In 2020, she launched a daytime talk show that became a hit.
The same woman was in rehab at age 13.
The same woman attempted suicide at age 14.
The same woman was emancipated from her parents at age 15.
The same woman posed for Playboy at 19, desperate for money.
This is the story of how Hollywood's most troubled child star became one of its most successful self-made women—worth $125 million and thriving.
The Barrymore Dynasty (1975-1982)
Drew Blyth Barrymore was born February 22, 1975, in Los Angeles, California.
She was born into Hollywood royalty.
Her grandfather, John Barrymore, was a legendary actor. Her great-grandfather, Maurice Barrymore, was a stage icon. Her godparents were Steven Spielberg and Sophia Loren.
But that legacy came with immense pressure.
The First Commercial: 11 Months Old
At 11 months old, Barrymore appeared in a Puppy Choice dog food commercial.
By age 5, she was auditioning for films.
"I didn't have a choice," Barrymore later said. "This was what my family did. This was expected."
Her mother, Jaid Barrymore, was a struggling actress who pushed Drew into acting to support them financially.
E.T. and Instant Stardom (1982)
Landing E.T. (1981)
At age 6, Barrymore auditioned for Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
She told Spielberg an elaborate, completely made-up story about being in a punk rock band.
Spielberg was charmed. He cast her as Gertie, the adorable little sister.
E.T. Premieres (June 11, 1982)
E.T. premiered on June 11, 1982.
Opening weekend: $11.9 million Total box office: $792 million worldwide (highest-grossing film of all time until Jurassic Park in 1993)
Barrymore's performance: Critics loved her natural charm and humor
Overnight, 7-year-old Drew Barrymore became one of the most famous children in the world.
The Aftermath: Too Famous, Too Young
After E.T., Barrymore's life spiraled.
Her mother took her to Hollywood parties and nightclubs.
"My mom would take me to Studio 54 when I was 10," Barrymore recalled. "I thought it was normal."
The Dark Years: Addiction and Suicide (1985-1990)
First Drink: Age 9
By age 9, Barrymore was drinking alcohol.
"I had my first drink when I was 9," she said. "By 10, I was smoking marijuana regularly. By 12, I was doing cocaine."
Her mother was often absent, and Barrymore was left unsupervised.
Rehab at 13 (1988)
By age 13, Barrymore's addiction was severe.
1988: Her mother placed her in ASAP Family Treatment Center, a rehab facility for substance abuse.
Stay: 3 months
"I was the youngest person there," Barrymore said. "Everyone else was an adult. I was 13."
Suicide Attempt at 14 (1989)
In 1989, at age 14, Barrymore attempted suicide by slashing her wrists.
"I hit rock bottom at 14," she said in interviews. "I wanted to die. I didn't see a way out."
She was institutionalized at a mental health facility for 18 months.
"I was locked up," Barrymore said. "No visitors. No phone calls. Just therapy."
Emancipation from Her Parents (1990)
At age 15, Barrymore legally emancipated herself from her mother.
"I had to become my own guardian," she said. "I couldn't live with my mom anymore. I needed to take control of my life."
She moved into her own apartment and supported herself.
"At 15, I was paying my own rent," Barrymore said. "I grew up very fast."
The Desperate Years: Rebuilding (1990-1995)
Trying to Restart (1990-1992)
From 1990-1992, Barrymore tried to rebuild her career.
Films:
- Poison Ivy (1992): Erotic thriller (critics panned it, but it was a cult hit)
Problem: Hollywood saw her as a troubled former child star, not a serious actress.
Playboy Cover (1995)
In January 1995, at age 19, Barrymore posed nude for Playboy.
Why: She needed money and publicity.
"I didn't have a lot of work," she explained. "I needed to reinvent myself."
Result: The issue sold well, but critics judged her harshly.
"People said I was desperate," Barrymore said. "Maybe I was. But I was also surviving."
The Turning Point: Boys on the Side (1995)
In February 1995, Barrymore starred in Boys on the Side with Whoopi Goldberg and Mary-Louise Parker.
