Hollywood’s brightest star once earned more money than any actor alive. By the time Mickey Rooney took his final breath in 2014, his bank account told a different story—one that shocked fans worldwide.
Mickey Rooney Net Worth
Mickey Rooney had a net worth of just $20,000 when he died. His total estate was valued at only $18,000. This figure sounds impossible for a man who appeared in over 300 films across nine decades. But the numbers don’t lie.
The contrast hits hard when you learn the rest of the story. During the late 1930s, Rooney was Hollywood’s highest-paid actor. He pulled in $150,000 per year—equal to roughly $2.5 million in today’s dollars. His 1949 deal with MGM paid $25,000 per movie, which translates to about $275,000 per film by modern standards.
How does someone go from that kind of wealth to dying nearly broke? The answer involves eight marriages, two bankruptcies, and a heartbreaking case of elder abuse that made national headlines.
Who Was Mickey Rooney?
Born Joseph Yule Jr. on September 23, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York, Rooney didn’t choose show business—he was born into it. His father performed in vaudeville, his mother sang in choruses. At just 17 months old, little Mickey took the stage for the first time.
His mother moved them to Hollywood after his parents split when he was four. By age six, he made his movie debut. Between 1927 and 1936, he starred in 78 short films as Mickey McGuire. The character became so popular that he adopted “Mickey” as part of his stage name.
Rooney’s career stretched an incredible nine decades. He worked in silent films as a child and was still acting weeks before his death at 93. That kind of longevity in entertainment remains unmatched. He earned four Academy Award nominations, won one Honorary Oscar, took home an Emmy, and collected multiple Golden Globe awards.
The Andy Hardy series made him America’s favorite teenager during the 1940s. He played the wholesome, girl-crazy Andy Hardy in 16 films. Audiences loved him. Critics praised him. Laurence Olivier once said Rooney was “the best there has ever been.”
Mickey Rooney’s Peak Earnings and Career Success
From 1939 to 1941, Rooney dominated Hollywood. For three straight years, he was the top box office draw in America. No other actor could match his popularity. Theaters packed whenever his name appeared on the marquee.
His partnership with Judy Garland created movie magic. They starred together in “Babes in Arms,” which earned Rooney his first Oscar nomination at just 19 years old. He became the second-youngest Best Actor nominee in Academy Awards history. The two appeared in nine films together, each one a hit.
“Boys Town” showcased his dramatic range alongside Spencer Tracy. “National Velvet” paired him with a young Elizabeth Taylor. “The Black Stallion” proved he still had star power decades later. His Broadway show “Sugar Babies” ran for over 1,200 performances in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Money flowed in constantly during his peak years. He worked nonstop, sometimes appearing in multiple films simultaneously. Studios fought over him. Audiences couldn’t get enough. His salary reflected his status as Hollywood royalty.
The Financial Decline: Bankruptcy and Bad Investments
The money didn’t last. Rooney filed for bankruptcy in 1962. He declared it again in 1996. Between those two financial collapses, decades of poor decisions drained his fortune.
Old Hollywood contracts didn’t include residuals or royalties. Unlike modern actors who earn money every time their movies air on TV or streaming services, Rooney got paid once. His 88-year career spanning 300+ films generated zero passive income. Not a single dollar came in from reruns of the Andy Hardy series or any other project.
Gambling consumed large chunks of his earnings. He loved the racetrack and card games. When he won, he kept playing. When he lost, he borrowed money to keep going. This pattern repeated for years.
Bad investments made things worse. He trusted the wrong people with his money. They promised big returns and delivered nothing. Some flat-out stole from him. Others just mismanaged his accounts until nothing remained.
His lavish lifestyle during peak earning years set expectations he couldn’t maintain. Big houses, expensive cars, fancy restaurants—he spent like the money would never stop. But his career had peaks and valleys. When work slowed down, the bills didn’t.
Mickey Rooney’s Eight Marriages
Eight trips down the aisle meant eight divorce settlements. Each marriage ended up costing him dearly, both emotionally and financially.
Ava Gardner became his first wife in 1942 when she was just 19. The marriage lasted barely a year. Gardner later said Rooney “went through the ladies like a hot knife through fudge.” His constant cheating drove her away.
Betty Jane Phillips married him in 1944 while he served in the military. They had two sons—Mickey Jr. and Tim. Rooney admitted he treated her poorly, keeping her “barefoot and pregnant” while he did whatever he wanted. She filed for divorce in 1947, citing mental cruelty.
Martha Vickers became wife number three in 1949, just six hours after his previous divorce was finalized. They had one son, Teddy, before divorcing in 1951. His drinking destroyed that marriage.
Elaine Mahnken married him in 1952. Their six-year marriage ended with Elaine walking away with $381,750 in the divorce settlement—a massive sum at the time. She couldn’t handle the “constant uproar” and his abusive language.
The Tragic Fifth Marriage
Barbara Ann Thomason entered his life in 1958. They secretly eloped to Mexico, then held a public ceremony in 1959. The couple had four children: Kelly Ann, Kerry, Michael Joseph, and Kimmy Sue.
Their marriage crumbled after six years. Both had affairs. In 1966, while Rooney filmed in the Philippines, Barbara was murdered. Her lover, a stuntman named Milos Milos, shot her to death and then killed himself. The tragedy made headlines nationwide.
Rooney married Barbara’s best friend, Marge Lane, just months after the murder. That union lasted exactly 100 days before falling apart.
Carolyn Hockett became wife number seven in 1969. They had two children together before divorcing in 1975.
