Millionaire brothers Macaulay and Kieran Culkin’s mom struggling for cash as stepdad reveals ‘hard times’
BILLINGS, MONTANA: While Macaulay and Kieran Culkin enjoy the spotlight as two of Hollywood’s most recognizable and successful actors, their ailing 70-year-old mother, Patricia Brentrup, is living a starkly different reality.
Brentrup, tucked away in a modest one-story ranch-style home near a junkyard on the outskirts of Billings, Montana, is reportedly struggling with her health and finances, receiving only sporadic visits from her famous sons.
Her husband, Mart Cox, whom she married in 2011, revealed that the couple is strapped for cash and in urgent need of caregiving support.
Despite her sons’ combined fortunes, Brentrup lives a quiet, isolated life far removed from the glitz of Hollywood.
Patricia shared seven children with former partner Kit Culkin during their 21-year relationship: Shane, Macaulay, Kieran, Quinn, Christian, Rory, and Dakota, who tragically died in 2008 at the age of 30 after being struck by a car.
What did sources report about Patricia Brentrup and her husband Mart Cox’s state of life?
An insider close to the family told DailyMail, that Patricia Brentrup and her husband, Mart Cox, are facing serious financial hardship in their later years.
“They’re both 70 and retired,” the source explained. “The paychecks aren't coming in anymore. They're having a hard time right now. It's tough.”
The couple live a quiet, technology-free life on an 11-acre property in rural Montana, sharing their modest home with two dogs and four horses. They don’t own cell phones or have internet access, embracing what the source described as “a simple life”, a lifestyle worlds apart from that of their celebrity sons.
Macaulay Culkin, 44, reportedly has a net worth of $18 million and resides in a luxurious $8 million mansion in Toluca Lake, California, with his fiancee, actress Brenda Song, and their two young sons.
His younger brother, Kieran Culkin, 42 - this year’s Oscar winner for 'A Real Pain', is estimated to be worth $5 million and lives in New York City with his wife, Jazz Charton, and their children.
Despite their immense success, the Culkin brothers have contributed little to ease their mother’s financial burdens.
What did stepdad of the Culkin brothers report?
According to Cox, only Macaulay provides some assistance, sending a monthly $1,000 to help support Brentrup. Kieran, on the other hand, has reportedly remained distant and uninvolved, offering no financial or personal support despite his recent accolades and career highs.
Cox expressed frustration, noting that Kieran has not reached out in years.
“He never calls,” Cox said, his tone tinged with bitterness. “I don't expect any help from him or nothing. And I am not a man who would ask.”
Though Kieran has publicly praised his mother, Cox is reluctant to say much about him. “Out of sight, out of mind,” he remarked, referencing Kieran’s lack of involvement.
Cox recalled that Kieran’s last visit was several years ago, after Brentrup had suffered severe burns in a fire at the family’s Billings property.
Cox remembered the difficult moment when he confronted Kieran while they tried to care for Brentrup. “I was talking down to him, and it pissed him off,” Cox admitted.
Even with his daughter’s help, Cox finds it a constant challenge to care for Brentrup.
Her health has rapidly declined after she suffered a stroke and was later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
“Boom, it just hit and it's getting worse. Her mind isn't there anymore. She has a memory of about five minutes," Cox explained.
A family source shared that the Culkin children are not involved in their mother’s care, with the exception of Macaulay, who sends some assistance. “Macaulay helps a bit,” the source explained. “He actually brought his two kids to his mom's house not too long ago.”
What created a rift between the Culkin brothers and their mom Patricia Brentrup?
In 2020, the couple, Patricia and Cox, who have been married for 13 years, took out two separate loans totaling $604,500 from different mortgage companies, bringing their total debt to over $1.2 million.
According to insiders, Patricia’s declining health and financial struggles have created a rift between her and her sons.
A source revealed, "They can't afford a flight. Plus, Patricia can't travel alone anymore and their stepfather doesn't want to go to New York, so their travels are on a standstill."
Cox acknowledged that the Culkin brothers have likely struggled with the physical and emotional distance between them and their mother, who lives far from their worlds in New York and Los Angeles. “I think they've had some hard feelings about that,” he said.
Though he admits he doesn’t follow the entertainment industry or award season closely, Cox expressed pride in Kieran’s Oscar win, making sure Brentrup is reminded of it often.
“I posted a picture of his acceptance on our refrigerator, you know, so she doesn't forget,” he said.
