'Don't Ever Let Somebody Control You With Money.' Reese Witherspoon Urges Women to Maintain Financial Independence, Keep Their Jobs

Core Insights - Actress Reese Witherspoon emphasizes the importance of financial independence for married women, advising them to maintain their jobs as a form of life insurance against potential financial instability [1][2] - Witherspoon highlights a widespread issue among women regarding financial literacy, noting that only 45% of women can answer key personal finance questions correctly, compared to 53% of men [2][3] - The lack of comprehensive financial education is identified as a significant factor contributing to women's lower financial literacy, with many receiving minimal education on the subject during their schooling [3] Financial Literacy and Education - A report from the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center indicates that women generally have lower financial literacy than men, with only 11% of women demonstrating "very high financial literacy" compared to 22% of men [2] - Witherspoon points out that the limited financial education women receive often consists of just a few days of instruction in high school, which is insufficient for long-term financial understanding [3] Personal Financial Management - Witherspoon's net worth is reported at $440 million, significantly boosted by the sale of her production company, Hello Sunshine, in 2021, although she acknowledges that earlier financial education could have increased her wealth [3][4] - She advises women to avoid debt as a crucial piece of financial advice and encourages them to take control of their financial education and management [5]