Macaulay Culkin Net Worth

Posted by Trudie Dory on Friday, June 7, 2024

Most of us will remember Macaulay Culkin for his roles as Kevin McAlister in the two Home Alone movies. But there is undoubtedly a lot more to him than just those films. 

The fact is that he has been active in the entertainment industry for most of his life. Therefore, the Macaulay Culkin net worth number is very healthy as a result. So, let’s take a closer look at Macaulay Culkin’s life and career and see how he amassed his wealth. 

Contents

Early Life and Education

It would be fair to say that Macaulay Culkin was born into the world of acting. More specifically, into the world of child acting. That is because his father was a child actor. And, from the moment Macaulay was born, his father had designs on his son, following in his footsteps.

Macaulay was born on the 26th of August 1980 in New York. He was the third of seven children, with two younger and four elder siblings. He also had a half-sister, Jennifer, who was born in 1970 and passed away in 2000 as the result of a drug overdose. Sadly, his younger sister, Dakota, who was born in 1979, also tragically passed away in 2009, at just 30 years of age, after being hit by a car.

Early Life and Education

Although his father, Kit, pushed his children into acting, he no longer worked as an actor when he had his family. At that time, he worked for the Catholic church as a sacristan. His mother, Patricia Brentrup, worked sporadically on a telephone exchange. 

As a result of his parents’ career paths…

Times were often tough from a financial perspective. They grew up in a small home in Manhattan, and Macaulay went to the local Catholic school in Yorkville. He attended the school for five years before being shipped off to the Professional Children’s School.

This was a non-profit organization that provided education for child actors. They accepted students between year six and year twelve. The school specialized in providing a solid educational background for children whilst helping to shape and grow their careers.

This was a very good fit for Macaulay. By the time he entered the Professional Children’s School, he had already achieved global fame with the hit movie Home Alone, which was released in 1990 when Macaulay was just ten years old.

Personal Life

Although much of Macaulay’s childhood was taken up with acting, his parents made sure that he had an education. However, his early years were far from happy, with his father painted as something of a cruel man and a tyrant. 

In the early part of his career… 

Macaulay made a lot of money. Furthermore, by the time he was just 15 years old, it is believed that he had accumulated a cool $15 million. Somewhat annoying since I think my total wealth at the same age was probably in the region of $15.

Personal Life

Unsurprisingly, when Macaulay Culkin’s parents split when he was 15, there was a lot of interest in his acquired assets. This was even more so because Macaulay took his parents’ names off his trust fund. Subsequently, he employed his own independent executor and lawyer to safeguard his financial position. I honestly think that is one hell of a smart thing to do at such a young age.

Unfortunately, his actions, deliberately or otherwise, were widely misreported and sensationalized by the press. Reports at the time suggested that he had officially divorced his parents and wanted nothing to do with them. 

This was untrue…

They also leveled accusations that his parents had misappropriated funds from his trust fund, which was also untrue. They did take 15% of Macaulay Culkin’s earnings as a management fee, but this was very much all above board. If his parents had not managed his career, then someone else would have done so. And that 15% would still have been lost and taken out of the family.

The reality was…

Macaulay’s actions were purely precautionary. They were taken at a time when his parents were splitting up and with his future very much uncertain. Following their separation, they were never married, so there was no divorce, and Macaulay chose to live with his mother.

What is also true is that Macaulay had little to do with his father following his parents’ split. He has since explained that although his father was far from perfect, and was perhaps even jealous of his career, he bore no real ill will towards his father.

In a very mature analysis, he has since stated that he was never physically abused and that his father’s relentless pushing of his career gave him the lifestyle he now enjoys. All in all, Macaulay demonstrated a very level-headed analysis of what went on in his childhood and how it affected him going forward. That made his decision to get married at just 18 seem all the stranger. 

Marriage and Relationships

Getting married at 18 was surprising, to say the least. However, for most of us that had watched Home Alone, it was particularly shocking. It honestly felt hard to reconcile the contrasting images of a young child in the movies and a married man just a few years later.

In 1998, Macaulay Culkin married Rachel Miner. It’s probably no surprise that they separated two years later in 2000 and then divorced two years after that in 2002. It was very much predictable. But we are all allowed to make mistakes, so I think we can all agree to give him a pass on that one. 

