As of 2025, David Faustino’s net worth is estimated to be around $6 million. For an actor who was a household name in the late ‘80s and ‘90s, that figure often surprises people. Best known for his role as the perpetually girl-crazy Bud Bundy on the iconic sitcom Married… with Children, Faustino’s financial story is one of early success, a major industry roadblock, and impressive long-term resilience.
While his wealth may not match that of his on-screen family, a closer look reveals a career built on smart pivots and a consistent presence in Hollywood that has lasted for nearly his entire life.
The Foundation: Early Life and a Career from Childhood
David Faustino was practically born into the entertainment industry. Born in Los Angeles, California, on March 3, 1974, he made his television debut at just three months old in the Lily Tomlin Special.
Throughout the early 1980s, he became a familiar face in guest roles on some of the era’s biggest shows, including Little House on the Prairie, Family Ties, and The Love Boat. This early start gave him a foundation and a work ethic that would define his career long before he landed his most famous role.
Becoming Bud Bundy: The ‘Married… with Children’ Era
In 1987, at the age of 13, Faustino was cast as Bud, the witty and often-rejected younger son in the Bundy household. Married… with Children was a groundbreaking show for the fledgling Fox network, shattering the mold of the wholesome family sitcom.
Faustino grew up on screen, appearing in all 259 episodes over the show’s incredible 11-season run. The role made him a star, but the financial rewards that should have followed came with a significant catch.
The Billion-Dollar Show with a Million-Dollar Catch
The most discussed aspect of David Faustino’s net worth is the issue of royalties from Married… with Children. Despite the show generating over a billion dollars in syndication revenue, the main cast saw very little of that windfall. Faustino himself has been candid about the situation.
“We got really screwed over,” he explained in an interview. Because Fox was considered a cable network at the time of the show’s creation, the cast was signed under a less favorable cable contract. This meant they missed out on the lucrative residual payments that actors on major network shows typically receive. While their weekly paychecks were substantial during filming, the long-term financial security from reruns never materialized.
A Stark Contrast: How His Co-Stars Fared
The contractual situation created a vast wealth gap between the Bundy family actors. Ed O’Neill, who played patriarch Al Bundy, had a savvy manager who negotiated a much better deal, which later contributed to his massive $65 million net worth.
Katey Sagal (Peggy) and Christina Applegate (Kelly) also went on to achieve significant success in other high-profile projects, building net worths of $30 million and $20 million, respectively. Faustino’s $6 million fortune, while substantial, stands in stark contrast to his co-stars’ earnings.
Life After Bundy: Finding a New Voice
Rather than fading away after the sitcom ended, Faustino made a clever and successful pivot into voice acting. This move provided a steady stream of income and introduced him to a new generation of fans.
He landed significant roles in acclaimed animated series, voicing the firebender Mako in Nickelodeon’s The Legend of Korra and Helia in Winx Club. His voice work has become a cornerstone of his career, demonstrating an adaptability that has been key to his financial survival in Hollywood.
Beyond Acting: Entrepreneurial Ventures
During the height of his Married… with Children fame, Faustino explored his other passions. A dedicated hip-hop fan, he released a rap album in 1992 titled Balistyx under the stage name D’Lil.
A year earlier, he co-founded a nightclub on the Sunset Strip with the same name, creating one of the first dedicated hip-hop and funk clubs in the area. Though short-lived, these ventures showcased an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to build a brand beyond his acting persona.
Personal Life, Assets, and Lasting Legacy
Today, David Faustino lives a relatively private life with his long-term partner, Lindsay Bronson, and their daughter. A significant portion of his net worth is tied up in real estate. In 1995, he wisely purchased a home in the Hollywood Hills for $592,000, which is now estimated to be worth between $2.5 and $3.5 million.
David Faustino’s net worth tells the story not of a faded child star, but of a Hollywood survivor. For nearly five decades, he has navigated the extreme highs and lows of the entertainment industry, adapting his career to build a stable and successful life long after the Bundy family left the airwaves.
