20 Richest Teen Actors of All Time, Ranked

Becoming a star as a teenager can lead to incredible success in the entertainment world. Many young actors who gained popularity from TV shows or movies have turned that early fame into substantial wealth and lasting careers. This list highlights teen actors who successfully built fortunes not only through their salaries, but also through profit-sharing deals, endorsements, and businesses they created using their own names.

This list highlights how teen actors turned early success into lasting wealth. We’ll focus on specific achievements like high pay per TV episode, major movie salaries, producing credits, and successful business deals – the concrete steps that built their fortunes. These actors show that a popular role can be the start of a significant and profitable career.

20. Cole Sprouse

Cole Sprouse first gained fame as a child star on ‘The Suite Life of Zack and Cody’ and then as a main character on ‘Riverdale’. His consistent work on television earned him good pay per episode, ongoing income from reruns around the world, and additional fees for appearances, all of which added up over the years.

Beyond his acting work, he pursued his passion for archaeology in college and developed a successful photography business, landing assignments with magazines and for various campaigns. He leveraged his initial success with Disney by attending fan conventions and collaborating with brands, creating multiple sources of income.

19. Frankie Muniz

Frankie Muniz starred in the popular sitcom ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ during its most successful years, and his salary per episode increased with each season. He continues to earn money from the show through reruns.

He started making movies with ‘Agent Cody Banks’ and also became successful through racehorses and owning businesses. He continued to earn money by investing in smaller companies and taking on other work, even after reducing his acting commitments.

18. Keke Palmer

I remember watching Keke Palmer in ‘Akeelah and the Bee’ – she was fantastic! It was cool to see her then move right into ‘True Jackson VP’ on TV, and from what I heard, she was making serious money – not just from the show itself, but also from the music they released. She’s been consistently working since then, doing hosting gigs and reality shows, which is awesome to see. It’s clear she built a really solid career from a young age.

As her popularity increased, she broadened her work to include producing, publishing, and collaborations with brands. She also built a stable income through voice acting, touring, and hosting live events, all of which continued even after her time on Nickelodeon.

17. Bella Thorne

Bella Thorne first became known for her role in ‘Shake It Up’ and then quickly transitioned into a lot of independent films and streaming shows. This consistent work provided her with several income streams each year, and she also earned money through her music and publishing agreements.

After her time as a young star on Disney, she launched several businesses, focusing on beauty, technology, online content, and brand partnerships. Combining her income from acting with these direct-to-fan ventures allowed her to build a significant financial portfolio.

16. Miranda Cosgrove

The popularity of Miranda Cosgrove’s ‘iCarly’ led to a significant increase in pay for the show’s cast – one of the biggest ever seen on a live-action kids’ series. The show’s catchy theme song and music also earned the cast additional money through royalties during its original run.

The ‘iCarly’ reboot meant higher paychecks for the main actors and those producing the show. Combined with earnings from commercials, voice acting in films like ‘Despicable Me’, and touring during her teenage years, she built a solid financial foundation.

15. Hilary Duff

Hilary Duff rose to fame in the early 2000s with ‘Lizzie McGuire,’ becoming one of the highest-paid TV stars of her time and earning significant money from her music tours. She further boosted her income with a successful ‘Lizzie McGuire’ movie and consistent roles in other films.

She expanded her career with book publishing deals, her own fragrances, and starring roles in the TV shows ‘Younger’ and ‘How I Met Your Father’. Smart investments in property and collaborations with brands helped her transform her early fame into lasting financial success.

14. Jaden Smith

Jaden Smith first gained recognition in ‘The Pursuit of Happyness,’ which then allowed him to command substantial salaries for ‘The Karate Kid.’ As a teenager, these high earnings made him one of the most well-paid young actors in Hollywood at the time.

He expanded his career beyond acting by releasing music, going on tour, and launching Just Water, a successful beverage company. He also partnered with fashion brands and explored tech ventures, building a wider range of business interests beyond his initial success in film.

13. Hailee Steinfeld

Hailee Steinfeld first gained widespread attention for her performance in ‘True Grit’. This success opened doors to leading roles in the ‘Pitch Perfect’ movies and ‘Bumblebee’, which also came with significant upfront salary and potential bonuses based on how well the films performed in theaters.

Hailee Steinfeld supplemented her acting income with consistent work on television shows like ‘Dickinson’ and voice acting roles in popular projects such as ‘Arcane’ and ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’. She also earned significant income from her music career, touring, and brand partnerships.

12. Macaulay Culkin

Macaulay Culkin earned exceptionally high salaries for a young actor thanks to movies like ‘Home Alone,’ and he secured bonuses and profit-sharing deals early in his career. The popularity of related merchandise and sequels further increased his earnings.

He continued working, combining acting roles with live shows and other media projects. Smartly managing things like holiday TV reruns, licensing deals, and public appearances ensured a steady income long after he first became famous as a teenager.

