million, significantly lower than Wade’s $170 million, Union at some point in the marriage insisted on a 50/50 financial split in their household. This arrangement, which she defended publicly for years, had deeper roots.
In a recent podcast, Union revealed that her insistence on equality was really “a trauma response,” saying, “50/50 is I’m not going to be vulnerable enough to trust you with 100% of anything, not my heart, not my cash.”
This protective stance reflected her struggles with depression, scarcity mentality, and low self-esteem in her younger years. The loss of a close friend to cancer helped shift her perspective.
When Union eventually asked Wade if he wanted to pay the entire mortgage, his response showed how much her insistence had shaped their relationship.
“You insisted on that… I thought it made you feel better,” he said.
Even as Wade began covering more expenses, Union said she was overwhelmed with anxiety, a sign of how deeply rooted her financial independence had become. She eventually settled on contributing 35 percent to household expenses.
Today, Union’s financial decisions are shaped by her father’s care needs. Sylvester Union, now 80, lives with dementia in memory care, adding responsibilities that impact her career choices.
Union says caring for dad affects her ability to take passion projects, explaining she must “go where the money goes” and can’t afford to take on independent films when steady income is needed, People reported.
This evolution — from impulsive car buyer to thoughtful provider — shows Union’s growth in understanding the true purpose of money. Her story highlights how financial wisdom often comes not from rules, but from adapting to changing circumstances and keeping family and values at the center of every decision.
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