Tatum O'Neal's Net Worth Vanished Despite Earning A Colossal Settlement After Divorcing John McEnroe

Highlights

• McEnroe paid O'Neal $4.5M following divorce, but her net worth has plummeted since.
• O'Neal's addiction struggles post-divorce likely contributed to her financial collapse.
• O'Neal expressed regret for divorcing McEnroe in 2020, citing their marriage as her happiest times.

There was a time when Tatum O'Neal and John McEnroe were the talk of Hollywood. After getting married in 1986, the actor and professional tennis player were just about the hottest couple around. But, like many Hollywood romances, it didn't last. Despite having three children together, purchasing multiple homes, and being married for six years, McEnroe and O'Neal divorced in 1992. The result was the seven-time Grand Slam champion forking over an absolute fortune to the daughter of Ryan O'Neal.

Weirdly, Tatum O'Neal's then notable net worth seemingly vanished into thin air. This article will delve into how much McEnroe paid O'Neal in the divorce settlement and how her net worth has changed drastically since. Then we will dive into the addiction issues that may have led to her financial collapse. Finally, we will reveal what O'Neal said about divorcing McEnroe.

Inside Tatum O'Neal And John McEnroe's Divorce Settlement Impacted Their Net Worths

Before marrying tennis pro-John McEnroe, Tatum O'Neal's path to fortune and fame as an actress seemed to be paved from an early age. This started with her debut film, 1973's Paper Moon, alongside her father, Ryan O'Neal. There's no doubt that O'Neal was financially stable, albeit not as wealthy as her first and only husband, John McEnroe. According to Tennis36.com, the professional athlete has amassed $100 million over the course of his epic career. This is as opposed to Tatum O'Neal who is currently worth $1.5 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

However, O'Neal was awarded a whopping $4.5 million as part of her divorce settlement. But while she was significantly richer after her divorce, that money has vanished in recent years.

Part of the reason for Tatum O'Neal's financial decline may have something to do with the details of her divorce from McEnroe. Her career saw a steady decline after divorcing John McEnroe. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Tatum became addicted to heroin after the divorce. This was one of the reasons why custody of their three children was awarded to McEnroe. It could also be the leading cause of her stagnant net worth.

However, while this was the case for Tatum O'Neal, during their divorce she also accused John McEnroe of using drugs. According to Entertainment Weekly, this claim immediately caught the attention of fans and the media. However, in the end, she proved to be the one struggling with substance addiction. And it is likely why her career dried up and her net worth vanished.

Ryan O'Neal's Violent Altercation With His Son Griffin Was Just The Tip Of The Iceberg In Their Complicated Relationship

Tatum O'Neal's highest-paid salary was $350,000 plus nine percent of the profits of The Bad News Bears. This was once considered an absolute fortune. She also received $16,000 for the role in her debut film, Paper Moon. While she has many other acting credits to her name, information about the salaries she was paid is limited. Still, it is enough to warrant a larger net worth than $1.5 million. Especially when her $4.5 million divorce settlement is factored in.

However, post-divorce, O'Neal has taken a few small-scale acting jobs. According to IMDb, here are a few of the shows and movies she appeared in post separating from McEnroe:

• Basquiat (1996)
• The Scounder's Wife (2003)
• Sex and the City series (HBO, 1998-2004)
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent series (NBC, 2001-2011)
• Rescue Me series (Fox, 2004-2011)
• Wicked Wicked Games (MyNetwork TV, 2006-07)
• The Assent (2020)
• Rock, Paper, Scissors (2019)
• The Runaways (2010)
• God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness (2018)

Inside Tatum O'Neal's Addiction Issues And If She's Sober Today

Tatum O'Neal seemed to have been exposed to abuse, neglect, and drug addiction for her entire life, which is likely the reason why it crept into her adulthood. In 2004, she released an autobiographical book entitled "A Paper Life," which highlighted sensitive aspects of her childhood, such as her mother's addictions, the physical and emotional abuse of her father, and her nasty divorce from McEnroe. The truth was that O'Neal was already a full-blown addict from her teenage years, and it seemed to only get worse with time.

It appears as though John McEnroe and Tatum O'Neal's relationship was also founded on drug abuse. According to Daily Mail, McEnroe confessed to being on drugs with Tatum in an autobiography. He said the following:

"The first time Tatum and I made love, we were high and it was terrible. Shouldn't that have told me something?"

McEnroe, who at the time was already a renowned tennis champion, also alluded to the fact that O'Neal was looking for a father figure to show her the love she was denied as a child.

Inside Ryan O'Neal's Affair With Farrah Fawcett While She Was Married To Lee Majors

Following their divorce, Tatum O'Neal descended into a harder life of substance use. Since then, there have been numerous attempts to get her sober. She managed to do just that for a short period before a relapse in 2008. O'Neal was sober again in 2018, according to Mercury News. However, she had a relapse in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Ryan O'Neal Accidentally Flirted With His Estranged Daughter At Farrah Fawcett's Funeral

According to an interview with People, Tatum O'Neal became addicted to prescription pain medication and ended up overdosing in May 2020. Following this, O'Neal spent six months in a coma. Her son, Kevin McEnroe told People that he felt there wasn't much hope for her.

After coming out of her coma, O'Neal has reportedly been clean. In an interview with People, Kevin McEnroe said the following:

“I think it’s a miracle. I think it’s beautiful. I’ve never been more proud to be her son. She’s full of love and full of heart.”

When asked why she wanted to remain sober after her 2020 relapse, Tatum O'Neal claimed that she wanted to be around for her three beautiful children.

Does Tatum O'Neal Regret Divorcing John McEnroe?

In a 2020 interview with CBS News, Tatum O'Neal expressed regret over her decision to divorce John McEnroe.

"And still, the happiest times of my life were the times I was married, funny enough. So, sometimes we think we're making the right decision and we're not. And I have to live with that, too."

When asked by the interviewer if, in hindsight, she didn't think divorcing John McEnroe was the right decision, Tatum O'Neal replied, "Perhaps not. I was loved. I was cared for... That's it, that's what one wants, isn't it, in a marriage? I've never met anyone who even comes close to my ex-husband."

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