Jan Chamberlin married him in 1978. This marriage lasted 34 years—longer than his previous seven marriages combined. They separated in 2012, two years before his death. Jan later challenged his will in court.
Elder Abuse: The Christopher Aber Case
The saddest chapter of Rooney’s life unfolded in his final years. His stepson, Christopher Aber, and Aber’s wife Christin,a allegedly turned his life into a nightmare.
In 2011, 90-year-old Rooney went to court seeking protection. The legal filing painted a disturbing picture. The Abers controlled his finances completely. They withheld food and medication. They kept him trapped in his own home through threats and intimidation.
Christopher Aber had assigned himself 49% of Rooney’s management company without permission. He opened credit card accounts and got ATM cards Rooney didn’t know existed. Millions of dollars were allegedly transferred from Rooney’s accounts to fund the Abers’ lifestyle.
Aber set up a P.O. Box and redirected all of Rooney’s mail. When the elderly actor asked about his mail, Aber refused to tell him. When Rooney questioned his finances, Aber allegedly responded with verbal abuse. He threatened foreclosure on Rooney’s house if he didn’t comply.
One disturbing account described Rooney being reduced to eating canned food while the Abers vacationed. He couldn’t even order his own groceries. The Abers delivered food once every 3-4 weeks, controlling what he ate.
A judge granted Rooney court protection. A conservator took control of his affairs. Rooney testified before the Senate Aging Committee about his ordeal. “If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone,” he told lawmakers through tears.
The 2013 settlement ordered the Abers to pay $2.8 million plus additional punitive damages. But Christopher Aber claimed he didn’t have the money. The judgment went uncollected. Rooney never saw a penny of it.
His case inspired lawyers to create The Mickey Rooney Elder Abuse Pro Bono Project, helping other seniors facing similar situations.
Mickey Rooney’s Estate and Will
When Rooney died on April 6, 2014, his estate totaled just $18,000. The only significant asset was that uncollected $2.8 million judgment against Christopher Aber—money that likely would never be recovered.
His will shocked everyone. He left his entire estate to Mark Rooney (Mark Aber), Jan’s other son, who had cared for him during his final years. Rooney intentionally disinherited all nine of his biological children. His 19 grandchildren got nothing. His many great-grandchildren received nothing either.
Jan Chamberlin, his estranged wife, was cut out completely. She had signed documents waiving all claims to his estate after their 2012 separation. But she challenged the will anyway, claiming Rooney lacked capacity when he signed it and that Mark had exerted undue influence.
Seven of Rooney’s eight biological children joined the will contest. They lost. The court sided with Mark and accepted the will for probate in August 2015. The intellectual property rights to Rooney’s name became Mark’s to manage.
The family even fought over his burial. Jan and Christopher wanted him in a family plot so Jan could be buried beside him eventually. Mark opposed this. Rooney’s executor and former conservator sided with Mark. The dispute went to court just five days after Rooney’s death.
His body now rests at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, where many legendary stars are buried.
What Happened to Mickey Rooney’s Money?
Eight divorce settlements ate through millions. His fourth wife alone walked away with $381,750 in 1958. Adjusted for inflation, that’s over $4 million today. Multiply that across eight marriages, and the financial damage becomes clear.
Zero royalties from 300+ films meant no safety net. Every dollar he earned had to come from active work. When health issues or lack of job offers slowed him down, income stopped completely.
Christopher Aber’s alleged mismanagement depleted whatever remained over a 10-year period. The lawsuit claimed millions vanished while Aber controlled his finances. By the time Rooney regained control through the conservatorship, almost nothing was left.
Medical bills piled up in his final years. He owed back taxes. Creditors came calling. At 93, with declining health and no passive income streams, he had no way to catch up financially.
Mickey Rooney’s Legacy Beyond Wealth
Money tells only part of Mickey Rooney’s story. His artistic legacy towers over his financial troubles.
Over 300 film credits represent an unmatched body of work. He performed in silent films, talkies, television shows, and Broadway productions. His range spanned comedy, drama, musicals, and voice acting. Few actors in history have demonstrated such versatility.
His elder abuse testimony helped change laws protecting seniors. Politicians listened when he described his ordeal. New legislation emerged to prevent others from suffering similar financial exploitation by family members.
The Mickey Rooney Elder Abuse Pro Bono Project continues helping seniors today. Lawyers donate their time to protect vulnerable elderly people from financial predators. Rooney’s courage in speaking publicly about his abuse created lasting positive change.
In 2025, an estate auction will offer 250 lots of Rooney memorabilia to collectors and fans. Items include scripts, costumes, photographs, and personal effects. The sale ensures his legacy reaches people who appreciate his contributions to entertainment.
Mickey Rooney’s Age and Death
Mickey Rooney died peacefully at age 93 on April 6, 2014. He passed away during an afternoon nap at his Studio City rental home. Natural causes, including complications from diabete,s took him. He was surrounded by the stepson who cared for him in those final years.
One week before his death, Mark Rooney gave him a final gift. He took Mickey back to the racetrack—a place he loved but hadn’t visited in decades. Rooney ran into old friends Mel Brooks and Dick Van Patten. His face lit up with joy. Mark captured photos of that day, preserving his stepfather’s happiness in those last moments.
The boy who took his first steps on a vaudeville stage at 17 months old had worked until six weeks before his death. His final film role was in “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.” Right up to the end, Mickey Rooney was a performer.
His nine-decade career remains a Hollywood record unlikely to ever be broken. From silent films to modern cinema, from radio to television to Broadway, he conquered every entertainment medium that existed during his lifetime. Financial struggles couldn’t diminish that remarkable achievement.
