How much money did Macaulay Culkin make from 'Home Alone' movies? Actor continues to earn royalties

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Iconic child actor Macaulay Culkin saw his wealth grow by over $17 million after the release of 'Home Alone 2' due to a unique clause in his contract for the sequel.

Considered one of the most famous and successful child stars in Hollywood history, Culkin first appeared in 'Home Alone' in 1990, followed by 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York' just two years later.

Macaulay Culkin's journey from 'Home Alone' to fame

With other major films under his belt, including 'Richie Rich', Macaulay Culkin was already a certified Hollywood star by the age of 14. However, he took a break from acting at 15, returning to the industry eight years later.

'Home Alone' featured New Yorker Macaulay Culkin as eight-year-old Kevin McCallister, who defends his family’s Chicago mansion from two bumbling criminals known as the Wet Bandits.

Harry and Marv, portrayed by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, set their sights on the McCallister home after the family travels to Paris for Christmas.

The catch is that Kevin is accidentally left behind by his parents, Kate and Peter, played by Catherine O'Hara and John Heard. And for those still wondering how this happened, dedicated fans recently figured out the reason he was forgotten.

'Home Alone' was an instant hit, grossing $476.7 million at the box office during its original run, which is equivalent to about $1.15 billion in 2024 when adjusted for inflation, according to Ladbible.

Macaulay Culkin's contract clause pays off as 'Home Alone 2' made him millions

This massive success made it clear to everyone involved in the potential holiday-themed sequel that they were in high demand. One of the Wet Bandits, Daniel Stern, even rejected his initial contract offer for the sequel, believing he deserved more.

For the first film, Culkin earned $110,000, but that amount skyrocketed to a staggering $6 million for the sequel set in New York.

But Culkin’s real earnings from the film came after its release, as he took home nearly $25 million more on top of the initial $6 million for his acting. This was due to a special clause added to his contract for the sequel, tied to the success of the first film.

In his new 2024 memoir, 'Home and Alone', Stern revealed that Culkin was given five percent of the box office earnings for 'Home Alone 2'. Although the sequel grossed less than the original, it still made a huge $359 million.

This meant that Culkin’s five percent share of the box office revenue totaled a cool $17.95 million, which is about $14.1 million. When adjusted for inflation, that’s equivalent to a staggering $31.71 million in 2024.