Michelle Trachtenberg spent most of her life acting, after getting her start at the age of 3. As a result, she built up a sizable fortune over her years in show business. In Touch takes a look at Michelle’s net worth and how she made money prior to her death at the age of 39.

What Was Michelle Trachtenberg’s Net Worth at the Time of Her Death?

Michelle had a net worth of $6 million as of February 26, 2025, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

How Did Michelle Trachtenberg Make Money?

The New York native made her first TV appearance in a 1991 episode of Law & Order. Two years later, Michelle starred in an episode of Nickelodeon’s hit show Clarissa Explains It All. In 1994, Michelle appeared in a three-episode stint on the ABC soap opera All My Children. The same year, she landed a steady gig, getting her big break playing Nona Mecklenberg on The Adventures of Pete & Pete from 1994 through 1996.

That led to Michelle becoming a major child star. She had the lead role in the 1996 film Harriet the Spy and played Penny in the 1999 movie Inspector Gadget.

Michelle’s fame grew even bigger as a teen, playing Buffy Summers’ younger sister, Dawn, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 2000 through 2003. She followed it up with a recurring role on Gossip Girl as villain Georgina Sparks starting in 2008.

Along the way, Michelle cemented her sought-after status with such films as EuroTrip, Ice Princess and 17 Again. In the late 2000s, she did voice work for series including Robot Chicken and Human Kind Of.

Michelle’s most recent TV part was reprising her role of Georgina Sparks in several episodes of the Gossip Girl reboot in 2022.

Michelle Made a Wise Real Estate Investment

In 2001, one year after joining the cast of [Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Michelle purchased a home in Sherman Oaks, California, for $850,000. It was her primary residence until she died in February 2025. At the time of her death, the home was estimated to be worth between $2 and $3 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

What Happened to Michelle Trachtenberg?

Michelle’s mother, Lana Trachtenberg, found her daughter unresponsive in her New York City apartment on February 26, 2025. She called 911 and EMS workers responded to the location and pronounced Michelle dead.

Several outlets reported that Michelle had recently undergone a liver transplant. An insider told the New York Post that her body may have rejected the organ.

A New York Police Department said in a statement obtained by In Touch that “criminality” was “not suspected” in Michelle’s death.

The cause and manner of death were both officially listed as “undetermined,” the New York Medical Examiner’s office confirmed to In Touch on February 27, 2025.

A source told the New York Post that the cause of death was listed this way after her family reportedly objected to an autopsy. The medical examiner’s office was “obligated to honor the family’s request due to the state’s public health law,” according to the insider. Only an external examination of the body could be completed.

Fans had been concerned about Michelle’s health for more than a year, after she appeared somewhat gaunt and pale in Instagram selfies. She never discussed her health issues and hit back at fans several times over claims she might not be well.

“Michelle u look sick. R u ok?” one fan asked about her well-being in the comments of a January 2024 photo. Michelle hit back, “Explain to me how I look sick. Did you lose a calendar and not realize I’m not 14. I’m 38. How sad for you to leave such a comment.”