Newsom Claims He Was Poor, Lived On White Break Despite Getty Family Connections

Gov. Gavin Newsom facing backlash over claims he was so poor while growing up, he had to eat white bread and mac & cheese

However, critics are pointing out that his family was tied to the Getty empire, he went to private schools in rich neighborhoods and was given heavy investments into his business ventures and political career by the Gettys

California Governor Gavin Newsom feeling the heat after talking about his childhood hardship on the "All The Smoke" NBA podcast, where he described scraping by on virtually nothing.

Critics quick to call the California governor out for allegedly lying to seem more relatable to his audience, pointing to Newsom's well-documented ties to one of San Francisco's wealthiest dynasties.

Newsom talked about his early years in San Francisco's Marina district saying he had to raise himself and struggled financially.

He was also mocked for talking in an 'urban' tone using slang like "bro" and "man," throughout the interview.

He claimed sports – particularly basketball – became his escape during his personal and financial turmoil.

However, critics point out that even though Newsom's parents divorced, he conveniently glossed over his privileged lineage, didn't mention his 'silver-spoon’ upbringing and tried to prove he is a man of the people.

But Newsom was born into San Francisco's old-money elite.

His father, William Newsom III, was a prominent state appeals court judge and longtime administrator of the Getty oil fortune's blind trust, managing billions for the family of Gordon Getty.
This connection not only afforded the Newsoms socialite status but also launched Gavin's career through early business ventures backed by Getty-linked investors.
Points Newsom forgot to mention:
William Newsom's role in the Getty empire put the family at the top of California's power structure, with Gavin himself interning for Gordon Getty as a teen and later co-founding the high-end PlumpJack wine shop with Getty family funding.

Despite the divorce, Newsom's elite network – including close childhood friendships with Getty heirs – gave him a safety net far from the 'ramen-noodle existence' he says he lived, and allowed him to attend prestigious schools like Redwood High in Marin County.

The governor's own wealth, built on wineries, hotels, and political fundraising from those same blue-blood circles, is now more than $30 million.

Critics say Newsom's pivot to this folksy, poor-man persona – is pandering, especially as California struggles with record homelessness, soaring costs, and an exodus of middle-class families he claims to champion.

Saying, "It's the classic elite liberal playbook: preach poverty from a penthouse"