Macaulay Culkin’s Net Worth Overview
Macaulay Culkin, an American actor and former child star, has an estimated net worth of approximately $18 million. Best known for his role as Kevin McCallister in the “Home Alone” franchise, Culkin became one of the most recognizable faces of the 1990s. His career skyrocketed with major box office hits, including Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, My Girl, Richie Rich, Uncle Buck, and The Good Son.
During the peak of his career, Culkin was among the highest-paid actors, both as a child and an adult. Although he took a hiatus from acting in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he has since returned to television, film, and independent productions. Despite numerous media speculations about his personal life, Culkin has largely stayed out of the Hollywood limelight, enjoying a private life with substantial financial security.
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Macaulay Culkin’s Salary Per Movie
Culkin’s early film career saw exponential growth in earnings. Below is a breakdown of his major movie salaries:
- Uncle Buck (1989) – $40,000
- Home Alone (1990) – $100,000
- My Girl (1991) – $1 million
- Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) – $4.5 million
- The Good Son (1993) – $1.5 million
- Getting Even with Dad (1994) – $8 million
- Richie Rich (1994) – $8 million
In total, between 1989 and 1994, Culkin earned approximately $23.5 million. When adjusted for inflation, this equates to nearly $40 million today, making him one of the most financially successful child actors in history.
Early Life and Background
Macaulay Carson Culkin was born on August 26, 1980, in Manhattan, New York City. His father, Christopher Culkin, was a Broadway actor, while his mother, Patricia Brentrup, played a significant role in managing his early career. Culkin was named after the British historian Thomas Babington Macaulay and grew up as one of seven children, with several of his siblings also venturing into acting.
Culkin attended St. Joseph’s School of Yorkville, a Catholic school, before moving on to the Professional Children’s School, where he honed his acting skills.
Career Highlights
Early Career and Breakthrough
Culkin began acting at the age of four, appearing in theater productions and television commercials. His first significant role was in the 1989 John Hughes comedy Uncle Buck, where he starred alongside John Candy.
The defining moment of Culkin’s career came in 1990 when he played Kevin McCallister in Home Alone. The film became a worldwide phenomenon, grossing over $476 million. Culkin’s performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor, along with an American Comedy Award and a Young Artist Award.
Following the success of Home Alone, Culkin’s career soared. He hosted Saturday Night Live, appeared in Michael Jackson’s Black or White music video, and starred in My Girl (1991). In 1992, he reprised his role as Kevin McCallister in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, significantly increasing his salary to $4.5 million.
Transition to Mature Roles and Acting Hiatus
In 1993, Culkin took on a darker role in The Good Son, portraying a malevolent child. His performance earned him a nomination for Best Villain at the MTV Movie Awards. He also studied ballet at the School of American Ballet and appeared in The Nutcracker.
By 1994, following a string of box office disappointments (Getting Even with Dad, The Pagemaster, and Richie Rich), Culkin decided to take a break from acting and enrolled in a private high school in New York City. This marked a four-year hiatus from Hollywood.
Return to Acting and Independent Projects
In 1998, Culkin made a comeback with a role in Sonic Youth’s Sunday music video. In 2000, he starred in the London play Madame Melville. His return to films came in 2003 with Party Monster, a biographical crime drama about club promoter and convicted murderer Michael Alig.
The following year, he played a supporting role in Saved! alongside Jenna Malone and Mandy Moore. The film received positive reviews, with Culkin’s performance standing out. He later did voice work for Robot Chicken and published his semi-autobiographical novel Junior in 2006.
From 2007 to 2016, Culkin engaged in various projects, including starring in the NBC series Kings, directing experimental films, and forming a comedy rock band called The Pizza Underground. The band dissolved in 2016.
In 2019, Culkin appeared in Seth Green’s Changeland. In 2020, he was announced as part of the cast for American Horror Story: Double Feature.
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Recent Work and Business Ventures
In 2018, Culkin starred in a Google Assistant commercial, reprising his Home Alone character Kevin McCallister. He was reportedly paid $1 million for the ad.
Culkin is also the publisher and CEO of Bunny Ears, a satirical pop culture website and podcast that parodies celebrity wellness brands like Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop.
Personal Life
Culkin has had several high-profile relationships. He was married to actress Rachel Miner from 1998 to 2002. He was later in a long-term relationship with Mila Kunis before they split in 2011.
Since 2017, he has been in a relationship with actress Brenda Song, whom he met on the set of Changeland. The couple welcomed their first son, Dakota, in April 2021, naming him after Culkin’s late sister. Their second child was born in December 2022.
Real Estate and Investments
Culkin has made significant real estate investments. In 1999, he purchased a loft in New York City for $1.73 million, later selling it in 2025 for $7.75 million.
In August 2022, he and Brenda Song acquired a $8 million property in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles. The 4,879-square-foot home features five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a swimming pool, a putting green, and a pergola-covered terrace with an outdoor fireplace.
Final Thoughts
Macaulay Culkin’s career has seen incredible highs and significant breaks, yet he remains a beloved figure in pop culture. With his diversified income streams from acting, music, publishing, and real estate, Culkin has successfully built a life of financial security and creative independence. Today, he enjoys the luxury of choosing projects that interest him while maintaining a private life with his family.
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