The Richest Child Stars of All Time, Ranked

This article was originally published on Lizanest.com

They were the most famous kids on the planet, earning paychecks most adults could only dream of. But growing up in Hollywood didn’t guarantee a happy ending, or even a healthy bank account.

Some saw their fortunes vanish before they turned 18. Others walked away from fame entirely, while a lucky few turned childhood stardom into empires worth hundreds of millions.

From pocket change to staggering fortunes, here’s what your favorite child stars are worth today.

#1: Jake Lloyd
Est. Net Worth: $25,000

Before he was ten, Jake Lloyd landed one of the coolest jobs in movie history: playing young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. He’d already played Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son in Jingle All the Way, so most of his money came from those big ’90s films.

Today, Jake has stepped far away from Hollywood. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and has focused on his health with help from his family. With a modest estimated net worth, he isn’t living a movie-star life, but plenty of Star Wars fans still cheer him on.

#2: Corey Feldman
Est. Net Worth: $50,000

Gremlins, The Goonies, Stand By Me, The Lost Boys: Corey Feldman starred in all of them while he was still a kid. He says he was a millionaire by age 15 from those movie paychecks. Sadly, he claims only about $40,000 was left by the time he was on his own.

These days, Corey earns much of his income at fan conventions, where people line up to meet the Goonies star. He also makes music. A 2024 divorce showed money is tight, but he keeps working and finding new ways to share his ’80s magic.

#3: Peter Ostrum
Est. Net Worth: $500,000

Imagine winning a golden ticket in real life! That’s basically what happened to Peter Ostrum, who was picked in a nationwide search to play Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. It was his only movie, so that one sweet role is where his acting money came from.

Hollywood offered Peter a three-film contract, but he said no thanks. Instead, he became a veterinarian who cares for big animals like cows and horses. His estimated net worth comes mostly from that steady, down-to-earth career, and he seems happy trading candy for cows.

#4: Mara Wilson
Est. Net Worth: $500,000

Mara Wilson was only five when she charmed audiences in Mrs. Doubtfire. Next came Miracle on 34th Street and her most famous role, the book-loving genius in Matilda. Those ’90s family hits made up most of her acting earnings before she turned 13.

Around that age, she decided acting just wasn’t fun for her and walked away. Now she’s a writer with a memoir about growing up famous, and she does voice acting, too. Her fortune is small for Hollywood, but she’s built a creative life on her own terms.