Will Ferrell Kids: What Most People Get Wrong About Raising Three Sons

You probably think being a kid in the Ferrell household is a 24/7 stand-up special. You’d imagine Will Ferrell sliding across the kitchen floor in a Christmas onesie or screaming about "More Cowbell" while pouring cereal. Honestly? It's kinda the opposite.

Raising three boys—Magnus, Mattias, and Axel—has turned the Anchorman legend into something more akin to a weary drill sergeant than a clown. He’s actually compared his parenting style to running a "small correctional facility."

It’s loud. It’s chaotic. It’s mostly just a lot of yelling about toothbrushes.

Meet the Ferrell Trio: Magnus, Mattias, and Axel

Will and his wife, Swedish actress Viveca Paulin, didn't mess around when it came to naming their kids. They went full Scandinavian.

Magnus Paulin Ferrell arrived first in March 2004. People gave Will a hard time back then, thinking he named his firstborn "The Great One" in Latin because of some massive ego trip. Nope. It was just a nod to Viveca’s heritage. Magnus is 21 now and finishing up at USC. He’s the one you’ve likely seen on TikTok rating his dad's most embarrassing moments.

Then comes Mattias Paulin Ferrell, born in December 2006. He’s 19. Will once joked on Leno that Mattias means "one who eats fire." It doesn't. It actually means "Gift of God," but "fire eater" definitely fits the vibe of a middle son. Mattias is the athlete of the bunch, a huge soccer fan whose team Will and Viveca actually coached for years. Imagine being an 8-year-old on the "Chargers" and having Ricky Bobby screaming tactical advice from the sidelines.

The youngest, Axel Paulin Ferrell, was born in January 2010. He’s 16. Axel is often the one spotted with Will at Lakers games or LAFC matches. According to Will, Axel is the one with the "mischievous spirit" that finally made the family feel complete. Or just added another layer of noise to the house.

Subversive Humor and the "Little Debbie" Method

One thing people get wrong is assuming Will's kids are "stage parents" kids. They aren't. But they did inherit the funny bone.

Take Magnus. In high school, he pulled a legendary prank for his yearbook photo. He doesn't wear glasses, but he borrowed a pair from a classmate and sat for his portrait with a deadly serious, "intellectual" look. Will didn't get mad. He loved it. He called it "subversive."

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But how does Buddy the Elf actually discipline three teenage boys?

The Little Debbie Tactic

Will famously told Jimmy Fallon about his alter ego, "Little Debbie." When the boys were younger and acted out, he wouldn't just yell. He’d go into his closet, change into a full Little Debbie outfit—complete with the hat and the floral dress—and come out to deliver the lecture.

"It's not super scary. It's just... discipline. Do you want a zebra cake tonight? Then let's not let this happen again."

It’s weirdly effective. How do you argue with a 6-foot-3 man dressed as a snack cake brand? You don't. You just go to bed.

The Reality of Being "Will Ferrell's Kids"

Living with a comedy icon has its perks, sure. All three boys had tiny cameos in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. They get to go to the Barbie premiere and hang out on film sets. But there's a heavy dose of "Dad is embarrassing" mixed in.

1. The Prom Lord: Magnus shared a photo where Will showed up to his prom send-off dressed as a medieval lord. Full robes.
2. The Frat DJ: In late 2023, Will showed up at Magnus’s Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity at USC and actually DJed the tailgate. Magnus looked a mix of horrified and impressed.
3. The Stitched Suit: At the Will & Harper premiere, the boys noticed the vent on Will's new suit was still stitched shut. They didn't just tell him. They hunted down scissors and "fixed" him on the red carpet like a pair of frantic tailors.

It's clear they aren't intimidated by his fame. They treat him like a guy who's one step away from making a fool of himself, which is probably the healthiest way to grow up in Hollywood.

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Why This Family Dynamic Works

Will and Viveca have been married since 2000. In Hollywood years, that’s basically a century. Their secret seems to be a total lack of "preciousness" about celebrity life.

They don't do "best friend" parenting. Will has been vocal about the fact that he isn't his kids' best friend—he’s their dad. He believes in rules, even if those rules are delivered while wearing a poop emoji costume (his kids' choice for Halloween a few years back).

They share a bond over making each other laugh, but the laughter is usually at each other's expense. Magnus is currently carving his own path in music, releasing singles that blend jazz and R&B. He’s not trying to be a sketch comedian. Mattias is into sports. Axel is still navigating the high school jungle.

Actionable Takeaways for Parents

• Embrace the Chaos: Will’s "prison guard" mentality is just an admission that you can't control everything. Sometimes you just have to bark the orders and move on.
• Subvert the Tension: Using humor (like the Little Debbie bit) can break a power struggle without traumatizing anyone.
• Let Them Own the Embarrassment: By leaning into his "uncool dad" persona, Will actually took the sting out of being a celebrity parent.

The Ferrell boys are growing up fast. Magnus is essentially a man now, and Mattias isn't far behind. But as long as there's a cowbell in the house and a weird costume in the closet, the "small correctional facility" seems to be doing just fine.

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The real lesson here? Don't be afraid to be the "subversive" parent. Your kids might roll their eyes now, but they'll be the ones laughing later when they're retelling the stories on TikTok.