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Movie fans have been wondering since 1990 how the McCallister parents in the film Home Alone could afford that famous house in one of the suburbs of Chicago. After all, they did have five kids, the house was not small, and it was located in a swanky neighborhood filled with other big homes.
In real life, the iconic Home Alone house, located at 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois, recently sold for $5.25 million, according to its listing on Coldwell Banker’s website. The 9,126 square-foot Georgian home has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, four fireplaces, a three-car garage, and was fully renovated and expanded in 2018.
“From the promise of movie nights and game days to holiday gatherings surrounded by loved ones, this magical home truly transcends its architectural pedigree. It’s a chance to own a piece of cinematic history and create lasting memories within its iconic walls,” the listing agent wrote.
Interestingly, Macaulay Culkin himself actually thought about purchasing the house.
“I had half a mind to buy it − just for giggles,” the actor told the crowd at Illinois’ Rosemont Theater during a screening of the movie, according to the New York Times.
So how exactly did Peter and Kate McCallister pay for such a nice home for their family? This has been a question that has been bugging fans of the movie for decades.
The director of Home Alone finally answered that question in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
“Back then, John [Hughes] and I had a conversation about it, and we decided on what the jobs were,” Columbus said.
According to Columbus, Kate McCallister “was a very successful fashion designer.” This would explain the mannequins in the family home’s basement.
“The father could have, based on John Hughes own experience, worked in advertising, but I don’t remember what the father did,” Columbus added.
He also ruled out one of the most popular fan theories about what Peter McAllister did for a living.
“Not organized crime — even though there was, at the time, a lot of organized crime in Chicago,” he said.