She was born on January 18, 1962, so in 2025 she will be 63 years old. She is best known for her memorable seven-season run as Nellie Oleson on the popular TV show Little House on the Prairie, which began in 1974. Arngrim started her work as a child model and actress. Later, she learnt how to write and do stand-up comedy, which she has done all over the world. Alison Arngrim net worth is thought to be around $400,000 as of 2025.
She has made this money through singing, selling books, and other creative activities. Giving to others and speaking out for important social issues are two things she has done. Alison is a stepmother and has been married twice. She enjoys her job but keeps her personal life private. She still interacts with fans today through activism and live performances, making a lasting mark on culture and entertainment.
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Quick Bio
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Alison Margaret Arngrim |
| Date of Birth | January 18, 1962 |
| Age in 2025 | 63 |
| Birthplace | New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, Author, Stand-up Comedian |
| Years Active | 1974–present |
| Famous Role | Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie (1974–1982) |
| Notable Achievements | Young Artist Award – Former Child Star “Lifetime Achievement” Award |
| Personal Life | Married twice (to Robert Paul Schoonover and earlier to Donald Mark Spencer), stepmother |
| Advocacy | AIDS activism, child sexual abuse awareness, philanthropy |
| Family | Mother: Norma MacMillan (actress, voice artist), Brother: Stefan Arngrim (former child actor) |
| Other Work | Author of Confessions of a Prairie Bitch, stand-up comedy; performs in French internationally |
Alison Arngrim Net Worth in 2025
Alison Arngrim’s net worth is thought to be around $400,000 as of 2025. She gained this through a wide range of creative activities, such as writing, stand-up comedy, acting (most notably as Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie), and more. Even though she doesn’t have as much money as some of her co-stars, her wealth shows how talented she is and how long she’s been involved in theatre and charity.
| Co-Star Name | Estimated Net Worth (2025) |
|---|---|
| Alison Arngrim | $400,000 |
| Melissa Gilbert | $500,000 |
| Dean Butler | Data insufficient available |
| Karen Grassle | $500,000 |
| Melissa Sue Anderson | $1.5 million |
| Katherine MacGregor | Data unavailable |
| Sara Gilbert | Data unavailable |
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Business Ventures and Income Sources
Alison Arngrim has many different businesses and ways to make money besides being an actress. As of 2025, her projected net worth is $400,000. She made this money in a number of ways, including:
- She is best known for her role as Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie.
- She writes, and her book, Confessions of a Prairie Bitch, was well received.
- Stand-up comedy performances, including stage adaptations of her memoir that she has performed internationally, especially in France.
- Co-founding Prairie Legacy Productions with former co-star Dean Butler, which puts together events and experiences for Little House on the Prairie fans.
- Podcasting and co-hosting shows like The Alison Arngrim Show and Little House on the Prairie Fifty for Fifty, which connect with fans of the show and give them information about its history.
- Plans include writing a cookbook and continuing to do live shows and events where fans can meet and talk to the artist.
In addition to her business activities, Alison Arngrim is involved in advocacy and philanthropy, especially when it comes to raising knowledge about AIDS and stopping child abuse. These activities add to her public profile but do not directly bring in money for her. Alison Arngrim’s net worth is thought to be around $400,000 as of 2025. She gained this through a wide range of creative activities, such as writing, stand-up comedy, acting (most notably as Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie), and more. Even though she doesn’t have as much money as some of her co-stars, her wealth shows how talented she is and how long she’s been involved in theatre and charity.
Real State Ownership and Properties
A part of Alison Arngrim’s general net worth is the real estate she owns in Los Angeles, California. In addition to her work as an actress, this real estate investment gives her a real item to add to her wealth starting in 2025. More exact information about how many or what kinds of properties she owns is not available to the public.
Personal Life
Alison Arngrim has been married twice. The first time, she married Donald Spencer in 1989 and divorced him in 1993. Later that same year, she married artist Robert Paul Schoonover and has been married to him for over 30 years (as of 2025). She doesn’t have any kids of her own, but she loves being a mom. Alison lives with her husband and their cat in the Tujunga area of California right now. Her childhood was hard because her brother abused her, which has had a big impact on her work as an advocate, especially for child safety.
She does a lot of volunteer work for good causes. As president and spokesperson for the National Association to Protect Children (PROTECT), she works to stop child abuse and support related policy efforts. Even though she is well-known, she has a private family life and still does activism, writing, and live shows.
Career Journey
Alison Arngrim’s work began when she was young, when she did modelling and TV commercials. She first appeared in a movie in 1972, when she was about 10 years old. In 1974, when she was 12, she tried out for Little House on the Prairie, first for the parts of Laura and Mary Ingalls. But she got the part of Nellie Oleson, the classic “bad girl” enemy, and played her for seven to eight seasons until 1982–1983. She became famous for this part and won many awards, including the Young Artist Foundation’s Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.
