Taran Noah Smith Net Worth

Overview

Taran Noah Smith is an American former child actor, best known for his role as Mark Taylor, the youngest son on the sitcom “Home Improvement,” which aired from 1991 to 1999. Born on April 8, 1984, in San Francisco, California, Taran began acting at a young age due to his older sister’s modeling work. “Home Improvement” was his first professional acting job. After Home Improvement ended, Taran had guest-starring roles in such projects as “Ebbie”, “Little Bigfoot 2: The Journey Home”, and “7th Heaven”. After “Home Improvement,” Smith sought to gain control of his trust fund, leading to a lawsuit against his parents. He also garnered attention for marrying a woman 16 years his senior when he was 17. Smith later reconciled with his parents and, in 2015, even assisted his mother in writing a book titled “Stardom Happens,” which chronicled his experiences in Hollywood. After a few months at USC, Taran dropped out to open a vegan restaurant, farm, and non-dairy cheese manufacturer called Playfood, with Heidi. In 2014, he volunteered doing disaster relief with Communitere in the Philippines. Smith is also the Technical Manager for the Community Submersibles Project, where he teaches people how to pilot submarines.

Playfood Manufacturing LLC

Owner/Manager

What Is Taran Noah Smith’s Net Worth?

Taran Noah Smith, a former American child actor, has accumulated a net worth of approximately $300,000. This estimation reflects his earnings primarily from his acting career, notably his prominent role on the sitcom “Home Improvement,” as well as subsequent ventures and legal battles related to his trust fund.

“Home Improvement” and Early Career Earnings

Smith’s career took off when he was cast as Mark Taylor, the youngest son on “Home Improvement,” from 1991 to 1999. He appeared in 201 out of the show’s 204 episodes across eight seasons. During this time, his parents entered into a seven-year contract with the studio that produced the series, which, unfortunately, locked in his potential earnings for the majority of his time on the show. While specific salary figures per episode or season are not publicly available, it’s understood that child actors on successful sitcoms can earn substantial amounts, which are often placed into trust funds.

Following “Home Improvement,” Smith had guest-starring roles in projects such as “Ebbie,” “Little Bigfoot 2: The Journey Home,” and “7th Heaven.” These roles likely contributed modestly to his income, although precise earnings from these appearances are not documented publicly.

Trust Fund Lawsuit and Control of Finances

Upon the conclusion of “Home Improvement,” Smith initiated legal proceedings to gain control of his trust fund from his parents, alleging mismanagement of his earnings. Court documents from the early 2000s indicated the trust fund was valued at $1.5 million. Smith’s lawsuit claimed that his parents had used portions of his earnings to purchase a mansion for themselves. He eventually gained control of the trust fund, just prior to his 18th birthday. This event marked a significant shift in his financial autonomy, although the subsequent management and potential depletion of these funds are not fully detailed in public records.

Post-Acting Ventures and Business Endeavors

After a brief stint at the University of Southern California Film School, Smith dropped out to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. He co-founded a vegan restaurant, farm, and non-dairy cheese manufacturer called Playfood with his then-wife, Heidi van Pelt. The financial success or failure of Playfood is not extensively documented, but such ventures often require significant capital investment and can have variable returns. Any profits or losses from this business would have directly impacted Smith’s overall net worth.

Personal Life and Book Collaboration

Smith’s personal life gained considerable media attention, particularly his marriage to Heidi van Pelt, who was 16 years his senior. The marriage lasted from 2001 to 2007. In 2015, he collaborated with his mother to write a book titled “Stardom Happens,” which chronicled his experiences in Hollywood. Revenue generated from book sales and related royalties would have contributed marginally to his income during that period. The net worth of $300,000 is an estimation of his current financial standing, and any income derived from these activities would have played a role in shaping this figure. More information regarding specific earnings from “Stardom Happens” is not publicly accessible.