What would you do if you were worth tens of millions of dollars and barely a teenager? For most boys back in the 90s, the answer to that would be a half-ton of candy and a football field full of arcade cabinets. Within a few weeks, all of our teeth would have fallen out and our brains completely fried. Let's face it: kids basically have no self-control.
Which is why Macaulay's father, Kit, stepped in to make sure that Culkin wouldn't just be some spoiled, rich brat. Of course Macaulay knew that he was earning some money - he was a celebrity, after all - but he didn't exactly know how much. Kit did all the negotiations for him and hid the salaries from his son, as well as any newspapers discussing his worth.