Mark Wahlberg (L), Grace Wahlberg (R) | Source: instagram.com/markwahlberg Getty Images

• Mark Wahlberg worked his way up to become one of the most consistent and successful actors in Hollywood.
• The actor didn't have it easy, but he stood by his faith and worked hard to become successful.
• He traded his luxurious life in Los Angeles to live a simple, fulfilling life with his family – his daughter even works hard at a barn!

Mark Wahlberg was born Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg on June 5, 1971, in a poor district in Boston, Massachusetts. His family didn't have a lot growing up – he and his eight siblings lived in a cramped three-bedroom apartment, without much privacy.

His parents divorced when he was only 11, and by the age of 14, he dropped out of high school. His teenage years were filled with rebellion. He had a stint in prison after leading a troubled life.

Mark Wahlberg attends the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix's "Me Time" at Regency Village Theatre on August 23, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images

After serving 45 days in prison, his older brother Donnie, who was a member of New Kids on the Block, encouraged him to start a music career. In the 1990s, he found fame as "Marky Mark," forming a band called Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.

The band only reached moderate success, with his toned physique racking up more admirers than his rapping. He was eventually hired by Calvin Klein as an underwear model, and it launched his career altogether.

However, his bad boy image began to worsen after a series of scandals heightened by media coverage. The last straw from his streak of bad behavior was when he was brought to court for allegedly assaulting a security guard.

Wahlberg was ordered by the court to appear in several anti-bias advertisements. This humbled and humiliated him, and he decided to drop his Marky Mark persona.

Then came Mark Wahlberg – the actor. He remains to be one of the few artists who have successfully made a transition from being a musician to a well-celebrated actor.

Wahlberg aimed to prove all his doubters wrong by becoming a successful actor. He starred in "Renaissance Man," "The Basketball Diaries," and "Fear."

Actor Mark Wahlberg and wife Rhea Durham with their children Ella, Michael, Brendan, and Grace attend Wahlberg's Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Cermony on July 29, 2010 in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images

His breakthrough role came in 1997 on "Boogie Nights." Since then, he was able to successfully show his dynamic acting in his subsequent films, "Three Kings," "The Perfect Storm," Planet of the Apes," and more.

Through it all, Wahlberg credits his faith for getting him by. The actor is a devout Catholic, claiming it's "the most important aspect of my life."

In 2009, he married Rhea Durham, with whom he shares four kids named Ella Rae, Grace Margaret, Brandon, and Michael. That same year, he splurged $8.25 million on land in Beverly Park.

He then acquired the help of Richard Landry to build his mansion, which became home to him and his family for years. It took five years to build the French-inspired palace, which Wahlberg recently sold.

The property boasted of 12 bedrooms, 20 bathrooms, and several spaces, including a two-story library, a wine cellar, a gym, and a movie theater. Aside from the main house, the luxurious pad has a driving range, a skate park, a swimming pool, a five-hole golf course, and a basketball court.

Wahlberg and his family moved to Nevada in 2022, hoping this would be a better environment for his children. He purchased a vast lot near Las Vegas for $15.6 million.

In February 2023, the home was bought for $55 million. It was far from the $87.5 million that Wahlberg was asking for in 2022, but nonetheless, it was a price he was willing to take.

Moving Kids to Nevada was the Biggest Challenge

It's not easy to move your entire life out of a city you've called home for decades, but Wahlberg made that change for his family. He left California and moved to Nevada to give his children a "better life."

The actor was the first to admit that balancing work and being a father was "the biggest challenge." He claimed that every free moment he isn't at work, he spends at home with his children.

With his children growing up, Wahlberg wants to give them the right environment to thrive in whatever it is they want to do. His daughter is an equestrian, one of his sons is a basketball player, and another is a golfer.

The actor also has ambitious plans to build his own studio in Nevada and make the state "Hollywood 2.0." He even plans to build a factory for his sports apparel brand, Municipal. Speaking about the endless possibilities that living in Nevada gives them, Wahlberg said:

"We came here to just give ourselves a new look, a fresh start for the kids, and there's a lot of opportunity here. I'm really excited about the future."

With many Hollywood films being filmed in Nevada, Wahlberg believes living in the state will allow him to constantly work from home. Throughout his time living in California, he only made a few movies set there despite the industry supposedly being based there.

Aside from his own personal pursuits, living away from Los Angeles has been beneficial for the rest of his family. His children have a lot more privacy and more freedom to pursue their passions as well.

