Overview

• Macaulay Culkin disclosed on Hot Ones that he earned $4.5 million for Home Alone 2, making him the highest-paid child actor in Hollywood history at age 10.
• His contract granted him five percent of the film’s net profits plus a 15 percent cut of merchandising revenue, including sales of an estimated 45 million Talkboy units.
• Home Alone 2 grossed $356 million worldwide on a $28 million budget, amplifying the value of Culkin’s profit participation and merchandise stake.
• The viral interview has sparked renewed conversations about fair pay for young performers and the significance of merchandising deals in major franchises.
• Culkin has since maintained public engagement through nostalgic screening tours and advocacy for improved treatment of child actors based on his own experiences.