Rewinding to 2020, Serena Williams emphasized a fundamental lesson from her upbringing: “My family wasn’t wealthy, but we were always taught that when you work hard, you reap the benefits as a result.” Now, her husband, Alexis Ohanian, is carrying that torch forward. Explaining his decision last year to give their 7-year-old daughter, Olympia, ownership stakes in two professional sports teams—Angel City FC and Los Angeles Golf Club (LAGC)—Ohanian stated, “I want to build a legacy for my children.” And it seems the groundwork has officially begun!

A few hours ago, Ohanian shared a heartwarming video on Instagram revealing a thoughtfully curated “contract” for their daughter, Olympia. “Yes, Olympia’s got a contract,” he began explaining in the clip. The purpose?

The agreement, aimed at instilling a sense of financial responsibility, promises (as revealed in the caption), “$7/week allowance—negotiated by her mom (who, yes, got her weekends off). Feed the dog, clothes in the hamper, get paid. We’re trying to build the muscle: work = reward. Good things come when you work for it,” as the post’s caption read. But, wait, there’s more to the story!

In the video clip from the ‘Spolitics with Jemele Hill’ podcast he did a few months ago, the father of two shared, “For Olympia, she has an allowance. She gets $7 a week. Serena was her lawyer in the negotiation. I drew up a real contract. We negotiated it. Her mom was her counsel, which was really frustrating…[Olympia]’s gotta feed the dog, she’s gotta put her clothes in the hamper, she makes her bed—so, she does that five days a week. Mom negotiated weekends off…I figured out how to get her to value cash, which was helpful…We’re trying to create that flywheel between doing the work and getting the money, and then understanding there are things you could want.”

Ohanian further shared a relatable anecdote about teaching Olympia the value of saving during the same conversation. He recounted a time when the 7-year-old wanted to buy a Tamagotchi watch priced at around $125, but she had only saved about $100. He then asked his daughter how many weeks’ allowance was still needed. To which she replied, “three more.” Eventually, the little girl did get she wanted but apparently “stopped caring about it” after a week, setting her eyes on a new prize: An “American girl doll dress.” But since she had already spent her savings on the watch, there was no money left. So she had to start saving money all over again. But what’s the takeaway of this?

Reflecting on these moments, Ohanian explained the lesson he aimed to impart: “I need her to feel the little bit of pain of like ‘Ugh I gotta wait two more weeks for that paycheck’ and then start to remember ‘Because I do this work, I get this money’.” He then added, “Neither Serena or I grew up with wealth, and so we are both trying to navigate how to create the circumstances for her to be able to be a ‘functional adult’ while also having resources that we couldn’t have imagined.” But, this isn’t a fresh approach for the devoted dad.

Back in 2019, during an interview with Glamour, Alexis had already expressed his intentions to raise a strong and ambitious daughter. “We’re raising what I hope will be an overachieving and strong daughter,” he had said, underlining their long-standing philosophy of connecting hard work with meaningful reward. During a 2022 interview on the Imposters podcast from Morning Brew, Ohanian also shared his desire for his daughter, Olympia, to witness his work ethic firsthand. “I really want Olympia to see me working, to see me building,” he explained. “And I also think it’s part of my responsibility as a dad and a role model. I want her to see me put in work in something I really care about and being passionate about something and caring about something.”

Notably, all this comes from Ohanian’s own financial experience. Reflecting on a key financial takeaway, Ohanian had stated in 2018 that he learned “the No. 1 Money” lesson: compounding interest. Talking to CNBC Make It at the launch of 1850 Brand Coffee’s Bold Pioneer contest for aspiring entrepreneurs, he had also emphasized the significance of educating children about financial decision-making, explaining, “it’s important to teach your kids about ‘trade-offs and short-term versus long-term thinking, if you can get good at delaying gratification, you can make smarter decisions with your finances.’”

Serena, too, is contributing to Olympia’s early financial literacy. Last year, she shared a touching clip on IG, where Olympia could be seen learning about money through Mellody Hobson’s book, Priceless Facts about Money. The book introduces kids to essential financial principles in a fun, easy-to-digest way. Olympia, while reading, thoughtfully reflected, “No matter how much or how many you have, everyone has to deal with money. Understanding that can help you master it.”

Much like Ohanian, Williams had her own set of experiences with money. In a 2023 appearance on the “Kneading Dough” podcast, Serena Williams reflected on her early financial experiences, saying, “Since I was a teenager, I’ve had to make every financial decision in my life. I’ve had to learn how to make good ones and how to make bad ones, to make better ones.”

The Williams-Ohanian family recently celebrated Alexis’ 42nd birthday as well. And what made it even more special? An adorable gesture from the 7-year-old Olympia that melted hearts, proving once again that the little one is growing up with love, purpose, and grounded wisdom.

Alexis Ohanian shared Olympia’s adorable gesture on his 42nd birthday

In the tranquil Maryland suburbs, Alexis Ohanian’s nascent entrepreneurial spirit ignited, ultimately impacting the technology sector significantly. At just 22, he co-founded Reddit, launching a career that would define modern digital spaces. But it was in his early 30s, during a chance encounter in Rome with the tennis legend Serena Williams, that his story took a heartwarming turn. Their whirlwind romance led to marriage and the joys of parenting two daughters, Olympia and Adira. Now, at 42, Ohanian balances his business ventures with 776 and Initialized Capital, all while being the ultimate “girl dad.”

Family life for Alexis is full of little traditions and joyful moments. From golf outings on green to the cherished Sunday pancake ritual, passed down from his father Chris, he shares it all with affection on social media. Olympia, in fact, has now taken the lead in pancake prep and grilling duties, a testament to the fun-loving bond between father and daughter.

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, Alexis marked his 42nd birthday with a moment that melted hearts. Taking to his X account, he thanked fans for their wishes and proudly shared the sweetest gift from Olympia: a handmade calendar note featuring a tiny drawing of her dad, honoring his big day. “Thank you for all the birthday wishes! Olympia even put me in her calendar 🥰,” Ohanian wrote on X, showing just how meaningful Olympia’s gesture was.

As Alexis steps into another year, one thing’s for sure: the bond between him and his daughters continues to grow, filled with love, laughter, and lifelong memories. And of course, we extend our heartfelt birthday wishes to the esteemed Alexis, a man of great values.