Catherine O’Hara has been making people laugh for nearly fifty years, and her bank account shows it. The Canadian-born actress has built an impressive $10 million fortune through a career that’s taken her from Toronto comedy clubs to Emmy-winning television performances. What makes O’Hara’s story particularly fascinating isn’t just the money she’s made, but how she’s managed to stay relevant across multiple generations of entertainment.
Most actors struggle to maintain their careers past their forties, but O’Hara seems to get better with age. Her recent triumph as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek proved that sometimes the best roles come later in life. The show didn’t just revitalize her career—it introduced her to millions of new fans who had no idea she was the same actress who terrorized Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone.
Catherine O’Hara’s Current Net Worth in 2025
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Catherine O’Hara’s net worth sits at a solid $10 million in 2025. That might not sound like Hollywood superstar money, but it’s actually quite impressive for someone who’s built her career on character roles rather than leading lady parts. O’Hara has never been the type to chase blockbuster paychecks—instead, she’s focused on projects that showcase her unique comedic talents.
What’s really smart about O’Hara’s approach is how she’s diversified her income. She doesn’t rely on one big hit to pay the bills. Instead, her wealth comes from a mix of film salaries, television work, voice acting gigs, and writing credits. This strategy has kept money flowing in even during slower periods in her career.
The actress has also been surprisingly savvy with her investments. While some celebrities blow through their earnings on expensive cars and designer clothes, O’Hara has taken a more conservative approach. Her real estate investments alone have contributed significantly to her overall wealth, proving that sometimes the boring financial decisions are the smartest ones.
Early Career Foundations That Built Her Wealth
O’Hara’s money-making journey started in the most humble way possible—as a waitress at Toronto’s Second City Theatre in 1974. She wasn’t even trying to be a performer initially, but when comedy legend Gilda Radner needed an understudy, O’Hara stepped up. That lucky break changed everything, giving her the foundation in improvisational comedy that would define her entire career.
When SCTV launched in 1976, O’Hara became one of its original cast members and writers. The show ran for 135 episodes, and O’Hara contributed to nearly every one as both a performer and behind-the-scenes creative force. This dual role was crucial—it meant she was earning money from multiple sources on the same project, a strategy she’d use throughout her career.
SCTV might not have made O’Hara rich overnight, but it did something more valuable: it established her reputation in the industry. Her Emmy win in 1982 for Outstanding Writing proved she wasn’t just a funny face—she was a serious creative talent. That credibility opened doors to bigger opportunities and better paychecks in the years that followed.
Blockbuster Success: Home Alone and Major Film Earnings
The Home Alone movies represent the biggest financial windfall of O’Hara’s career, even though she wasn’t the star. Her role as Kate McCallister, the frantic mother trying to get back to her abandoned son, became iconic in its own right. The first film made an incredible $476.7 million worldwide, while the sequel brought in another $359 million.
While O’Hara’s exact salary for these films hasn’t been revealed, we know from industry reports that even supporting cast members earned substantial paychecks from these massive hits. For comparison, Daniel Stern (one of the burglars) made $300,000 for the first film and negotiated his way up to $1.5 million plus profit participation for the sequel. O’Hara likely earned similar amounts, which would have been life-changing money at the time.
Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice was another major payday for O’Hara, both initially and decades later. The 1988 film was a surprise hit, making $84.6 million on just a $15 million budget. More recently, reports suggest O’Hara earned around $2 million for returning to the role in 2024’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Not bad for reprising a character she first played over thirty years ago.
The Schitt’s Creek Renaissance and Award-Winning Performances
Just when many actresses her age are struggling to find good roles, O’Hara landed the part that would define the later stage of her career. Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek wasn’t just a character—she was a phenomenon. The show’s six-season run from 2015 to 2020 introduced O’Hara to a whole new generation of fans who fell in love with Moira’s outrageous wigs and even more outrageous vocabulary.
