Tyler Perry played Santa Claus by paying off $434,000 worth of layaways at Walmart for holiday shoppers. Tyler announced his generosity on social media.
Tyler posted a video telling followers that if they had layaways at two Walmart stores in suburban Atlanta by Dec. 6 at 9:30 a.m., they would only have to pay a penny to pick their items up.
“I have paid for all of your layaways for Christmas. So, Merry Christmas to everybody!” he said with a smile.
Tyler originally planned to remain anonymous, but that would defeat the joy of giving.
The “Madea” creator said he knew people were going through “hard times” and were “struggling” but he said he was grateful to be able to help them.
Tyler is known for his generosity and benevolence, especially around the holidays.
The 49-year-old New Orleans native, born Emmitt Perry Jr., is one of the highest paid men in entertainment, earning over $130 million in one year between 2010 and 2011.
As a young boy, Tyler lived a hardscrabble life with his parents Willie Maxine Perry and Emmitt Perry Sr. He once said his father’s only form of discipline was to “beat it out of you.”
At age 16, he changed his name from Emmitt to Tyler to put distance between himself and his father.
A DNA test later revealed Emmitt was not Tyler’s biological father.
