7 Young Stars Who Had Financial Fallouts with Their Parents

Samantha StutsmanSun, October 25, 2026 at 10:00 AM UTC

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Heidi D’Amelio, Charli D’Amelio and Marc D’Amelio on May 18, 2023, in Los Angeles; Mischa Marton and her mom Nuala Barton on Feb. 13, 2012, in Las VegasCredit: Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty; Denise Truscello/WireImage

Money and family don’t always mix, even for Hollywood’s biggest stars.

Over the years, several celebrities have found themselves at odds with their parents over finances — from disagreements over childhood earnings to allegations of mismanaged fortunes. Some, including Leighton Meester and LeAnn Rimes, have even taken legal action against their parents to regain control of their money.

Most recently, in October 2026, Charli D’Amelio addressed rumors that her parents had mishandled her earnings, denying the allegations during an October 2026 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, who confirmed the content creator had separated herself professionally and financially from her family.

Here’s a look at the celebrities who have publicly navigated financial disputes or disagreements with their parents.

01 of 07

Charli D’Amelio

Heidi D’Amelio, Charli D’Amelio and Marc D’Amelio in 2024Credit: Bruce Glikas/Getty

In late May 2026, rumors surfaced that Charli was involved in a financial dispute with her parents, Marc and Heidi D’Amelio, after unverified allegations claimed that millions of dollars had been misused, per DeuxMoi. Marc denied the claims in June, telling PEOPLE they were “100% not true.”

A few days later, PEOPLE confirmed that Charli had cut ties with her family’s popcorn company, Be Happy Snacks, which she launched with her parents and sister, Dixie D’Amelio, in 2023.

Charli addressed the allegations in an October 2026 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, denying that her parents had stolen or mishandled her earnings.

“No, they’re not true,” the Broadway performer said of the rumors. “I wouldn’t say that they stole my money.”

The outlet did, however, confirm that Charli has separated from herself professionally and financially from her family at 22 years old.

02 of 07

Macaulay Culkin

Macaulay Culkin with his brother, Keiran, and his parents, Patricia and ChristopherCredit: Shutterstock

Macaulay Culkin was one of Hollywood’s biggest child stars in the early 1990s, thanks to his breakout role in Home Alone. But behind the scenes, the actor’s fortune became a source of contention between his parents, Kit Culkin and Patricia Brentrup.

Following their separation in 1995, Kit and Patricia became embroiled in a bitter custody battle, with control of Macaulay’s multimillion dollar earnings also at stake. During the custody battle, Culkin found out that his dad had been keeping him in the dark about his finances and was only able to access his earnings if Kit was removed from the trust fund. Then, at 15 years old, the actor took steps to remove both parents from his trust fund in an effort for it to not get “messy,” he told New York Magazine in May 2001, and ultimately, opted for an executor.

In a February 2020 interview with Esquire, Culkin clarified that he had not legally emancipated himself from his parents, despite widespread reports claiming otherwise.

“It’s always misconstrued that I ‘emancipated’ myself from my parents,” he said, explaining that he had simply removed their names from his trust fund.

The custody battle ended in 1997, with Patricia gaining custody of the children after Kit decided not to contest, per The New York Times.

Culkin gave an update on his relationship with his dad during a March 2025 appearance on the Sibling Reverly podcast, saying that they haven’t spoken in “about 30-something years.”

03 of 07

Jena Malone

Debbie and Jena Malone in 2014Credit: Mike Windle/WireImage

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire actress Jena Malone was 14 when she filed a lawsuit against her mother, Debbie Malone, in 1999, alleging that Debbie mismanaged more than $1 million of her earnings.

According to the Los Angeles Times, court documents alleged that Debbie had spent Jena’s money on business ventures and down payments on homes for relatives, leaving the Stepmom actress with $20,000 in unpaid taxes and a depleted college fund.

In January 2000, Jena won her lawsuit against her mother and was granted legal emancipation at age 15, per The Washington Post.

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04 of 07

Gary Coleman

Sue and Gary ColemanCredit: Frank Carroll/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

Gary Coleman, who died in 2010 at 42, became a household name playing Arnold Jackson on Diff’rent Strokes, but his success as a child star eventually led to a bitter financial dispute with his parents, Willie and Edmonia Sue Coleman.

In 1989, Coleman sued his parents and former business manager alleging that they had misappropriated more than $1 million of his acting earnings. His parents denied the allegations.

Edmonia later filed a petition seeking a conservatorship over her son’s multimillion-dollar fortune, claiming that he was incapable of managing his own finances. However, a judge rejected her request in early 1990, according to the Los Angeles Times.

In February 1993, a judge awarded Coleman nearly $1.3 million, ruling that his parents and former manager had wrongfully received excessive commissions, salaries, fees and pension distributions from his earnings, per Variety.

The lawsuit was ultimately settled in October 1993, with the terms remaining confidential.

05 of 07

Mischa Barton

Mischa Barton and her mother, Nuala, in 2012Credit: Dave M. Benett/Getty

In April 2015, The O.C. star Mischa Barton sued her mother and former manager, Nuala Barton, alleging that she had mismanaged her acting earnings and profited from her career without permission.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the actress claimed that Nuala lied about her salary for the 2015 film The Hoarder and launched various companies that gave her control over her daughter’s money, among other claims. Per the outlet, Mischa had entered into a verbal contract with her mom at 8 years old, agreeing to pay Nuala a management fee equal to 10% of her gross earnings.

The lawsuit also alleged that Nuala had given herself partial ownership of a $7.8 million Beverly Hills mansion purchased with Mischa’s earnings and barred her daughter from the property.

Nuala denied the allegations, with her representative telling ABC News that the claims were “outrageous and patently false.”

In February 2016, Mischa requested that the lawsuit be dismissed, bringing the legal dispute to an end, per Fox News.

06 of 07

LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes with her parents, Wilbur and Belinda Rimes, in 1998Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty

Rimes was just 17 years old when she sued her father and former manager, Wilbur C. Rimes, and her former co-manager, Lyle Walker, in May 2000, alleging that they had misappropriated more than $7 million of her earnings, according to UPI.

Wilbur subsequently filed a countersuit against his daughter’s company in December 2000, per ABC News. The case was eventually settled and Rimes and her dad later reconciled before her and Eddie Cibrian’s wedding in 2011.

07 of 07

Leighton Meester

Leighton Meester in 2026Credit: Carlos Alvarez/Getty

In July 2011, Meester filed a lawsuit against her mother, Constance Meester, alleging that she had misused money intended to help care for her younger brother, Alexander, who had undergone brain surgery.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Gossip Girl actress had been sending her mother approximately $7,500 a month but alleged that Constance spent some of the money on cosmetic procedures, including plastic surgery, Botox and hair extensions.

After Leighton stopped sending her mother money, Constance countersued, claiming that her daughter had promised to pay her $10,000 a month for the rest of her life. Constance dropped her lawsuit in December 2011, but Leighton continued pursuing a ruling that she was not financially obligated to support her mother.

In June 2012, a judge ruled in Leighton’s favor, determining that there was no valid agreement requiring her to pay Constance any money, per ABC News.

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