Role: Holly, a free-spirited singer with HIV
Box office: $23.4 million
Critical response: Positive—Barrymore was praised for emotional depth
It was proof she could act as an adult.
The Comeback: Scream and Flower Films (1996-2000)
Scream (December 1996)
In December 1996, Barrymore appeared in the opening scene of Wes Craven's Scream.
Role: Casey Becker, the first victim (killed in the first 12 minutes)
Why it mattered: She was the biggest name in the cast, so her death was shocking
Box office: $173 million worldwide
Cultural impact: Launched the 1990s slasher revival
Barrymore was back.
Founding Flower Films (1995)
In 1995, Barrymore co-founded Flower Films, a production company, with Nancy Juvonen.
Goal: Produce films where Barrymore had creative control
First production: Never Been Kissed (1999)
Never Been Kissed (1999)
Never Been Kissed was Flower Films' first big success.
Role: Barrymore played Josie Geller, a journalist who goes undercover at a high school
Box office: $84.5 million worldwide
Critical response: Charming and heartfelt
Why it mattered: Barrymore was now a producer and star—she controlled her own career
Charlie's Angels (November 2000)
In November 2000, Barrymore produced and starred in Charlie's Angels.
Co-stars: Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu
Box office: $264 million worldwide
Budget: $93 million
Profit: Huge
Sequel: Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)—$259 million worldwide
Barrymore's earnings: Estimated $15-20 million (as star and producer)
The Rom-Com Queen Era (2000-2010)
The Wedding Singer (1998)
In 1998, Barrymore starred opposite Adam Sandler in The Wedding Singer.
Box office: $123 million worldwide
Reception: Sweet, nostalgic, beloved
Chemistry: Barrymore and Sandler had incredible on-screen chemistry
50 First Dates (2004)
Barrymore reunited with Sandler for 50 First Dates.
Box office: $198 million worldwide
Plot: Barrymore plays a woman with short-term memory loss
Reception: Warm and charming
Music and Lyrics (2007)
Barrymore starred opposite Hugh Grant in Music and Lyrics.
Box office: $145 million worldwide
He's Just Not That Into You (2009)
Ensemble rom-com with Barrymore in a supporting role.
Box office: $178 million worldwide
Going the Distance (2010)
Barrymore starred in Going the Distance with Justin Long (her real-life boyfriend at the time).
Box office: $42 million
End of rom-com era: Barrymore moved away from romantic comedies after this.
The Multimedia Empire (2010-Present)
Santa Clarita Diet (Netflix, 2017-2019)
In 2017, Barrymore starred in Santa Clarita Diet, a dark comedy about a suburban mom who becomes a zombie.
Seasons: 3 (cancelled after Season 3)
Pay: Estimated $350,000 per episode
Reception: Cult favorite (89% RT)
Why it mattered: Showed Barrymore could do TV and dark comedy
The Drew Barrymore Show (2020-Present)
In September 2020, Barrymore launched The Drew Barrymore Show, a daytime talk show.
Format: Celebrity interviews, lifestyle segments, feel-good content
Reception: Warm, positive, genuine
Awards: 7 Daytime Emmy nominations (won 1)
Viewership: Consistently strong
Renewal: Renewed through 2025
Why it works: Barrymore's authenticity and vulnerability resonate with audiences
"I'm not trying to be perfect," Barrymore says on her show. "I'm just trying to be real."
Flower Beauty (2013-Present)
In 2013, Barrymore launched Flower Beauty, a cosmetics line sold exclusively at Walmart.
Mission: Affordable, high-quality makeup for everyone
Sales: $100+ million annually
Why it succeeded: Accessible price points ($5-$15 products) and strong marketing
Flower Home (2019-Present)
In 2019, Barrymore launched Flower Home, a home goods line sold at Walmart.
Products: Kitchenware, furniture, decor
Sales: $50+ million annually
Beautiful (Fragrance Line, 2010-Present)
Barrymore has released multiple fragrances over the years.
