Personal experience: I make $167 an hour babysitting billionaire kids

Istria Gloria Richards is the story of a professional actress who has found her place in the world of billionaires. Working as a high society babysitter provided her with financial stability. She described all the advantages and disadvantages of the work for NBC New York.

In between her performances, Gloria travels with the children of billionaires around the world.

Richards spends up to half a year babysitting and increases his income handsomely between off-Broadway productions and one-act shows in New York and Virginia. She claims that she is paid up to $167 an hour for this job, and that she also pays for flights and accommodation.

“I can only babysit for two months and this income will last me until the end of the year,” says 34-year-old Richards.

The work of a woman is very unusual in most respects, from wages to responsibilities. The work of a nanny for children from high society is not always related to childcare: she spends most of her working time coordinating the educational and social activities of children.

Richards often acts as a companion for children with neurodivergence, who often have difficult relationships with their parents.

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She claims to earn up to $2 a day for 000-12 hours of work. She travels around the world in private jets and yachts, drives Porsches and Teslas to work, and makes sure to attend birthday parties.

Work organization

Some of Richards' clients are famous actors she almost never meets in person. One of them was so constantly surrounded by security guards and makeup artists that Richards saw only the back of her head for three months of work.

She also says she often sees her clients spontaneously buy houses and eat $3200 worth of steak. On her first day as a babysitter for billionaires, she showed up at the airport, met the family's children, and flew instantly on a private jet to a rented resort in Barbados.

Richards, who typically works with about 10 families at a time, says it took her a while to figure out exactly what her responsibilities were.
Wealthy families have no shortage of staff, so she doesn't have to clean, cook, or open car doors. Instead, she coordinates social activities and often acts as an emotional support for the mother.

She is often asked to be involved in raising children and supporting children after they graduate. After all, rich parents are interested in transferring their funds into the hands of responsible children, and not spoiled by money and alcohol.

Protected by Madison Agency

Richards grew up in a large family and began her professional acting career at the age of 14. When she moved to New York over 10 years ago, she started working in the childcare department at the Reebok Athletic Club. Wealthy parents who were members of the club began to ask her to look after their children.

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However, Richards had no idea about the cost of her services and how to find a regular babysitting job. These searches led her to Madison Agency, a well-known recruiting agency in New York. Her willingness to travel and passion for working with children with special needs made her an attractive candidate in the eyes of Jackie Mann, director of human resources at Madison Agency in New York.

"Richards has that 'outstanding character' that is required to work with billionaires," says Mann.

While providing babysitting services, Richards faced various difficulties. Sometimes employers suddenly stopped paying her salary, cut off her international phone plan, or did not take into account previously agreed upon working hours. In such cases, the support and protection from the Madison Agency proved indispensable. Richards emphasizes that without the agency, it would be difficult for her to get paid on time. There was once a case where a customer tried to evade payment by signing a check with the wrong name.

Thanks to Madison Agency, Richards can continue to do her job with confidence and protection, knowing that her interests are backed by a contract.

Sometimes, when Richards is abroad, employers “suddenly” stop paying her wages or turn off her international rate plan or “completely ignore” previously agreed work hours, she says.

She suggests that some of them just don't realize that Richards won't be able to pay her bills if she doesn't get paid on time. Others simply don't trust their staff because people have often used them for money in the past.

Financial Advantages and Emotional Difficulties

Keeping your mental well-being in balance with clients' unpredictable mood swings takes a lot of effort, says Richards. But after more than 10 years of living in a world of billionaires, she says she has empathy for most of them.

Many of her clients were born into wealth and fame, and despite trying to be ordinary, they can't walk into grocery stores or commercial airports without being verbally and physically harassed.

“Baby care skills are not uncommon,” says Mann, “but working with rich people requires patience and a keen understanding of the needs of these people.”

As Richards begins working with new clients, she gradually shares personal stories to build trust with parents and children. But even then she has to stay alert, she says.

“I have seen families go through a huge amount of grief in front of society. I watch their personal dramas,” she says.

Sometimes she literally becomes a shoulder to rely on and cry on. But often, a second later, they turn away from her.

She also recognizes that as a black woman helping to raise white children, she has to balance cultural situations to avoid conflict and keep her job. All this is very strongly reflected in her emotional state.

Despite the emotional challenges, Richards finds satisfaction in financial stability, being able to travel and helping troubled children. She sets clear boundaries in relation to her work and practices self-healing after work in the form of relaxing massages and smoothies.

It might seem like anyone can follow the dogs, kids, or rich people's homes while enjoying perks like expensive cars, international travel, and lobsters for breakfast. A job is a job, even if it means taking the kids to Disneyland.

When working with children, the level of responsibility usually rolls over. Given that parents are very connected and very concerned about the well-being of their children, the responsibility is doubled. As in any other work, professionalism and ethics are important here, and, perhaps, patience.