Macaulay Culkin Biography: Macaulay Carson Culkin born August 26, 1980 is an American actor and musician, widely recognized as one of the most successful child actors of the 1990s. He has received various accolades, including a Golden Globe Award nomination. In 2005, VH1 ranked him second on their list of the “100 Greatest Kid Stars,” and in 2023, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Culkin gained fame for his role as Kevin McCallister in the Christmas comedy Home Alone (1990) and reprised the role in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992). He further solidified his success with films such as My Girl (1991), The Good Son (1993), and comedies like Getting Even with Dad and Richie Rich (both 1994). After taking a break from acting in 1995, he returned.
Macaulay Culkin Biography
Macaulay Culkin, one of America’s most iconic child stars, was born on August 26, 1980, in New York City, New York. He is the third of seven children born to Kit Culkin, a former stage and child actor who also managed Macaulay’s career, and Patricia Brentrup, who hails from North Dakota. Macaulay’s siblings include Shane, Dakota, Kieran, Quinn, Christian, and Rory Culkin, many of whom have also pursued acting careers. His mother, of German and Norwegian descent, and his father, who has Irish, German, English, Swiss-German, and French ancestry, raised him in a culturally rich family. Known as “Mack” to close friends and family, Macaulay began his career in showbiz at the young age of four. He appeared in a series of Off-Broadway productions, including a performance in the New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker.
Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin is an American actor and musician. Considered one of the most successful child actors of the 1990s, Culkin has received a Golden Globe Award nomination and other accolades. In 2005, he was ranked second on VH1’s list of the “100 Greatest Kid-Stars”.
Born: 26 August 1980 (age 44 years), New York, New York, United States
Spouse: Rachel Miner (m. 1998–2002)
Partner: Brenda Song (2017–)
Siblings: Kieran Culkin, Rory Culkin, Dakota Culkin, Quinn Culkin, Shane Culkin, Christian Culkin, Jennifer Adamson
Children: Carson Song Culkin
Early Life
Macaulay Carson Culkin was born in New York City’s Manhattan borough on August 26, 1980. He was named after British historian Thomas Babington Macaulay. The third of seven children, Culkin’s parents were Christopher “Kit” Culkin, a former stage actor, and Patricia Brentrup, a North Dakota native. The couple met in 1974 when Brentrup was working as a road traffic controller in Sundance, Wyoming. Culkin has six siblings: Shane (born 1976), Dakota (1979–2008), Kieran (born 1982), Quinn (born 1984), Christian (born 1987), and Rory (born 1989).
He also had a paternal half-sister, Jennifer Adamson (1970–2000), and an aunt, actress Bonnie Bedelia. His ancestry includes German, Irish, and Norwegian roots. During his early childhood, Culkin and his family lived in a small apartment in the Yorkville neighborhood of Manhattan, facing financial difficulties. His mother worked as a telephone operator, and his father was a sacristan at a local Catholic church.
How did Macaulay Culkin get famous?
Culkin gained worldwide fame as one of the most successful child stars of his generation. At just 4 years old, he began appearing in theater productions and TV movies. However, his big breakout moment came when he starred in John Hughes’ Uncle Buck, alongside the late John Candy. The following year, Culkin landed the role that would define his career for the rest of his life: Kevin McCallister in Home Alone.
From there, he went on to star in more classics like My Girl, Richie Rich, The Pagemaster, and The Good Son. He also formed a close friendship with Michael Jackson, appearing in Jackson’s “Black or White” music video and becoming godfather to the singer’s daughter, Paris. Though Culkin retired from acting as a child at 14, he later made occasional returns to the industry with roles in shows like American Horror Story and Righteous Gemstones, as well as films such as Saved! and Party Monster.
What does Macaulay Culkin do for a living?
Though he still acts occasionally, Culkin can pick and choose his projects due to the wealth he amassed as a child star. His most recent projects include a season of American Horror Story: Double Feature: Red Tide, a couple of episodes of Righteous Gemstones in 2022, and the 2019 film Changeland, directed by his longtime friend Seth Green. He also has a podcast and website called Bunny Ears.
In addition to acting, Culkin dabbled in modeling, walking for Gucci in November 2021. He was also in a parody band, The Pizza Underground, which parodied The Velvet Underground, until 2014. Culkin has emphasized that he’s content not working all the time. “People think they have to be in perpetual motion or drown. I’ve never had a problem saying I’ve got nothing lined up,” he shared in 2016. “Maybe I’ll take the next year off.”
What is Macaulay Culkin’s salary?
Culkin’s take-home earnings today are likely much lower than in his heyday, but with an $18 million net worth, he’s comfortable thanks to his past earnings.
What happened to Macaulay Culkin and his parents?
Culkin has accused his father, Kit Culkin, of being abusive. Kit, who also served as Macaulay’s manager, was known for being difficult on film sets. The younger Culkin reportedly emancipated himself from his parents at age 15 and removed their access to his earnings, although he clarified in 2020 that it was mainly due to financial reasons after his parents’ divorce.
Culkin explained, “I didn’t want to go with my father. It wasn’t an emancipation in the sense people think. I just took my parents’ names off my trust fund.” He went on to explain that his father’s abuse was likely fueled by jealousy, as “everything he tried to do in life, I excelled at before I was 10 years old.”
How much did Macaulay Culkin make for Home Alone?
Culkin made $110,000 for his role as Kevin McCallister in Home Alone, but he earned a much higher salary of $4.5 million for Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
How much did Macaulay Culkin make as a child?
Culkin reportedly earned $23.5 million from his movies before his early retirement, which would be close to $40 million when adjusted for inflation today.
How much did Macaulay Culkin make for his Google commercial?
In 2018, Culkin reprised his role as Kevin McCallister for a Google Assistant commercial parodying Home Alone. While his payday is not publicly known, it’s likely a substantial sum.
How much did Macaulay Culkin make for Uncle Buck?
Culkin reportedly earned $40,000 for his role in Uncle Buck.
How much did Macaulay Culkin make in American Horror Story?
Though Culkin’s salary for American Horror Story: Double Feature isn’t publicly disclosed, creator Ryan Murphy revealed that Culkin joined the cast with the promise of a love scene with Kathy Bates.
What is Macaulay Culkin net worth in 2025?
Culkin’s net worth is estimated at $18 million. He shared in a 2018 interview with Ellen DeGeneres that he didn’t fully realize his wealth until he turned 18. At that point, his finances were presented to him, and he described the moment as the “Slip of Paper” meeting. “I didn’t see it until I turned 18. They slid a number across the table, and boom, there you go,” he said. “I felt like I inherited all the money from a kid who worked really hard. It allows me to treat everything like a hobby now.”