Sales: $10+ million annually
Crunchies (Snack Line, 2023)
In 2023, Barrymore launched Crunchies, a line of freeze-dried fruit snacks.
Distribution: Sold in grocery stores nationwide
Sales: Estimated $5-10 million
Total Business Empire Value (2024)
Flower Beauty: $100M+ annual sales Flower Home: $50M+ annual sales The Drew Barrymore Show: $20M+ annual salary Endorsements and other ventures: $10M+
Net worth (2024): $125 million
The Personal Life: Three Marriages, Three Divorces
First Marriage: Jeremy Thomas (1994)
Married: March 20, 1994 (age 19) Divorced: April 1995 (after 2 months) Why it failed: "I was too young," Barrymore said.
Second Marriage: Tom Green (2001-2002)
Married: July 7, 2001 Divorced: October 15, 2002 (after 15 months) Why it failed: Barrymore cited irreconcilable differences.
Third Marriage: Will Kopelman (2012-2016)
Married: June 2, 2012 Children: Olive (2012), Frankie (2014) Divorced: August 3, 2016
Barrymore on the divorce: "It was the failure of my life. I wanted my kids to have what I didn't—a stable family."
Current relationship status (2024): Single, focused on her kids and business
The Redemption Arc: What Changed?
Therapy and Sobriety
Barrymore credits therapy and sobriety for her transformation.
Sober since: 2000s (she quit drinking in her mid-20s)
"I realized I couldn't be a functional adult if I kept drinking," she said.
Therapy: Ongoing for decades
"I've been in therapy my whole adult life," Barrymore said. "It saved me."
Choosing Authenticity
Unlike many celebrities, Barrymore embraces vulnerability.
On The Drew Barrymore Show, she discusses:
- Her divorces
- Her struggles as a single mom
- Her body image issues
- Her mental health
"I'm not going to pretend I'm perfect," she says. "That's not real."
Building a Support System
Close friends:
- Cameron Diaz (best friend since Charlie's Angels)
- Adam Sandler (frequent collaborator and friend)
Motherhood: Barrymore says her daughters are her "greatest accomplishment"
"I wanted to give my kids the childhood I never had," she said.
The Legacy: From Tragedy to Triumph
The Numbers:
- Net worth: $125 million
- Box office total: $2+ billion worldwide
- Talk show seasons: 5+ (renewed through 2025)
- Business empire: $150M+ annual sales (Flower Beauty + Flower Home)
The Firsts:
- One of the youngest people ever in rehab (age 13)
- One of the youngest emancipated minors in Hollywood (age 15)
- One of few child stars to successfully transition to adult stardom
The Impact:
- Proved child stars can recover from addiction
- Built a multimedia empire (film, TV, beauty, home goods)
- Normalized discussing mental health and divorce publicly
- Inspired millions with her redemption story
What We Learn from the Journey
The journey from rehab at 13 to a $125 million empire teaches:
-
Rock bottom isn't the end: Suicide attempt at 14 didn't define her
-
Emancipation can save you: Cutting ties with toxic family was necessary
-
Own your career: Founding Flower Films gave her control
-
Authenticity sells: Being real on her talk show made her relatable
-
Diversify income: Film, TV, beauty, home goods—multiple revenue streams
-
Family matters: Despite three divorces, her kids are her priority
From Rehab to $125 Million
That 13-year-old in rehab?
She became a $125 million multimedia mogul.
That 14-year-old who tried to die?
She became one of Hollywood's most beloved figures.
That 19-year-old who posed for Playboy out of desperation?
She built an empire on her own terms.
Drew Barrymore is proof that your darkest moments don't define your future. That you can overcome addiction, trauma, and failure. That being authentic is more valuable than being perfect.
From rehab to empire. From child star tragedy to adult success story. From rock bottom to the top.
Whatever else she is, Drew Barrymore is undeniably one of the greatest comeback stories of our time.