11. Zac Efron

Zac Efron quickly transitioned from the success of ‘High School Musical’ into starring roles in both comedies and more serious films, earning him substantial paychecks – initially in the hundreds of thousands, and then millions of dollars. His films consistently performed well internationally, which continued to increase his earning power throughout his twenties.

Beyond just acting, I’ve been really impressed with how he’s built up his income streams. He’s not just taking roles, he’s creating opportunities – from fitness content and hosting travel shows, to smart endorsement deals. But what *really* caught my attention is his move into production. He’s getting actual ownership in these streaming projects, meaning he’ll continue to profit as long as the shows are popular. It’s a savvy move that puts him in control of his future, and it’s exciting to see.

10. Angus T. Jones

Angus T. Jones earned a huge salary as a teen actor on ‘Two and a Half Men’. He made record-breaking amounts per episode for a sitcom performer his age, leading to incredibly high annual earnings.

Even though the show ended, income from reruns continued to be substantial. Smart investments and opportunities like public appearances and speaking engagements allowed the earnings from that successful TV deal to last and increase over time.

9. Rupert Grint

Rupert Grint earned significant income from his work in the ‘Harry Potter’ films over eight movies. As the series became more successful, his salary increased with bonuses based on how well the films performed in theaters worldwide.

He went on to invest in real estate and expanded his career into television and theater. These investments, combined with income from his established brand and public appearances, created a solid financial base that started when he was a teenager.

8. Zendaya

Zendaya began her career with the Disney Channel series ‘Shake It Up’ and quickly rose to prominence with leading roles in the hit show ‘Euphoria’ and several major movies. She’s also expanded her work to include producing, which means she earns a share of the profits in addition to her regular salary.

She successfully created a strong and diverse brand, working with fashion, jewelry, and beauty companies. Combining this with her music, concerts, and production work, she turned her initial success on Disney into a thriving and varied business.

7. Emma Watson

Emma Watson’s earnings increased with each ‘Harry Potter’ film, and she received substantial paychecks by the end of the series. She continued to earn high salaries with roles in films like ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and other well-regarded projects.

In addition to her acting career, she built financial security through investments and by advising companies on sustainable fashion. Income from writing, public appearances, and strategic partnerships allowed her to transition her early fame into lasting wealth.

6. Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart started with independent films, then became a worldwide star thanks to ‘Twilight,’ earning significant income from the series through both salary and bonuses. She used this success to consistently land well-paying roles in both mainstream and critically acclaimed films.

She supplemented her income with long-term contracts as a brand ambassador for high-end fashion brands. Continuing to work as a producer and maintain a presence at film festivals ensured she received valuable offers even after the height of her popularity from her teen movie series.

5. Daniel Radcliffe

Daniel Radcliffe earned incredibly high salaries for his role as Harry Potter, along with a share of the profits from the hugely successful film series. His success on Broadway proved he’s a major draw for audiences, allowing him to command high pay for stage performances as well.

He kept choosing unique movies and TV shows while also building a real estate and production portfolio. Income from his past successful projects, including ongoing payments and catalog sales, continues to provide a steady revenue source.

4. Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande started her career as a teenage actress in the Nickelodeon shows ‘Victorious’ and ‘Sam and Cat’, earning income from the series and opportunities to feature her music. She quickly grew her success, moving on to large concert tours, popular albums, and lucrative endorsement deals, significantly increasing her earnings.

Beyond music sales, revenue now comes from things like perfumes, high-paying TV appearances, and concert films. However, her career began with acting as a teenager, and that initial success laid the groundwork for everything that followed.

3. Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus’s role as ‘Hannah Montana’ was incredibly successful, building a huge business through her TV earnings, popular concert tours, and products sold worldwide. This combination of work created a lot of money for her during her teenage years.

She continued to grow her career with successful songs, headlining major festivals, and appearing on television specials. She also expanded her work into licensing deals, assessing the value of her music catalog, and partnering with brands, all building on her start with Disney Channel.

2. Mary Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen became teen stars thanks to ‘Full House’ and then built a successful business creating movies and products released directly to video. Because they owned the rights to their work through their company, they earned substantial profits in addition to their acting paychecks.

I’m so impressed with how Mary-Kate and Ashley have built their careers! They moved beyond acting and created incredibly successful fashion brands – we’re talking high-end, globally recognized labels. And it’s not just the clothes themselves; their brands are worth a fortune, and they’ve expanded into licensing and publishing too. Honestly, they’re two of the wealthiest former child stars out there, and they totally deserve it!

1. Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez first gained success with the Disney Channel series ‘Wizards of Waverly Place,’ which earned her a good income as a teen thanks to high salaries and a popular soundtrack. She’s since increased her earnings through film roles and by working as an executive producer on shows like ‘Only Murders in the Building,’ allowing her to earn even more through both upfront fees and a share of the profits.

Her cosmetics company quickly became incredibly popular, gaining widespread sales in stores and expanding globally. Combined with successful concert tours, streaming events, and ongoing collaborations with major brands, she’s now the wealthiest former child star currently working.

Share your picks in the comments and tell us who you think we missed.

2025-10-15 06:19