Net Worth and Chill: "Ice Ice Baby: How Saweetie Built Her Pretty B*tch Empire"

Host: Vivian Tu
Guest: Saweetie
Release Date: July 9, 2025
Network: Vox Media Podcast Network

Introduction

Vivian Tu, popularly known as Your Rich BFF, welcomes listeners to another enriching episode of Net Worth and Chill. This episode features the Grammy-nominated artist and entrepreneur, Saweetie, as she delves into her financial journey, entrepreneurial ventures, and the lessons she's learned along the way.

Early Life and Money Memories

Growing Up with Young Parents
Saweetie opens up about her upbringing, highlighting the challenges and inspirations that shaped her financial mindset.

• Vivian: "What was money like in your family?"
• Saweetie [00:01]: "I grew up with really young parents. I saw two people who I looked up to working their ass off. So I think that's where I get a lot of, like, my ambition, my hustle."

First Forays into Earning
Reflecting on her entrepreneurial spirit from a young age, Saweetie shares her earliest money-making ventures.

• Saweetie [06:39]: "My earliest memory was doing bake sales after church... I started selling candy at school. I was like the candy girl."

Vivian adds her own relatable story about selling chapsticks in third grade, fostering a sense of camaraderie between them.

Pursuing Music and Navigating Financial Struggles

Academic Dedication and Transfer to USC
Saweetie discusses her academic journey, emphasizing her commitment to excelling in school to secure her tuition.

• Saweetie [10:15]: "I was always avid with, like, getting my A's. Very proactive... If I didn't get a good grade on my test, I'd go back, correct my answers to bump my grade up."

Despite securing her tuition initially, rising costs forced her to take out loans, which she promptly paid off once her music career took off.

Choosing Music Over Stable Employment
Her unwavering passion for music led her to decline lucrative job offers, reinforcing her dedication to her craft.

• Saweetie [12:02]: "Yes, I just knew it. I just knew it from like the bottom of my heart."

She recounts turning down a well-paying medical assistant position, underscoring her commitment to music despite financial uncertainties.

Breakthrough and Managing Newfound Wealth

Strategic Deadline and Discovery
Facing financial strain in Los Angeles, Saweetie set a one-year deadline to achieve her dreams, which culminated in her discovery in the ninth month.

• Saweetie [14:43]: "I gave myself a deadline. On the ninth month from that plan, I had got discovered."

Early Financial Management Mistakes
Upon receiving her first major income, Saweetie admits to initial overspending, a common pitfall for newly affluent individuals.

• Saweetie [20:56]: "I started splurging. It was probably one of, like, the worst mistakes I made."

She highlights excessive spending on clothes and generosity towards friends and family without setting boundaries.

Money Mistakes and Lessons Learned

Excessive Shopping as Emotional Therapy
Saweetie identifies shopping too much as her biggest financial mistake, attributing it to unhealed emotional needs.

• Saweetie [45:31]: "Shopping was like therapy for me. It was a toxic way of nurturing my unhealed feelings about something."

Setting Financial Boundaries
To curb her spending, she had to establish clear boundaries with those close to her, learning the importance of financial discipline.

• Saweetie [21:56]: "I had to start creating boundaries because some people thought that money was just growing off of trees."

Current Ventures and Future Investments

Expanding Beyond Music
Saweetie discusses her strategic shift from solely relying on brand deals to building her own brand, aiming to become a brand ambassador influencer.

• Saweetie [26:39]: "I'm trying to create, like, my own brand... I need to have my own brand now."

Real Estate Aspirations
Expressing her interest in real estate, Saweetie envisions creating luxury, affordable homes for college students.

• Saweetie [30:57]: "I'd like to create luxury, affordable homes for college students."

Re-establishing Her Media Team
As she prepares to release new music, Saweetie emphasizes the importance of a robust media team to manage her growing content and business endeavors.

• Saweetie [35:12]: "I need to like get a media team again because I'm finna pop out again."

Financial Philosophy and Advice

Scarcity vs. Abundance Mindset
Saweetie contrasts the financial mindsets of those with and without money, advocating for an abundance mindset among the affluent.

• Saweetie [46:02]: "For people who don't have it, I feel like they're thinking in a very singular way... there's almost a lightness to the conversation."

Importance of a Support System
She underscores the necessity of a strong support system in achieving and managing wealth.

• Saweetie [27:25]: "Having a strong support system... it's important to have a community that you love and trust."

Passive Income Goals
Saweetie shares her ambition to generate millions in passive income, allowing her to focus solely on her passions without financial constraints.

• Vivian [38:55]: "A money goal is to have passive income in the millions."

Personal Growth and Future Aspirations

Continuous Work Ethic
Despite achieving significant financial success, Saweetie remains committed to her work, expressing no desire to retire but rather to mentor others.

• Saweetie [41:12]: "I think what retirement looks for me is probably like pouring into someone else's career."

Artistic Integrity
She emphasizes her commitment to creating art for its own sake, free from external pressures and the "game" of the industry.

• Saweetie [46:56]: "My ultimate goal is just to be happy with the art that I put out. Not trying to appease anything... just purely doing art for what I did it for."

Closing Thoughts

In a heartfelt conclusion, Saweetie reflects on her financial journey, acknowledging both her mistakes and the support systems that have propelled her forward. Vivian and Saweetie end the episode on a light-hearted note, brainstorming future collaborations and merchandise ideas, symbolizing the blend of financial savvy and creative entrepreneurship that defines Saweetie's empire.

Notable Quotes

• Saweetie [00:01]: "I saw two people who I looked up to working their ass off. So I think that's where I get a lot of... my ambition, my hustle."
• Saweetie [10:15]: "If I didn't get a good grade on my test, I'd go back, correct my answers to bump my grade up."
• Saweetie [14:43]: "I had set out for myself, I was actually working towards something instead of just aimlessly trying to like, figure it out."
• Saweetie [20:56]: "I started splurging. It was probably one of, like, the worst mistakes I made."
• Saweetie [45:32]: "Shopping was like therapy for me. It was a toxic way of nurturing my unhealed feelings."
• Saweetie [46:02]: "There's almost a lightness to the conversation. How can we play with this money? What can we do with this money?"
• Saweetie [27:25]: "Having a strong support system... it's important to have a community that you love and trust."
• Saweetie [38:03]: "Having a good business team."
• Saweetie [41:12]: "I think what retirement looks for me is probably like pouring into someone else's career."
• Saweetie [46:56]: "My ultimate goal is just to be happy with the art that I put out."

Final Thoughts

Net Worth and Chill successfully navigates Saweetie's financial narrative, offering listeners an insightful look into the complexities of managing wealth in the entertainment industry. From humble beginnings and financial missteps to strategic investments and future aspirations, Saweetie's story serves as both inspiration and a blueprint for financial empowerment.

For more engaging episodes and financial wisdom, subscribe to Net Worth and Chill and follow Vivian Tu on Instagram @yourrichbff.