Tatum O’Neal Net Worth: How Rich Is Hollywood’s Youngest Oscar Winner?

Tatum O’Neal holds a title that no one has ever been able to take away—she is still the youngest person to win a competitive Academy Award. At just 10 years old, she took home an Oscar for her role in Paper Moon (1973), a film where she starred alongside her real-life father, Ryan O’Neal. But while many young Oscar winners go on to have long, stable careers, Tatum’s journey has been anything but smooth.

Now in 2025, Tatum O’Neal is 61 years old and has lived a life filled with extreme highs and devastating lows. Her net worth is estimated at around $1.5 million, a far cry from her peak as one of Hollywood’s highest-paid child actors. But despite her struggles, she remains a fascinating figure—one of talent, resilience, and a never-ending fight to reclaim her place in the world.

A Tumultuous Early Life

Tatum Beatrice O’Neal was born on November 5, 1963, in Los Angeles, California. With parents who were already Hollywood actors—Ryan O’Neal and Joanna Moore—showbiz was practically in her DNA. However, her childhood was far from glamorous.

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Her parents divorced in 1967, and her mother, who battled substance abuse issues, lost custody of Tatum and her younger brother, Griffin, in 1970. In her 2004 memoir, A Paper Life, Tatum shared heartbreaking details about her childhood, recalling how she and her brother were left in squalor, often hungry, and subjected to abuse by the men in her mother’s life.

Her relationship with her father wasn’t much better. Over the years, she has spoken about the emotional, verbal, and even physical abuse she suffered from him. But despite their rocky history, they have had periods of reconciliation, the most public one being their 2011 Oprah Winfrey Network series Ryan and Tatum: The O’Neals.

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Hollywood’s Highest-Paid Child Star

At just 10 years old, Tatum starred as Addie Loggins in Paper Moon, a role that would cement her place in Hollywood history. On April 2, 1974, she became the youngest person ever to win an Academy Award, a record that still stands today. That level of success at such a young age was rare, and it led to even bigger paychecks.

By 1976, Tatum was not only a sought-after actress but also the highest-paid child star in Hollywood. She reportedly made $350,000 plus 9% of the net profits from The Bad News Bears, an unheard-of deal for someone her age at the time. She went on to star in several successful films, including Nickelodeon (1976), International Velvet (1978), and Little Darlings (1980). But as she grew older, roles became harder to land.

The Struggles Behind the Spotlight

Unlike other child actors like Anna Paquin or Haley Joel Osment, who transitioned smoothly into adult roles, Tatum struggled. She had a few projects in the 1980s, such as Circle of Two (1982) and Certain Fury (1985), but her career lost momentum. By the 1990s, she was mostly appearing in smaller films and TV guest roles.

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Personal struggles played a big role in her career downturn. Tatum became addicted to drugs, including heroin, and had a turbulent personal life. In 1984, she started dating tennis legend John McEnroe, and they got married in 1986. The couple had three children—Kevin (born 1986), Sean (born 1987), and Emily (born 1991)—but their relationship was far from perfect. After their divorce in 1994, Tatum’s addiction worsened, leading to McEnroe gaining full custody of their children in 1998.

Legal Troubles and Rehab

One of the most infamous moments in Tatum’s life came in 2008 when she was arrested for attempting to buy crack cocaine on a street corner near her New York City apartment. When police searched her, they found crack, powder cocaine, and an unused pipe. She was charged with misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance but was released without bail.

Tatum later admitted to struggling with drug addiction for years, and she entered a treatment program after the arrest. While it was a low point in her life, she has since worked hard to stay clean and rebuild her career.

Attempts at a Comeback

Despite her struggles, Tatum has continued to work in Hollywood, although not at the same level as in her childhood. She had a major recurring role as Maggie Gavin on the FX series Rescue Me from 2005 to 2011, and she played Blythe Hunter in Wicked Wicked Games from 2006 to 2007.

She also had a few notable movie appearances, including roles in The Runaways (2010), This Is 40 (2012), and God’s Not Dead: A Light in Darkness (2018). In 2019, she starred in Not To Forget, a film partially funded by an Alzheimer’s foundation, with profits going to charity.

Personal Life and Relationships

Tatum’s love life has always been a topic of interest. She was rumored to have dated Michael Jackson in the late 1970s when she was 12 and he was 17. While Jackson called her his “first love,” Tatum later denied any romantic involvement, saying they were just close friends.

In 2015, she made headlines again when she told People magazine that she had started dating women, saying, “I think women are the most amazing creatures on earth. They’re gentle and also more intelligent than the men that I’ve met recently.”

Despite her struggles with addiction, legal troubles, and difficult relationships, Tatum has continued to push forward. She has been open about her past, sharing her experiences through her memoirs A Paper Life (2004) and Found: A Daughter’s Journey Home (2011).

Where Is Tatum O’Neal Today?

Now in 2025, Tatum O’Neal is 61 years old and still active in the entertainment industry. Her net worth is estimated at $1.5 million, which, while modest compared to Hollywood standards, is a testament to her ability to keep working despite the challenges she has faced.

Though she has had setbacks—including a reported psychiatric hold in 2020 after a mental health crisis—she continues to show resilience. Fans who grew up watching her as the feisty, street-smart Addie Loggins in Paper Moon still root for her, hoping she finds lasting peace and success.

Tatum’s story is one of both tragedy and triumph. She has endured some of the worst that Hollywood and life could throw at her, yet she remains standing, still fighting, still hoping, and still telling her story on her own terms.