Once upon a time, everything Tom Cruise did was for Suri, the daughter he shares with his ex-wife, Katie Holmes. Even before Suri was born, Cruise was so excited about the idea of becoming a father that he purchased a sonogram machine.

“I bought a sonogram machine. I am gonna donate it to a hospital when we are done,” he told Barbara Walters in her “The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2005” interview. And while the decision was balked at by some medical professionals, Cruise was determined to perform his own sonogram before Suri’s arrival, which isn’t surprising, considering how he once said his dream was to become a father. “I always loved kids, but it was more than that,” the “Top Gun” star told Esquire. “It was this thought: What would it be like to be a father? Being the kind of guy who takes care of things?” He also vowed to make his children a top priority — including Connor and Bella — his adopted kids with Nicole Kidman. “If I say I’m gonna take your call anytime you need me, and I’m in the middle of something on the set, my world is gonna stop for you,” he added. “I made that promise to all of my kids.”

It’s pretty clear that Cruise is fiercely protective of his children — so much so that it once sparked a conspiracy theory about him hiring a body double for Suri’s safety.

Tom Cruise was reportedly obsessed with security for Suri

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When Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise divorced in 2012, it was reported that while Holmes would not get any spousal support, Suri would receive a whopping $400,000 per year from her father until she turned 18. The Hollywood Reporter noted that Cruise was mandated to spring not just for Suri’s education but also for medical, dental, insurance, and security expenses.

“We are committed to working together as parents to accomplish what is in our daughter Suri’s best interests,” a joint statement from Holmes and Cruise read. But a few months later, many believed that security for Suri had gone overboard, with TMZ reporting that a body double was hired to protect her privacy. At the time, outlets noticed an instance where two girls who looked and dressed similarly came out of the same SUV Suri was in, leading to the assumption that there was indeed a body double. New York Daily News reported that Cruise pulled all the stops to protect his daughter. “Tom wants the names of all the parents of the kids Suri plays with,” a source shared with the outlet. “He has to approve them before Suri can go to their houses or apartments alone. He has them investigated and he keeps a file on everyone. He is very cautious when it comes to her.”

However, these rumors were short-lived, as another insider confirmed the other child in the car was indeed Suri’s friend and not a decoy or body double.

Where Tom and Suri Cruise stand today

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Despite Tom Cruise shouldering most of Suri’s needs, it turns out that he’s barely a father figure in her life after his divorce from Katie Holmes. And it’s allegedly because of his deep connection with the Church of Scientology. “Every person is allowed to see their child if they wanted to,” a source told Us Weekly. “He chooses not to because she is not a Scientologist.” Additionally, a Page Six report from March 2023 asserted that Cruise has not been in touch with his daughter for quite some time and that the two are practically estranged at this point.

It’s worth noting that in Scientology, anyone who cuts their ties with the church is considered a “suppressive” person and can no longer interact with current members. Since Holmes’ divorce from Cruise effectively severed her and Suri’s connection to the church, they are labeled as such, resulting in Suri having a non-existent relationship with her father.

But while Cruise is no longer in Suri’s life, at least she has Holmes to give her the love and care she needs. “I love her so much,” she told InStyle. “My biggest goal has always been to nurture her into her individuality, to make sure she is 100 percent herself and strong, confident and able. And to know it. She came out very strong — she’s always been a strong personality.”