The show’s success culminated in a historic Emmy sweep in 2020, with O’Hara taking home the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She also won a Golden Globe in 2021, cementing her status as one of television’s premier comedic performers. These awards don’t just look good on the mantelpiece—they typically translate into higher salaries for future projects.
While Schitt’s Creek salary details remain private, the show’s massive success on Netflix and in international markets has likely generated substantial residual income for O’Hara. The series has become a cultural touchstone, with Moira Rose memes and quotes still circulating on social media years after the show ended. That kind of lasting impact usually means lasting financial benefits too.
Real Estate Investments and Personal Assets
O’Hara’s smartest financial move might have been buying a house in Los Angeles’s Brentwood neighborhood back in 1994. She and her husband, production designer Bo Welch, paid $1.25 million for their 2,606-square-foot home with four bedrooms and four bathrooms. At the time, it probably seemed like a lot of money for a character actress.
Fast forward to today, and that investment looks brilliant. Similar homes in their neighborhood now sell for around $4 million, meaning their property has more than tripled in value. That’s a gain of nearly $3 million just from sitting in a house they love—not a bad return on investment.
What’s refreshing about O’Hara is that she hasn’t let success go to her head financially. Unlike some celebrities who upgrade to massive mansions the moment they can afford them, she’s stayed in the same home for three decades. This kind of financial discipline is probably why she’s maintained her wealth while other actors have faced money troubles despite earning more.
Voice Acting and Diverse Revenue Streams
One of O’Hara’s cleverest career moves has been building a substantial voice acting portfolio. Her work as Sally and Shock in The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) continues to pay dividends every Halloween season. The film has become a holiday classic, generating ongoing royalties through TV broadcasts, streaming, and merchandise sales.
Her voice work extends far beyond that one iconic film. O’Hara has lent her talents to major animated movies like Over the Hedge, Monster House, and Frankenweenie, plus TV series including various Addams Family projects. Voice acting might not pay as much upfront as live-action roles, but the residuals can add up to serious money over time.
O’Hara has also maintained her writing career throughout her acting success. Her work as a consulting producer on Schitt’s Creek and contributions to other projects create additional income streams that many actors overlook. These behind-the-scenes roles often provide both immediate payment and ongoing residuals, essentially allowing her to get paid multiple times for the same project.
Charitable Work and Public Appearances
O’Hara’s appearance on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in 2020 perfectly captured her personality—smart, funny, and generous. She won $250,000 for Upward Bound House, a Los Angeles charity that helps homeless families. The appearance showcased her quick wit while supporting a cause close to her heart.
Her charitable work extends beyond game shows to include support for various arts organizations and social causes. While these activities don’t directly generate income, they keep O’Hara in the public eye and often lead to other opportunities. Celebrity charity work can be a smart career move as well as a good deed.
As an Emmy and Golden Globe winner, O’Hara is frequently invited to present at award shows and speak at industry events. These appearances typically come with substantial fees that add to her annual income. Her status as a respected veteran performer makes her a valuable addition to any entertainment industry gathering.
Catherine O’Hara’s Financial Future and Legacy
At 70, O’Hara shows no signs of slowing down, which is great news for her bank account. Her success with Schitt’s Creek proved that audiences love seeing experienced performers in great roles. Hollywood is finally starting to recognize that older actors can be just as bankable as their younger counterparts.
Her relationships with successful creators like Tim Burton and the Levy family suggest more lucrative projects are likely in her future. There’s always speculation about potential Schitt’s Creek reunion projects, which could provide another significant payday. Her voice acting career also seems recession-proof—animated projects always need talented voice performers.
O’Hara’s $10 million net worth might not make her the richest person in Hollywood, but it represents something more valuable: a career built on talent, longevity, and smart financial decisions. She’s proven that you don’t need to be a movie star to build substantial wealth in entertainment. Sometimes the character actors have the last laugh—all the way to the bank.
