Macaulay Culkin Net Worth: How the ‘Home Alone’ Star Built His $25 Million Fortune

When the holiday season arrives, one face inevitably dominates our screens: Macaulay Culkin. As the mischievous Kevin McCallister in the Home Alone franchise, Culkin didn't just become a household name; he became one of the most successful child stars in the history of cinema.

While many child actors struggle to maintain their finances into adulthood, Culkin has managed his wealth with remarkable stability. As of 2025, Macaulay Culkin’s net worth is estimated at a cool $25 million.

From his early days in Manhattan to his record-breaking salaries in the 1990s and his modern-day creative ventures, here is a deep dive into how Macaulay Culkin built, protected, and continues to enjoy his multi-million dollar fortune.

Quick Facts: Macaulay Culkin Net Worth & Bio

The Early Years: From Off-Broadway to ‘Uncle Buck’

Macaulay Carson Culkin was born on August 26, 1980, in Manhattan. Raised in a Roman Catholic household, he was one of seven children. His father, Christopher "Kit" Culkin, was a former Broadway actor, and his mother, Patricia Brentrup, worked as a telephone operator.

Culkin’s natural charisma was evident early on.

By the age of four, he was already appearing in theater productions and TV movies. His first major big-screen break came in 1989 with the John Hughes comedy Uncle Buck, where he starred alongside John Candy. For this role, a young Culkin earned $40,000. While a modest sum compared to his future paydays, it set the stage for a global phenomenon.

The ‘Home Alone’ Phenomenon and Salary Explosion

In 1990, Macaulay Culkin landed the role that would define his career: Kevin McCallister in Home Alone. The film was a gargantuan success, and Culkin’s salary reflected his meteoric rise to fame.

Home Alone (1990)

For the first film, Culkin was paid $110,000 (some sources cite $100,000). While this was a massive jump from Uncle Buck, it was nothing compared to what was coming next.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

By the time the sequel rolled around, Culkin was the biggest child star on the planet. He commanded a base salary of $4.5 million. However, his total earnings for the sequel were much higher. In a 2025 interview, it was revealed that Culkin also received 5% of the movie's net profits and 15% of merchandising revenue. When factoring in these backend deals, his total take-home for Home Alone 2 is estimated at roughly $20 million.

Becoming the Highest-Paid Child Actor in History

Following the success of the Home Alone franchise, Culkin became a seven-figure movie star. Between 1991 and 1994, he signed a string of high-paying contracts that cemented his status as Hollywood’s top earner.

• My Girl (1991): $1 million
• The Good Son (1993): $1.5 million (a strategic pay cut to play a darker role)
• Getting Even with Dad (1994): $8 million
• Richie Rich (1994): $8 million

Total Career Earnings Adjusted for Inflation

In total, the seven films Culkin made between 1989 and 1994 earned him $23.5 million in base salaries. When adjusted for inflation, that is the equivalent of approximately $50.9 million today. If we include the backend profits from Home Alone 2, his total unadjusted earnings during that peak window reach nearly $38.6 million—roughly $86.6 million in today's purchasing power.

The "Slip of Paper" Meeting: Managing the Millions

One of the most famous stories regarding Macaulay Culkin’s net worth involves his 18th birthday. Because he was a minor during his peak years, he did not have direct access to his fortune.

Culkin famously "retired" from acting at age 14. It wasn't until he turned 18 that he had what he calls the "Slip of Paper" meeting. During this meeting, his executors slid a piece of paper across the table showing him exactly how much he had inherited from his younger self's hard work.

"I felt like some kid worked really, really hard, and I inherited all of his money pretty much," Culkin told Ellen DeGeneres in 2018.

This financial security has allowed Culkin to treat his adult career as a series of "hobbies," only taking on projects that genuinely interest him.

The Emancipation Misconception

There has long been a rumor that Culkin "divorced" or emancipated himself from his parents. Culkin clarified in 2020 that he legally removed his parents' names from his trust fund to find an unbiased executor during their divorce. This was done to protect his earnings, as his parents previously took a 15% cut of his pay for every project.

Adult Career and Creative Ventures

After a long hiatus, Culkin returned to the spotlight on his own terms. His adult work is diverse, ranging from indie films to satirical digital media.

• Acting Roles: He starred in the cult classics Party Monster (2003) and Saved! (2004). More recently, he appeared in American Horror Story: Double Feature (2021) and the series Righteous Gemstones.
• Google Assistant Commercial: In 2018, Culkin reprised his Kevin McCallister role for a viral Google ad, earning a reported $1 million for the appearance.
• Bunny Ears: He launched a satirical lifestyle website and podcast called Bunny Ears, which parodies celebrity wellness culture.
• The Pizza Underground: For several years, he fronted a parody rock band that covered Velvet Underground songs with pizza-themed lyrics.

Real Estate and Personal Life

Macaulay Culkin’s net worth is also tied up in some impressive real estate holdings.

• New York City: In 1999, at just 19 years old, Culkin purchased a three-bedroom loft in NYC for $1.73 million. He sold this property in January 2025 for a staggering $7.75 million, netting a massive profit.
• Los Angeles: In 2022, Culkin and his partner, actress Brenda Song, purchased Kiefer Sutherland’s former home in Toluca Lake for $8 million. The 4,879-square-foot estate features five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a putting green, and a swimming pool.

Culkin and Song have been together since 2017 and have two sons: Dakota (born 2021) and Carson (born 2022).

Summary: How Much is Macaulay Culkin Worth?

Macaulay Culkin’s $25 million net worth is a testament to the incredible earning power he wielded as a child. While he no longer chases blockbuster paychecks, his early investments and "Home Alone" legacy have provided him with a life of total financial freedom.

As he famously told The Guardian, "I do nothing for my dinner nowadays… it allows me to treat every gig like it’s the last." For the boy who once defended his house from burglars, it seems he has done an even better job of defending his fortune.