California Governor Gavin Newsom’s narrative of overcoming financial struggle is sparking skepticism due to his prominent family ties to billionaire heir Gordon Getty, according to the New York Post. Newsom, in a recent podcast appearance on “All The Smoke,” described his childhood as being marked by hardship, noting that his mother was young, divorced, and working multiple jobs while raising Newsom and his sister. He recalled living in modest circumstances including having to live with roommates to afford rent, and being left alone to watch TV while eating Wonder Bread and macaroni and cheese.

“My mom was 19, pregnant and divorced a few years later, with two kids,” he said on the podcast, The Post reports. “Came from no money and just hustled. You know, worked hard, grinding every single day. Two and a half jobs, no bulls—.”

“We had roommates all the time because she couldn’t afford the rent,” he continued. “…It was also about paying the bills, man. It was just like hustling and and so I was out there, kind of raising myself, turning on the TV, just getting obsessed. I was sitting there with the Wonder Bread…the macaroni and cheese.”

Newsom has often leaned on this depiction of his upbringing, suggesting a lower middle-class or impoverished background seemingly to connect with voters. He recounted incidents such as sleeping on the couch and his sister in a hallway while his mother rented out their spare bedroom for income.

However, critics note that Newsom’s late father, William Newsom, was an attorney and associate justice who managed the Getty family’s fortune, including playing a key role in resolving the John Paul Getty III kidnapping. William Newsom’s financial setbacks after an unsuccessful Senate run are documented, but his close ties and responsibilities to the Gettys are also known, according to reports.

Despite Newsom’s claims of hardship, after graduating from Santa Clara University, he was able to launch business ventures, including the boutique wine company PlumpJack Group, largely due to Getty’s funding. Newsom’s spokesperson defended his story, emphasizing that Newsom’s mother raised him post-divorce and juggled three jobs—secretary, waitress, and paralegal—to support him. Nonetheless, Newsom attended private institutions such as Notre Dame de Victo for his early education, which critics argue complicates his narrative of deprivation.

Newsom’s remarks have led to increased scrutiny from both media and political opponents. While he acknowledges moving between different economic worlds due to his parents’ divorce, the existence of influential family ties and support seems to stand in stark contrast to the hardships he emphasizes in public appearances. In a recent social media exchange, Newsom attempted to poke fun at Vice President JD Vance by comparing their respective high school photos, further fueling online debate about the authenticity of his own portrayal.