Macaulay Culkin has opened up about why he decided to retire from acting as a teenager.
Culkin began working at just four years- ld, with his first credited role being in TV series The Equalizer, followed by films such as Rocket Gibraltar and Uncle Buck.
His life would change forever after being cast as Kevin McCallister in Home Alone and Home Alone 2, a role which made the 45-year-old a generational household name and also very, very rich.
However, Culkin would abruptly retire from the industry at the height of his career after 1994's Richie Rich – a decision which seemed strange to many.
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Over three decades on from first quitting the industry, Culkin maintains that he is still 'technically' retired despite appearing in numerous roles over the years.
"Technically, I’m retired right now," he explained to Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes in a recent episode of SmartLess podcast, while promoting his role in season two of Fallout.
"I retire and then, if I find something I like, I unretire, do that, and I immediately retire afterwards. Every gig is my last."
Why did Macaulay Culkin retire from acting?
His decision to walk away from Hollywood is something which Culkin has touched on numerous times, including the pressure he felt from his father and his desire to have 'normal' teenager experiences.
"[I] Just went to high school, fell in love, got drunk for the first time, things like that," he said.
Touching on the topic during the interview, Culkin revealed that he was 'doneskies' with acting in 1994.
"I was like, 'I hope you all made your money because there's no more coming from me,'" he explained, revealing that he now only takes roles - such as Fallout and Zootopia 2 - if he's personally interested in the job.
"I made my name. I made my mark. I made my fortune," he added. "The only reason why I even do it now is because I like to do it.
"Pay, pleasure, prestige — that's the only reason to do a gig."
How much money did Macaulay Culkin make from Home Alone?
Part of the reason Culkin was able to retire from acting and choose his own destiny is down to vast fortune he amassed while playing Kevin McCallister.
Although he was only paid $100,000 (£75,000) for Home Alone, the film's commercial success and a series of savvy contract negotiations saw Culkin earn a $4.5 million (£3.3 million) base salary for sequel Lost in New York alongside a 5 percent cut of the box office gross and 15 percent of merchandise sales, which earned him an additional $17.95 million (£13.2 million).
By the age of 14, Culkin had a trust fund valued at $50 million, meaning he had more than enough money in the bank to retire.
Topics: Entertainment, Macaulay Culkin, Celebrity
Brenna Cooper