Diana Serra Cary, 100 – $2 million
Diana Serra Cary or Baby Peggy, as she was known, was a huge child star back in the day who had a handsome salary too (about $1.5 million per year). However, somehow, her parents squandered her fortune and by the time she grew up, there was none left. Diana managed to make a career as an author and silent film historian so she was able to get back on her feet. Motivated by her own experiences, she became an advocate for child actors’ rights. Cary is the author of several books such as The Drowning of the Moon. She became a centenarian in October 2018.