Peter McCallister did not fund the “Home Alone” Paris vacation.
We recently covered a fallacy in the fun question regarding the wealth of Kevin’s family in “Home Alone.” If you’re so inclined, the in depth video below will point out the definitive details regarding the true McCallister financier. But if you cannot watch the video right now, we’ve highlighted the bullet points for you.
Kevin’s Uncle Rob paid for the expensive trip.
There’s been a popular, funny meme going around questioning the financial status of Kevin’s father Peter McCalister and how he was able to afford such a large house in the Chicago suburbs and a family trip to Paris, France. Well as it turns out there is a fallacy in this meme as we should not be focusing on Kevin’s father but instead Kevin’s uncle Rob.
While many believe it was Peter McCallister that funded this Christmas vacation, it was actually Peter’s brother Rob. This is explained in a scene by Kevin’s mother that many may have missed due to the fast paced conversation she has with Harry in a somewhat flustered state. For reference go to 1:11 in the video at the top of the page to find the conversation.
“No, my husband’s brother transferred to Paris last summer and both of his kids are still going to school here and I guess he missed the whole family. He’s giving us all this trip to Paris for the holidays so we can be together.”
So there you have it. Everyone has been focusing on Kevin’s father but it is definitely his wealthy uncle who funded this vacation. This brings us to question who is this mysterious Uncle Rob, how rich is he, and could he be the source of some of the McCallister’s good fortune?
Who is Uncle Rob?
Let’s start off exploring who Uncle Rob is. You may have to look quick, but Rob McCallister and his wife Georgette can be seen briefly in their Paris penthouse decorating the Christmas tree. For a closer look, there’s and actual deleted scene that includes Uncle Rob and his entire family greeting the rest of his family members rushing off the plane. Here we get a bit more context in relation to Rob’s immediate family. We see that he has 3 children living with him in Paris, while his other daughter Heather is traveling with the rest of the McCallisters as she is said to be going to school in Chicago referenced by Kevin’s mother’s earlier conversation. For reference go to 2:02 in the video at the top to see the deleted scene.
“Rob McCallister and his wife Georgette can be seen briefly in their Paris penthouse decorating the Christmas tree.”
How rich is Uncle Rob?
So now that we have an idea of who Rob is, let’s speculate as to how rich he really is. As referenced in a recent Esquire article, he was able to drop $35,000 to fly out his immediate and extended family to Paris. We can also see that he’s supporting 3 children and may be supporting his oldest daughter while she is going to school. The company he works for must deal internationally since he was transferred to Paris. This would mean that company is quite large as it has business in other parts of the world. We also see that he has quite a lavish home in the heart of Paris as a view of the Eiffel Tower can be seen through the window. This home is also large enough to hold not only himself and 3 children but his extended family as well. Even if other members are sleeping on the floor, this is still quite a lavish home.
“We also see that he has quite a lavish home in the heart of Paris as a view of the Eiffel Tower can be seen through the window.”
Further information regarding Rob’s wealth is revealed in Home Alone 2 Lost in New York. While exploring the city, Kevin looks to his father’s address book to look up his Uncle Rob. Rob’s house is located in the Upper West Side of Manhattan at 51 West 95th Street. While other outlets have pointed out the geographical inaccuracy, this area of NYC is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States. With the house being 3 stories and undergoing renovations, we can speculate further as to how much money Uncle Rob has.
Could Rob be the source of the McCallister wealth? Could they come from money?
Finally we have to question what type of wealth the McCallister family has. Could it be a family business that supports everyone’s lavish lifestyle? Could Rob be so wealthy that he helps to fund his entire family? These questions we will leave up to you…