After Little House, Arngrim had small parts on TV shows like The Love Boat and Fantasy Island, and he also made TV films like I Married Wyatt Earp (1983). In 1977, she made a comedy album pretending to be Amy Carter, which showed how funny she was.
She took a break from acting in the 1990s to work on charity work, especially raising awareness about AIDS. After the 2000s, she went back to playing in independent films like “The Last Place on Earth” (2002), “Le deal” (2007), and “Make the Yuletide Gay.” She also became very popular on stage, especially in France, where she did stand-up comedy and plays based on her autobiography, Confessions of a Prairie Bitch.
Physical Measurements
- Height: 5 feet 3 to 5 feet 4 inches (about 1.62 to 1.63 meters)
- Weight: Around 143 pounds (65 kilograms)
- Body measurements: Around 34-26-35 inches or 37-26-38 inches depending on sources, reflecting bust-waist-hip sizes
- Bra size: Reported as 42D
Struggles with Mental Health, Addiction & Homelessness
Alison Arngrim has had a lot of problems because of her mental health, stress, and the effects of being abused as a child. Since she was about six years old, her brother sexually abused her, which had a big impact on her life. Even though this happened to Arngrim as a child, she didn’t start abusing drugs as an adult because she avoided drug scenes that some of her friends were in. And she did have worry, PTSD symptoms, and other mental health problems. She started going to therapy for these problems when she was in her early 20s.
She was abused as a child and didn’t get much help from her parents at the time, which made her feel even more alone. She has been open about these problems over the years, using them to become an activist, especially to stop child abuse and raise knowledge about AIDS. Therapy, writing a book, doing stand-up shows about her life, and doing advocacy work have all helped Arngrim heal and become stronger. These things have helped her deal with the trauma and build a fulfilling life despite the problems she faces.
As of now, there is no public record or reliable word that Alison Arngrim was homeless or addicted later in life. Instead, her story shows how she overcame problems as a child to become a strong champion and artist who helps other people who are going through similar things.
Current Status
As of 2025, Alison Arngrim is still working in the entertainment and policy fields. As of now, she is still doing her highly acclaimed one-woman stage show, Confessions of a Prairie Btch*. The show began in 2002 and has become a worldwide sensation, with sold-out shows in the U.S. and France where she performs in French. Alison also hosts and produces the show The Alison Arngrim Show, which is all about positive interviews with celebrities. She also co-hosts the podcast celebrating 50 years of Little House on the Prairie.
Along with her artistic work, she is very active in stopping child abuse. As a founding board member and spokesperson for the National Association to Protect Children (PROTECT), she works to change laws and educate the public. She stays in touch with Little House on the Prairie fans through live shows, podcasts, and fan gatherings. She lives in Tujunga, California, with her husband.
Her net worth is thought to be around $400,000. This is due to her varied work history, which includes acting, writing, comedy, podcasting, live shows, and running businesses like Prairie Legacy Productions. Overall, Alison Arngrim has a strong business presence in 2025, combining writing, performing, and being active in the community.
Public Perception & Media Coverage
People’s view of Alison Arngrim in 2025 is still largely based on her famous portrayal of Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie. They still think of her as TV’s ultimate “bad girl.” She takes pride in and makes fun of this history, and she often uses it in her stage shows, like Confessions of a Prairie Bitch, which has become a worldwide hit and has been played to packed houses in the U.S. and France.
The media often talk about her other skills besides acting, like her work as a stand-up comedian, author, and powerful activist, especially for child safety and AIDS awareness. As president and spokeswoman for PROTECT.org, an organisation that fights child abuse, she is known for being passionate and clear when talking about the issues she supports. She is also praised for being honest about being abused as a child and using that to bring attention to the problem and push for changes in the law.
Arngrim keeps a good public image by interacting with fans in person, on podcasts like The Alison Arngrim Show, and by going to historical places and Little House on the Prairie fan events. She has been the subject of parodies and nostalgic stories in the media, but she handles her story with humour and honesty, which has earned her respect for her activism and ongoing creative work. Overall, the media shows her as a beloved, complex person who balances her old-fashioned TV fame with serious action and comedic roles in modern times.
FAQs
What is Alison Arngrim’s net worth in 2025?
It is thought that she is worth about $400,000.
Is Alison Arngrim still acting?
Even though she’s not on TV very often, she stays busy by performing on stage, doing stand-up comedy, and making rare media appearances.
What happened to Alison Arngrim after Little House?
She tried to get guest spots on TV shows, wrote books, and made a name for herself in comedy and politics.
Is she still friends with her co-stars?
She does keep in touch with some co-stars, like Melissa Gilbert, but her relationships with others, like her TV brother Jonathan Gilbert, are not as public.
Did Alison Arngrim write a book?
She did write a book in 2010 called Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learnt to Love Being Hated.
Conclusion
Alison Arngrim’s rise from child star to respected comedian, author, and activist shows how strong she is and how she can change herself after her famous part as Nellie Oleson. She had a long effect on culture and is still working hard for important causes. She is a beloved figure in the history of television, and her bravery and creativity continue to inspire fans.
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