Sir Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, have been together for nearly 20 years. The couple also has two kids, Zackary and Elijah, whom they are attempting to train to be humble and understand the value of money.
Sir Elton John is a critically renowned musician who has released 32 albums and shows no signs of stopping. At the age of 73, the singer continues to be booked for several engagements.
Even though the musician still has a thriving career after over three decades, he is looking to focus on different aspects of his life, like his marriage with David Furnish and their two sons, Zachary and Elijah.
Before life became about raising their sons, John and Furnish had a whirlwind romance that started in 1993. The “Sacrifice” singer said he had returned to his house in Windsor and wanted to meet new people.
So he asked a friend to get people together for dinner, and among those people was Furnish, with whom John said he shared an instant connection. John loved that he was a bit shy and dressed well.
The day after, the two went on a date, which began their long-term relationship. They were in a civil partnership for nine years and eventually decided to get married in 2014.
The couple sent out invites on Instagram. The whole day was special, especially sharing it with their sons, who had the big job of ring bearers.
Furnish and John found it pleasant to share their union with their children, especially given the difficulties they faced in becoming parents. It all began in 2009, when they met a Ukrainian youngster named Lev at an orphanage for children with HIV.
The couple wanted to help Lev because he came from a damaged family, but the government refused because he was too old. Despite this, the pair continued to communicate with Lev and provide assistance.
The interaction with Lev helped John realize that he may become a father. He admitted that he never believed he’d have children because he was so elderly. They soon welcomed their first son, Zachary, via surrogate in 2010, followed by Elijah in 2013.
Raising Kids Out of the Spotlight
Despite their hectic schedule, the couple desired to be hands-on with their children. “We don’t want to put the raising of children into the hands of nannies and housekeepers,” Furnish stated. Becoming parents was the ideal decision for the couple, and their primary objective going forward is to raise their sons to be happy and healthy.
John wrote a heartwarming letter to his sons, expressing how much they have changed his life. “Zachary and Elijah, you two are the greatest gifts I have ever been given. You have filled my heart with love and my life with purpose and meaning in ways I didn’t think were possible,” wrote the singer.
John and Furnish are happy with the beautiful family they have built. One thing they do not want their children to forget as they grow is the love and support they will always receive from their parents.
Since becoming a parent, John opened up about how his perspective on life changed and some of the integral things he and his husband would like to instill in their children.
John spoke about how becoming a parent changed his relationship with money. Now that he is a father of two, he finds quality time with Zachary and Elijah more valuable than a hit song or a painting.
The singer confessed that he and Furnish spent a lot of money before they had kids because they were accustomed to a life where they were at the center. But since the arrival of their sons, John said they have significantly reduced their spending.
Now, the couple is focused on making sure they only have what they need. The two have also been teaching their children the value of money and the work needed to earn it.
John is aware that his children already live a comfortable life, but he would love for them to still have humility. Therefore, the singer has said that he does not plan on leaving them his entire estate. Instead, he wants to balance giving his children a good life and keeping them grounded. He reasoned:
”Of course, I want to leave my boys in a very sound financial state. But it’s terrible to give kids a silver spoon. It ruins their life.”
From when the boys were toddlers, John has tried to teach them the value of money. At five and three years old, Zachary and Elijah might not have understood how famous their parents were, but one thing John and Furnish did was teach them about spending and saving money.
The singer said back in 2016 that they would get £3 ($ 3.74) pocket money from working in the kitchen or garden. Then, each coin would be allocated to charity, savings, and spending. Their chores added up to cleaning up their rooms as they got older, and they got a star for every chore they accomplished.
The couple also understands that their kids will not have a regular childhood, but they still try to maintain a bit of normalcy in their lives. John revealed that his kids live like locals who are “not stuck behind the gates of a mansion.”
When asked if he feared raising his children in the spotlight, he says he is aware of the downsides but he thinks the public is “brilliant” and “not hostile,” especially when asking for photographs with his family, so he doesn’t mind at all.
The singer and his husband want their children to enjoy family time outside of their mansion, so they would go out for pizza or catch a movie.
John does not want to miss out on moments with his children because of his fame. Another thing the singer is quick to do is pick up and drop off his sons at school.
Elton John Shows off His Sons
John and his husband usually keep their sons out of social media, but the “Rocket Man” singer shared a rare photo of Furnish, their sons, and their godmother, Lady Gaga. The singer expressed how he was sad to have missed out on the moment to pose with them but still sent his love.
Fans in the comments section were surprised by how much Zachary and Elijah had grown. “My goodness, the boys are growing tall. “Such handsome little gentlemen,” wrote one commentator. “Look at these gorgeous boys and their pappa and godma!” exclaimed another fan.
John penned a heartfelt letter to his sons, telling them how much they had transformed his life. “You two, Zachary and Elijah, are the best presents I’ve ever received. “You have filled my heart with love and my life with purpose and meaning in ways I never thought possible,” the singer wrote.
