He was the face of reality TV royalty. For nearly two decades, Dean McDermott lived a life that looked like a permanent vacation—big houses, five kids, and the daughter of Hollywood's most legendary producer, Aaron Spelling, by his side. But as we head into 2026, the shiny veneer has completely cracked.
Honestly, the Dean McDermott net worth conversation isn't about millions anymore. It’s about survival.
If you’re looking for a success story, you’re in the wrong place. The reality is a messy mix of tax liens, high-interest loans, and a career pivot that nobody saw coming. Here is the unfiltered look at what happened to the money.
The Reality Check: Dean McDermott Net Worth in 2026
Most celebrity wealth sites still list him with a "net worth" of a few hundred thousand dollars. They’re wrong. They’re stuck in 2018.
Recent court filings from his divorce with Tori Spelling paint a much bleaker picture. McDermott himself has admitted to being deep in the red. We are talking about a man who, as of late 2025 and early 2026, reported a monthly income of roughly $3,800. For a guy who used to command massive per-episode fees for Home Sweet Hollywood, that’s a staggering drop.
He’s currently carrying over $215,000 in personal debt. This isn't "good debt" like a mortgage. It’s "the-bank-is-calling" debt.
- A $200,000 loan with City National Bank that is past due.
- Over $14,000 in credit card debt.
- Even $1,200 for dental work he hasn't been able to clear.
It’s a far cry from the days of gourmet cookbooks and red carpets.
Where Did the Money Go?
People always ask how you can be that famous and have that little. It's a fair question. You’ve got to look at the lifestyle they were leading. Tori and Dean were famous for "serial moving." They would rent or buy massive estates, decorate them to the nines, and then move again a year later.
Moving is expensive. Commissions, movers, and lost deposits add up.
Then there are the kids. Five children with Tori, plus his son Jack from his first marriage. Private schools, birthdays that looked like Coachella, and the general cost of living in Los Angeles while your industry—acting—is basically shrinking.
The Tax Man Cometh
The biggest hit to the Dean McDermott net worth wasn't just the spending; it was the IRS. By the time their divorce was finalized in late 2025, it was revealed that the couple owed a combined $1.7 million in unpaid federal and state taxes.
Think about that.
Even if you book a decent acting gig, half of it is already gone before you see it. McDermott is responsible for his half of that mountain. When you're making less than $4,000 a month, a $850,000 tax bill isn't just a hurdle. It’s a life sentence.
A Career Pivot: From Actor to Counselor
In a move that surprised everyone, McDermott basically walked away from Hollywood. Well, Hollywood sort of walked away from him first. He cited the SAG-AFTRA strikes and a "changing industry" as the reason his acting income hit $0 in recent filings.
So, what does he do now?
He’s working as an alcohol and drug counselor at a rehab center called Conscious Community & Vanity Recovery. It’s a noble shift, especially given his own public battles with sobriety. But let's be real—it doesn't pay like a leading man role. He’s earning a modest salary, which barely covers his basic living expenses.
He lives with his girlfriend, Lily Calo, who reportedly earns about $600 a month. They aren't living the "Home Sweet Hollywood" life anymore. They are living a normal, arguably struggling, middle-class existence in one of the most expensive cities on earth.
The Legacy of Tori & Dean
For years, the couple's income was tied to their brand.
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- Tori & Dean: Inn Love
- Home Sweet Hollywood
- True Tori
The divorce settlement actually addresses this. Spelling was awarded the intellectual property for her 90210 residuals—which makes sense—but the revenue from their joint Tori & Dean projects is supposed to be split 50/50.
The problem? Nobody is really buying those shows anymore. The "reality TV royalty" era ended a decade ago. Residuals for reality stars are notoriously thin, often pennies rather than the thousands of dollars actors get for syndicated sitcoms.
Is There a Path Back?
Can he fix the Dean McDermott net worth? Maybe.
He’s still a recognizable face. There is always the potential for a "redemption" reality show or a podcast. Podcasts are where former stars go to pay their bills these days. But with the massive tax debt hanging over him, any windfall he gets will likely be seized immediately.
He's also had a history of child support issues with his first wife, Mary Jo Eustace. At one point, he narrowly avoided jail time over unpaid support. Those legal fees and back payments have acted like a slow leak in his bank account for twenty years.
The Reality of Celebrity "Wealth"
We see these people on screen and assume they are set for life. We forget that their "salary" has to pay agents, managers, lawyers, and publicists—usually 25% to 35% right off the top. Add California's high taxes, and a $100,000 paycheck becomes $40,000 very quickly.
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McDermott is the poster child for what happens when the work stops but the lifestyle doesn't.
He’s 59 years old now. Most people his age are looking at retirement. He’s looking at a $215,000 debt and a fresh start in a new career. It's a sobering reminder that fame is not the same thing as financial security.
Actionable Insights: Moving Forward
If you’re following the McDermott saga to learn what not to do, here are the takeaways.
- Address tax debt early: The IRS is the one creditor you cannot outrun. Interest and penalties will turn a small mistake into a million-dollar nightmare.
- Diversify beyond "The Brand": When your income is tied to a relationship (like Tori & Dean), a breakup doesn't just break your heart—it kills your revenue stream.
- Lifestyle creep is real: Scaling up is easy. Scaling down is painful. McDermott's current financial state is the result of years of refusing to scale down until he was forced to by the courts.
Check the official Los Angeles Superior Court records if you want the deep dive into the specific filings; they are public and provide a chilling look at the cost of fame. Otherwise, keep an eye on his new career path—it might be his most honest work yet.