6 Celebrities Who Have Sued Their Parents
Published on June 11, 2014. Updated April 4, 2017Someone once said that money is the root of all evil. When it comes to some celebrities, their families and their ludicrous amounts of money, this saying definitely rings true. Some people in Hollywood haven’t been so lucky when it comes to fame and fortune. Instead of having to fear those outside their tightknit circles, some celebrities have actually been exploited by members of their own families. Some have had to take drastic measures to protect themselves, their careers and their money, which has sometimes meant shutting their families out. Here are 6 celebrities who have sued their parents!
6. Aaron Carter
Back in 2003, Aaron Carter sued his mother, claiming that she took more than $100,000 from his bank account without his permission. He also claims that she took several of his most prized possessions, including a jacket worn by Michael Jackson in his “Thriller” video and gifts from Bruce Willis worth more than $1 million. Carter was also seeking legal emancipation from his mother who – with his father – had been managing his career for about ten years at that point.
s_bukley / Shutterstock.com5. Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant had been suing his parents to try to stop them from auctioning off $1 million worth of his memorabilia, including jerseys, championship rings and trophies. He claims that his mother had stolen some of the stuff right from his home. Before the case went to trial, however, Bryant and his parents managed to reach a settlement. According to the agreement, his parents were allowed to auction off only six items, which is just 10 percent of the items originally listed.
Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com4. Macaulay Culkin
When Macaulay Culkin was 14, his parents – who were never married – separated and embarked on a bitter custody battle over their seven children. One of the biggest things at stake was Culkin’s $17 million fortune. After extensive and costly legal proceedings, Culkin sued his parents for his earnings and then moved out on his own. The judge put the family’s accountant Billy Breitner in charge of the “Home Alone” star’s money until he turned 18.
Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com3. LeAnn Rimes
In 1998, LeAnn Rimes filed a lawsuit against her father and former co-manager claiming that the two were responsible for spending more than $7 million of her earnings. She also alleged that both men took unreasonable fees and exploited her label, Asylum-Curb, for financial gain. Her father filed a countersuit against her, noting her excessive spending and her sense of entitlement. In 2002, Rimes settled the lawsuit with her father.
Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com2. Chris Warren
The “High School Musical” star filed a lawsuit again his parents for allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from him. According to Warren, his money had been put into a trust for him to access when he was 21 but, when he became of age, he claimed that his parents refused to grant him access to his money. Warren said that they admitted to spending thousands of dollars of his on personal expenses, but they will not reveal how much they took.
s_bukley / Shutterstock.com1. Leighton Meester
Leighton Meester filed a lawsuit against her mother for misusing the $7,500 a month she sent her to help out with her younger brother’s medical expenses. Her mother allegedly used the money for Botox, hair extensions, plastic surgery and other personal expenses and she didn’t take being sued lying down. Constance Meester filed a $3 million countersuit against Leighton claiming that she had promised to give her mother $10,000 a month for the rest of her life. The judge ruled in favor of Leighton, stating that no such agreement ever existed.
Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com