Marriage and Relationships

Macaulay soon got back on the horse…

And in 2002, he began dating the lovely Mila Kunis. The relationship lasted a surprisingly long time, given that for much of it, she was living in Los Angeles, and he was living in New York. However, possibly due to the distance between them, in 2011, they finally called it a day and went their separate days.

A couple of years after, things took a very unexpected turn… 

Macaulay just up and left the US to relocate to Paris, France. Since then, he has relocated to Los Angeles with his fiancé, the former Disney Chanel actress Brenda Song. They have been together since 2017. The two were brought together through Paris Jackson, the daughter of Michael Jackson. Paris Jackson is a friend of Brenda Song and is also the Goddaughter of Macaulay Culkin.

Michael Jackson and Macaulay Culkin had previously struck up a strong friendship following Macaulay’s appearance in MJ’s 1991 video, “Black or White.” Eyebrows may have been raised at the time since Macaulay was only 11 years old. Even more alarming is the fact that Macaulay attested to the fact, in court, that he had shared a bed with Michael Jackson. 

Although, apparently, nothing untoward happened…

Macaulay has maintained this and even testified as much during Michael Jackson’s sex abuse trial. I am sure it is true, but it shows an awful lack of judgment for all concerned to let something like that happen in the first place. All of those involved, except Macaulay, should hang their heads in shame.

Back to the present day and happy times, Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song now have two children. Their first child, Dakota, was born in 2021. Their second child, another boy, Carson, was born right at the end of 2022. I have a funny feeling with two child actors as parents; they may well end up in the same profession.

Real Estate

To accommodate his growing family, Macaulay has recently moved following the sale of his fabulous $3.2 million home in Studio City, Los Angeles, which is within a stone’s throw from Beverley Hills and West Hollywood.

His old place was amazing, but his new pad is stunning. Together with Macaulay Culkin’s fiancé, they bought the old 1930s home of Kiefer Sutherland on Toluca Lake. This $8 million house is nothing short of spectacular.

Real Estate

It sits on just over half an acre of land and covers just under 5,000 square feet. It has six bedrooms and five bathrooms which should hopefully be more than enough for the four of them. Recently remodeled and surrounded by mature gardens, it is nothing short of a dream home. I am sure they will all be very happy there.

Career

I find Macaulay Culkin’s career fascinating. Although he will always be remembered for his two iconic roles in Home Alone and Home Alone 2, he has accomplished so much before and since. All have contributed to the Macaulay Culkin net worth figures.

Before these major box office successes… 

He was acting at the tender age of just four years old. Macaulay Culkin’s first role was in the 1985 TV comedy Horror movie, The Midnight Hour. He then went on to feature as a kidnap victim in the TV series, “The Equalizer.”

His first movie breakthrough came in 1988 in the drama Rocket Gibraltar. He then made his comedy debut in the 1989 movie, See You in the Morning, which starred Drew Barrymore and Jeff Bridges. His next movie was also a comedy, Uncle Buck, which starred the brilliant John Candy.

Career

There is no doubt that these last two movies played a big part in landing the part of “Kevin McCallister” in the future Home Alone movies. However, what all of these movies also demonstrated is that Macaulay could really act.

Following Home Alone II… 

Many reported that Macaulay had retired from acting. This was absolute nonsense and could not have been further from the truth. Even before he entered adulthood, he starred in the 1994 movie Richie Rich, from which he earned $8 million.  

So, what roles has he taken as an adult?

Macaulay has played several roles on stage, TV, and in movies. I think the most notable was his return to the big screen in 2003 as an adult in Party Monster, in which he played a murderer. 

Other major Macaulay Culkin roles included his appearance in the 2007 dark comedy, Sex and Breakfast. More recently, he appeared with his fiancé, Brenda Song, in the 2019 movie, Changeland.

Over the last 20 years, he has made a series of guest appearances on TV shows and in movies. Additionally, he has provided many voice-overs and has appeared in several other movies. It is fair to say that his career has been a busy one, and he has done anything but retire, as some of the gutter press would have you believe.

How much is Macaulay Culkin Worth?

