Buster Murdaugh Net Worth in 2026: Inheritance, Lawsuits, and What He Does Now
Buster Murdaugh has lived under a spotlight most people can’t imagine—one shaped by a famous legal dynasty, a string of tragedies, and years of national headlines tied to the Murdaugh name. Because he’s the only surviving son of Alex Murdaugh, people often wonder what happened to the family money and what Buster’s financial life looks like now. The reality is that his wealth is closely tied to estate payouts, legal costs, and a life that has become far more private than public.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Richard Alexander “Buster” Murdaugh
- Born: Early-to-mid 1990s (exact date not consistently reported)
- Age: Early 30s (as of 2026)
- Birthplace: South Carolina, USA
- Known for: Member of the Murdaugh family; public attention following major criminal cases and civil litigation
- Education: Wofford College (graduate); previously attended University of South Carolina School of Law
- Marital status: Married
- Wife: Brooklynn White (married May 2025)
- Estimated net worth (2026): Around $500,000 to $2 million (approximate)
Short bio (Buster Murdaugh): Buster Murdaugh is the surviving son of Alex and Maggie Murdaugh and the older brother of Paul Murdaugh. He grew up in South Carolina’s Lowcountry within a family long associated with legal power in the region. In adulthood, Buster’s name became nationally recognized after the 2021 murders of his mother and brother, and after his father’s 2023 murder conviction. While Buster has not been charged in connection with those crimes, his life has been heavily affected by media attention, ongoing public speculation, and civil and legal disputes connected to the Murdaugh family’s collapse. In recent years, he has largely withdrawn from public life and has focused on privacy and rebuilding stability.
Short bio (Brooklynn White): Brooklynn White is Buster Murdaugh’s wife and an attorney who has kept a relatively low profile despite intense public interest in anything connected to the Murdaugh story. She and Buster were together for years before marrying in 2025. Public coverage has often described her as a steady, practical presence—someone focused on career, structure, and privacy rather than attention. Since the wedding, she has been mentioned mainly in the context of the couple’s efforts to live quietly and push back against harassment and intrusive media behavior.
What Is Buster Murdaugh Net Worth in 2026?
Buster Murdaugh’s net worth in 2026 is best described as an estimate in the $500,000 to $2 million range. The reason it’s difficult to pin down is that his finances are tied to complicated estate matters, legal expenses, and private settlement arrangements that are not fully public.
Also, Buster is not a celebrity in the traditional sense—there’s no public salary, no brand deals, and no entertainment career that produces clear annual earnings. His financial picture is more like a person caught in the aftermath of a massive legal and public scandal: some money may come in through estate distributions, while other money goes out through attorneys, security needs, and ongoing legal action.
Where His Money Likely Comes From
1) Estate payouts and inheritance-related distributions
One of the most concrete pieces of information tied to Buster’s finances is that he received a payout connected to the sale of the Murdaugh family’s Moselle property. Reports about the sale indicated that Buster was set to receive roughly $530,000 as a devisee of the estate after calculations and expenses tied to the sale.
That figure matters because it gives a real-world baseline. It doesn’t mean he “has” $530,000 sitting untouched—estate money can be reduced by legal fees, taxes, administrative costs, and other claims—but it shows that Buster did receive a meaningful distribution from at least one major asset sale.
2) Any remaining family assets
The Murdaugh name was associated with wealth and influence for decades, but much of that financial structure was hit hard by lawsuits, restitution issues, and the broader unraveling of Alex Murdaugh’s finances. That means any remaining assets linked to the family are likely complicated—tied up in claims, legal negotiations, and administrative processes that can shrink what anyone ultimately receives.
So while it’s reasonable to assume there may have been other assets at different points—property, accounts, or interests—the more realistic view is that the “headline wealth” people imagine is not sitting cleanly in a place where Buster can access it freely.
3) Legal actions and potential settlements
Buster has also been involved in legal action connected to how he has been portrayed in media coverage about the Murdaugh saga. When someone files lawsuits tied to defamation or reputational harm, the financial outcome can go in different directions. Sometimes the cost is mostly legal fees. Other times there may be a settlement. Many cases end with agreements that are confidential.
From a net worth perspective, this category is a question mark. The safest way to frame it is that legal action can be both a cost and, in rare cases, a source of recovery, depending on how it resolves.
4) Employment and private income
Public reporting has described Buster as living quietly and keeping a low profile, and his current employment has not been consistently confirmed in mainstream sources. That matters because it suggests his income may be private, intermittent, or simply not something he wants publicly discussed. It’s also possible he earns through work that doesn’t rely on public branding, which would align with the way he appears to be trying to live.
Because this area is unclear publicly, it’s better to treat it as “unknown” rather than repeating internet guesses.
What Can Reduce His Net Worth Quickly?
Ongoing legal fees
Legal costs can quietly drain wealth even when someone isn’t living extravagantly. Attorneys, filings, court actions, and ongoing disputes add up fast—especially when a person is involved in high-profile matters that require specialized legal help.
Security, privacy, and relocation costs
One of the hidden expenses in a heavily public life is the cost of staying private. If you need to relocate, adjust your living situation, improve security, or handle repeated harassment issues, those are real expenses that most people never budget for.
Limited earning opportunities tied to public scrutiny
Even if Buster wanted a typical professional path, public attention can complicate employment, networking, and stability. People often forget that reputational pressure can affect everything from job prospects to business partnerships, even when a person has not been convicted of wrongdoing.
Who Is Buster Murdaugh Married To?
Buster Murdaugh married Brooklynn White in May 2025. Their relationship has been described as long-term, and the wedding was covered widely because of the continued public fascination with the Murdaugh story. Since then, the couple has been linked to efforts to live quietly and protect their home life from intrusive attention.
A Realistic Summary of His Financial Life
Buster Murdaugh’s finances in 2026 are best understood as “complicated, private, and heavily influenced by legal fallout.” He has received at least one clearly reported estate payout from the Moselle sale, but he has also faced the kind of legal and personal pressure that can reduce wealth quickly. Without a clearly documented public career income stream, most estimates remain educated guesses.
The most responsible conclusion is that Buster likely has some resources—enough to maintain a private life with his wife—but not the kind of clean, untouchable fortune people often assume comes with the Murdaugh name.
image source: https://people.com/where-is-buster-murdaugh-now-8641346
