More than 30 years have passed since its first theatrical release, but Home Alone is still one of the most popular Christmas films among children and adults. Kevin McCallister's (Macaulay Culkin) adventures to protect his home from bandits have become one of the most anticipated events for Italians this time of year. The same is true in the United States, where someone has seen fit to take seriously a question that arose for many upon repeated viewings of the cult film: How rich is little Kevin's family? The New York Times took on the dilemma and asked none other than a few economists at the Federal Reserve and people who worked on the film's set for explanations. The answer in short: The McCallisters, explains the American newspaper, are certainly among the richest 1% in America. But how did we come to this conclusion?
The house of the super rich
The most important clue comes from the house where the family lives: a luxurious villa in Chicago. According to the New York Times, the film takes place in a three-story single-family home at 671 Lincoln Avenue in the suburb of Winnetka, one of the most expensive suburbs in the United States. According to economists interviewed by the New York newspaper, in 1990 (the year the film was released), only those in the richest 1% of the population could have afforded such a house. The real house where Home Alone was filmed was owned by a couple, John and Cynthia Abednshien, who sold it in 2012 for $1.58 million. Today, the real estate exchange Zillow estimates its value at around 2.3 million.
work of parents
During the film it is never explained in detail what work little Kevin's parents do. However, suggestions and hypotheses from fans are piling up on the Internet, and some details have not escaped them. An example? The numerous mannequins in the house, which some believe indicate that Kate McCallister – the protagonist's mother – was actually a fashion designer. The father Peter would instead be another example of the unspecified “businessman”. However, there are also much more extreme theories on the internet, which even claim that Kevin's father is actually involved in organized crime. And that his house was targeted by the two Wet Bandits precisely out of revenge.
The flight to Paris and the apartment with a view of the Eiffel Tower
Then there is another element of the film that seems to suggest a significant level of economic well-being for the McCallisters. At Christmas, the entire extended family – with the exception of little Kevin, of course – flies to Paris to spend the holidays. An extremely expensive trip considering, among other things, that adults fly in first class. Kate tells a police officer that her husband's brother actually paid for the flights. This is Uncle Bob, who, in addition to the cost of plane tickets, also owns an apartment in Paris with a view of the Eiffel Tower and can accommodate 15 people.
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