Many fans are curious about Mickey Rooney's financial success in 2026. In this article, we dive deep into the assets and career highlights.

What Was Mickey Rooney's Net Worth and Salary?

Mickey Rooney was a film and stage actor, comedian, and radio entertainer who had a net worth of $20 thousand at the time of his death in 2014. Mickey Rooney appeared in over 300 films across a nine-decade career. He started as a child actor in vaudeville and, as a teenager, he began starring as the popular character Andy Hardy in a series of films for MGM. The top box-office draw between 1939 and 1941, Rooney's film credits included "Boys Town," "Babes in Arms," "Young Tom Edison," and "Strike Up the Band," as well as later acclaimed roles in movies such as "National Velvet" and "The Black Stallion." Mickey carved out an incredibly successful career that brought dozens more awards, including an Academy Award and an Emmy.

He was married eight times and had 11 children. Mickey died on April 6, 2014, at the age of 93. In the days following his death, it was revealed that his total estate was only valued at $18,000. In his later years, Rooney was a vocal advocate for fighting elder abuse, specifically with regard to their finances. Before he died, Mickey was forced to sue his own stepson for grossly mismanaging his estate and losing millions of dollars.

Highest Paid Actor

At the peak of his career in the late 1930s, Mickey was the biggest and highest-paid star in Hollywood, easily earning $150,000 per year—the same as earning $2.5 million per year today. In 1949, he struck what was then an unprecedented five-film deal with MGM that paid $25,00 per movie—the same as earning around $275,000 per movie today.

Financial Problems

Unfortunately, Rooney struggled financially throughout his life thanks to bad investments and eight marriages. He declared bankruptcy twice, and at the time of his death, his total estate was valued at $18,000. At the time of his death, he owed large medical bills and back taxes.

(Photo by Michael Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Ultimately, Mickey Rooney's financial journey is a testament to their success.

Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.