He was earning $8 million per role by the age of 14, making him one of the highest-paid actors in the world.

By the age of 14, Macaulay Culkin was earning an astonishing $8 million per role, which positioned him as one of the highest-paid actors in the world. This incredible success, however, came with a dark side. The immense wealth and fame he acquired brought out the worst in his father, Kit Culkin, ultimately leading to the destruction of their family.

Macaulay has openly shared the painful details of his childhood, revealing how his father subjected him and his siblings to emotional and physical abuse. In his recounts, Macaulay described how his father would deny him basic comforts, such as a bed to sleep on, as a way to assert control and remind him “who’s boss” despite his rising fame and fortune.

In 1995, when Macaulay was just 15, his parents decided to split. This separation ignited a fierce court battle over the custody of Macaulay and control of his substantial earnings. The legal struggle was not just about who would raise Macaulay but also about who would manage the millions of dollars he had earned.

During this tumultuous period, Macaulay’s mother, Patricia Brentrup, faced mounting legal fees which consumed a significant portion of their resources, leaving her unable to afford their rent and putting them at risk of eviction. Despite having a fortune, Macaulay himself was unaware of the full extent of his net worth and had no direct access to his own money. The only solution was to legally remove his parents’ names from his trust fund, granting him control over his finances.

The custody battle reached its climax when Kit Culkin, infuriated by the prospect of losing control over Macaulay’s finances, chose not to attend the final day of the trial. This marked a turning point in Macaulay’s life, as he subsequently cut ties with his father and never heard from him again.

Macaulay Culkin’s story is a poignant example of how early fame and fortune can bring significant personal challenges, especially when compounded by a toxic family dynamic.