His Kids are Living the Good Life

Wahlberg has been splurging on new Nevada investments, but his kids live a rather simple life now that they're away from the bustling city of Los Angeles. He made a $15.6 million purchase of a 2.5-acre plot of land and another $14.5 million purchase of a bungalow while waiting for his forever home to be built.

The actor didn't shy away from the topic of taxes when asked about his move to Nevada. Acknowledging that the hefty taxes in California would affect his businesses greatly, he believed moving to Nevada would be a wise decision.

Nevada lawmakers proposed up to $190 million in tax breaks every year for production studios operating in Southern Nevada until 2043. Wahlberg hoped to get his film studio going as soon as possible, as well as his factories for his clothing line.

While Wahlberg works on his business ventures, his children will also have the opportunity to thrive in whatever it is they want to do. While their mega-mension is still under construction, they currently comfortably live in a $14.5-million bungalow in The Summit Club.

The Summit Club is an exclusive resort community in Summerlin, Nevada. Wahlberg's new home is a two-story bungalow with four bedrooms and six bathrooms.

"Everybody is thriving there, it's been great," the actor said of his children. His eldest daughter Ella Rae Wahlberg is already old enough to date at 19.

It wasn't easy for Wahlberg to get used to his daughter's suitors, but he eventually came around. In fact, his daughter's boyfriend thought one step ahead by bringing his mother with him when he came over to meet Wahlberg for the first time.

"The genius thing is, he was so sweet, and [Ella] is like steamrolling me all the time. And he's seeing it, like she's being rude to me and she's being mean to me, and he's like ‘if you're not nice to [your dad], he may not want to be around you,'" the actor said about his daughter's boyfriend.

Wahlberg's second child, Michael, has chosen to become an athlete. From the moment they wake up to the moment they're headed to bed, the actor revealed that Michael always loves talking about sports.

Being a supportive dad as a celebrity hasn't been easy for Wahlberg, who respects his son’s desire to have his own identity. Wahlberg doesn't show up at football practices or games and instead watches from the car.

Like his older brother, Wahlberg's second son Brendan also loves sports. He is often seen spending a lot of time with his dad, working out together, and playing golf as a duo.

His youngest daughter, Grace, is an equestrian. The actor shares a special bond with his youngest, often accompanying one another on their outdoor adventures.

Grace has competed as a horseback rider several times. She's placed first on many occasions, and her dad couldn't be prouder.

Of all his children, the actor admits Grace is most like him. As a young teenager, Wahlberg is proud to admit that Grace seems to have it all figured out.

"She's doing things that my other kids are kind of now starting to think, 'Well, we've got to start doing something because she's got it all figured out, what she wants to do and how she wants to do it," he proudly shared. "And she's doing the work!"

Grace spends much of her time at the barn, working her way to becoming a better equestrian. She's there earlier than ten in the morning, and she doesn't like being late either.

With faith at the center of all that Wahlberg does, he hopes it rubs off on his children. However, what he's made sure not to do is force his religion on his children.

Instead, he leads by example. He doesn't start the day without prayer and without reading the bible or going to mass. With his kids seeing this, he hopes they'll gravitate towards doing the same on their own.

When it comes to separating his work from his personal life, Wahlberg tries to strike a balance and uses it to his advantage. Every time he portrays a father, he tries to dive into his character and understand it the way he wants to understand his children.

Despite the fame and fortune he's amassed, Wahlberg is a certified family man. He was devoted to being a great son to his mom Alma, who died in April 2021.

He was filming "Father Stu" when he heard of his mom's passing, and it was a tough time for the actor. Although he had said goodbye to his mom, he would FaceTime her constantly and slowly accepted the truth that her passing was inevitable.

Wahlberg held on for as long as possible and tried to remain positive. When she died, he had nothing but kind words to say. "She was very proud that we turned our lives around," he said, referring to him and his siblings.

Nowadays, his move to Nevada is living proof of him putting his own family first. His decision to move out of LA was for his wife and kids, so they could live life as comfortably as they pleased.

It has been such a roller coaster ride for Mark Wahlberg. From his humble beginnings to his troubled teenage years to his finding success, he is an inspiration for many to keep trying, to keep becoming a better version of themselves, and to strive towards achieving one's dreams.

Thanks to his consistency, his hard work, and his determination to change, he now enjoys the fruits of his labor with the people closest to his heart: his family. With all the resources to support his kids' own passions, Wahlberg is doing just that so they can blaze a trail in their chosen fields.

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