The net worth of Macaulay Culkin is very much a best estimate. However, the consensus is that this current total wealth is somewhere in the region of $20 million though it could be considerably more. It’s good to see that he has kept on top of his finances and has not squandered what he earned from some of his earlier and more successful movie roles.

Legacy

I am sure that many will consider Macaulay Culkin’s legacy to be forever tied to Home Alone and Home Alone 2. I get that because I have seen both movies with my kids and cannot remember any of us laughing so much. 

However, I honestly believe that Macaulay is far from done and that he may still have his best years ahead of him. He is a great actor, and as he has matured, he has shown plenty of versatility in the kinds of roles he can play.

I think he is someone we should keep our eyes on because I honestly believe his future is bright. These days he looks like a pretty cool dude.

Curious About The Net Worth of Other Celebrities?

Well, then check out our breakdowns of Rob Dyrdek Net Worth, Steve Harvey Net WorthAshton Kutcher Net WorthMark Hamill Net Worth, and Kaley Cuoco Net Worth for more information on celebrities’ net worth figures.

And, you might like to know where the rich and famous live. So, have a look at our guides on the Celebrities that live in Nashville, the Biggest Celebrities Who Live in Miami, the Celebrities that live in The Hamptons, the 5 Biggest Celebrities who live in NYC, and the Celebrities who live in Beverly Hills in 2023.

Final Thoughts

I am a big fan of Macaulay Culkin and thank him for the laughs, the tears, and all the other emotions he has managed to evoke. I’m pleased to see that his personal life is now in such a great place. 

Also, I am equally pleased that Macaulay Culkin’s net worth is healthy and that he has managed to keep most of the money he earned as a child. I wish him and his family well and look forward to his future roles with interest.  

Until next time, may you always find success.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to Macaulay Culkin’s career?

After the success of “Home Alone,” Culkin’s films didn’t perform as well at the box office. He also took a break from acting in the late 1990s to focus on his personal life. Although he has continued to act in recent years, he hasn’t reached the same level of success as in his early career.

What is Macaulay Culkin’s most famous role?

Culkin’s most famous role is as Kevin McCallister in the “Home Alone” movies. The role turned him into a household name and is still considered a cultural icon.

What is Macaulay Culkin’s personal life like?

Culkin has been married three times and has one child. He has been open about his struggles with addiction and has been sober since 2003. He is also involved in philanthropic work.

Does Macaulay Culkin still act?

Yes, Culkin still acts and has appeared in several movies, TV shows, and music videos in recent years. He has also done voice work, including the role of Kevin McCallister in an episode of “Robot Chicken.”

What is Macaulay Culkin’s net worth?

Culkin’s net worth is estimated to be around $18 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Has Macaulay Culkin won any awards?

Culkin was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in “Home Alone.” He has also won several awards for his philanthropic work.

How many siblings does Macaulay Culkin have?

Culkin has six siblings, including his brother Kieran Culkin, who is also an actor.

What kind of philanthropic work does Macaulay Culkin do?

Culkin is a board member of The Jenna Foundation, which helps children with cancer. He has also been involved with the AIDS charity Until There’s A Cure.

What happened to Macaulay Culkin’s parents?

Culkin’s parents went through a messy divorce in the late 1990s, and their relationship with their children became strained. Culkin’s father passed away in 2008.

Why did Macaulay Culkin stop acting?

Culkin took a break from acting in the late 1990s to focus on his personal life. He has since returned to acting and continues to work in the industry.

What is Macaulay Culkin’s relationship with Mila Kunis?

Culkin and Kunis were in a relationship for several years, but they broke up in 2010.

What kind of businesses has Macaulay Culkin started?

Culkin has started several businesses, including a production company, a pizza-themed comedy rock band, and a blog called Bunny Ears.

Is Macaulay Culkin still friends with Michael Jackson?

Culkin and Jackson were close friends when Culkin was a child, but their relationship became strained in later years. Jackson passed away in 2009.

Does Macaulay Culkin have any tattoos?

Yes, Culkin has several tattoos, including one of a slice of pizza on his arm.

What is Bunny Ears?

Bunny Ears is a blog and podcast started by Macaulay Culkin. It features articles and interviews on pop culture, humor, and entertainment.

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