Ian Somerhalder Opens Up About His Struggles Growing Up in Poverty in Louisiana

Ian Somerhalder is sharing insights about his modest upbringing.

The Vampire Diaries star, 46, recently opened up about his childhood in rural Louisiana during an interview on April 17.

“My dad taught me in the wetlands that when you take more than you give back, it creates an imbalance,” he reflected on his bayou roots. “And guess who loses? We do. Nature will always find a way to regenerate; it’s us who suffers.”

Somerhalder added, “We were extremely poor, but in many ways, we were rich.” He reminisced about growing up with a shed filled with freezers stocked with Louisiana blue crabs, Gulf shrimp, redfish, speckled trout, and amberjack. “I’m talking about fresh tuna. All the good stuff,” the Lost alum emphasized.

Many fans may recall that Somerhalder started modeling for Versace at age 16, a period he described as the moment he realized their financial struggles were more significant than he had previously understood.

“Entering a restaurant even in 1994 and seeing a dozen Louisiana blue crabs or oysters priced at $100 made me reflect,” he said. “I thought, ‘I have a thousand of these in our freezers.’ So even though we didn’t have much money, we certainly were rich in culture and essentials.”

While he still carries the mindset instilled in him by his Louisiana upbringing, the co-founder of Common Grounds has indicated that his acting career is behind him.

In a recent exclusive interview, Somerhalder expressed that acting is now “in the rearview mirror” following his and his wife Nikki Reed’s decision to leave Los Angeles for a farming lifestyle.

“We regained the rights to V Wars, but I honestly don’t know how we could create a TV show right now,” he mentioned, discussing the one-season Netflix sci-fi series they both starred in. “We are busy building three companies simultaneously and raising our children.” Somerhalder and Reed are parents to a 7-year-old daughter, Bodhi Soleil, and a 20-month-old son.

That same week, Reed echoed Somerhalder’s thoughts on her own acting career.

“I currently work over 90 hours a week. I am managing a company full time and recently launched another in partnership with the Absorption Company,” said the Twilight star. “I can’t imagine redirecting my energy at this moment, but I keep all avenues open.”