Belinda Palmada
Updated 12 Feb 2026, 9:16am
First published 12 Feb 2026, 8:13am
James Van Der Beek lived a quiet ranch life as he battled cancer.
A sad cloud has been cast over James Van Der Beek’s reported $4.2 million fortune following his untimely death at the age of 48, raising tragic questions over the extensive costs of his cancer battle.
Van Der Beek leaves behind a sprawling river ranch after turning his back on Hollywood following his cancer diagnosis but there are now doubts over how much financial support his family will actually see.
The Dawson’s Creek star, who died following his battle with Stage 3 colorectal cancer, famously traded his Beverly Hills lifestyle for a five-bedroom Austin estate in 2020 to give his six children a “connection to nature.”
According to Celebrity Net Worth, the actor’s legacy includes a multi-million dollar property portfolio and a significant investment history across Texas and California worth an estimated $US3 million ($A4.2 million).
But a GoFundMe appeal set up in the wake of the actor’s death has raised concerns over how much money and property assets his wife and six children might actually receive.
Years before his death, the Texas Rangers star abandoned the A-list lifestyle in Los Angeles in favour of a quieter life on a wooded ranch in Austin.
The waterfront residence, which features views of the Pedernales River, includes a main house, several guest cabins and a commercial kitchen.
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James Van Der Beek (second left) has died at the age of 48.
Van Der Beek shot to fame in Dawson’s Creek.
The property was described in previous listings as a place to “channel your hippie cowboy,” featuring a private tram to the river and expansive outdoor living spaces.
While Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly initially leased the ranch to “test out” the Lone Star State, the move became a permanent sanctuary during his intensive health struggles.
The family’s long-term future at the ranch is now uncertain following his death and the launch of the Gofundme campaign.
“The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds,” the GoFundMe page reads.
“They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time.
The Texas Rangers star had turned his back on the A-lister lifestyle. Picture: Instagram/James Van Der Beek
James and Kimberly both noted that their new home allows them greater proximity to nature, which they wanted their children to have access to. Picture: Realtor
A barn is one of the many structures on the compound. Picture: Realtor
“The support of friends, family, and the wider community will make a world of difference as they navigate the road ahead.
The GoFundMe has an initial goal of $US350,000 ($A491,000), with more than $US295,000 ($A414,000) raised in the first two hours since it was posted.
Van Der Beek’s property moves included a long-term play in Beverly Hills.
He purchased a luxury residence in the 90210 postcode for $US2.5 million ($A3.8 million) in 2013.
After relocating to Texas, he turned the home into a high-end rental, seeking $US12,000 ($A18,000) per month.
The home is now estimated to be worth approximately $US4 million ($A6.1 million)..
His earlier moves included an investment property in Valley Village, California, bought in 2005 for $US1.26 million ($A1.9 million) and sold in 2014 for $US1.15 million ($A1.7 million) after years on the rental market.
The couple moved to their Texas ranch in 2020 to find more “space” and a “connection to nature”. Picture: Instagram/James Van Der Beek
Van Der Beek appeared virtually at the Dawson’s Creek Class Reunion. Picture: X
The actor first revealed his Stage 3 diagnosis in November 2024, admitting that treating the disease had become a “full-time job.”
In a final act of charity, Van Der Beek used his platform to sell replicas of his iconic Varsity Blues jersey to fund treatment for other families walking the same path.
“I was healthy. I was doing the cold plunge. I was in amazing cardiovascular shape, and I had Stage 3 cancer,” he told Healthline months before his passing.
He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Kimberly, and their six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah.
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