Actor and director Jason Bateman has opened up about his "complicated relationship" with money, a perspective shaped by his early career as a child actor.

Starting in Hollywood at the age of 11, Bateman quickly became a primary financial contributor to his family, a role that instilled a unique outlook on wealth and spending.

During a recent live taping of Vulture's Good One, Bateman reflected on the pressures he faced.

He noted that both his parents served as his managers, and the income he generated was crucial to their monthly finances.

This situation created a significant impetus for him to "not get fired," as his earnings were essential for the family's bottom line.

This insight offers a glimpse into the often-unseen pressures faced by young performers who support their families.

Bateman also highlighted the additional stress of maintaining his schoolwork, as a C average was required to keep his work permit.

Despite these challenges, he believes this experience fostered a "healthy" relationship with money.

He explained that the ability to generate his own income made him less anxious about spending, as he felt confident in his capacity to replace it.

He contrasted his experience with friends who inherited wealth, observing that they often exhibit more reluctance to spend money because they didn't earn it themselves.

Bateman feels fortunate that his career has allowed him to choose projects based on creative interest rather than financial necessity.

This sentiment echoes previous discussions, including one with Conan O'Brien, where Bateman detailed how his child acting income enabled his family to afford a certain lifestyle that their parents' salaries alone could not support.

Bateman's early roles included appearances on popular shows like *Little House on the Prairie*, *Silver Spoons*, and *It’s Your Move*.

He later starred in *The Hogan Family* and experienced a career resurgence with *Arrested Development*, followed by the Netflix hit *Ozark*.