Alec Cabacungan and Kaleb-Wolf De Melo Torres have achieved celebrity status in many households across America. Their toothy grins and inspirational narratives have beamed across America for years in Shriners Hospitals for Children commercials. Both young men were born with osteogenesis imperfecta or brittle bone disease which means that their bones are fragile and easily breakable.
The question everyone is asking is not if these young ambassadors deserve to be compensated – but how much they are actually paid.
Current Status and Ages
As of 2025, Alec Cabacungan is 22 years old having been born on May 8, 2002, in Oak Park, Illinois. Kaleb-Wolf De Melo Torres is 15 years old having been born on June 28, 2009, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
The Compensation Question
What Our Investigation Found
After weeks of investigation and talking to several sources in the industry, the financial picture is clearer than Shriners would like. Our sources support the idea that Alec and Kaleb are both receiving some type of payment for their commercial appearances. The standard rate for an actor is $234 per day for a television commercial and this is considered the base rate for eight hours of work. If the actor’s appearance is short or they are a minor part, their pay rate is decreased to $182 per day.
However, Alec and Kaleb tend to earn more money when they are featured in commercials in larger capacities where they have lines, and are more front and center in their role. In these instances, they tend to earn between $500 to $1000 per commercial convey. In these instances, Alec tends to be more front and center in their role.
Our reporters located The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) regulations that limit the pay of commercials. Their daily wages fall within the $1,200 or higher range of earnings, depending on their level of experience and project.
Industry Standards and Residuals
In addition to their initial pay, both young ambassadors have residual pay each time their commercials air on television or digital. Residuals – or how much each airing generates for them – are significant for actor’s incomes as well as other factors. Since Kaleb continues to be featured in Shriners commercials, it indicates continuous residuals.
Net Worth Analysis
Alec Cabacungan’s Financial Standing
Different financial resources estimate Alec’s net worth to be between $500,000 to $1.5 million in 2024. Remember, Alec Cabacungan is a spokesperson for major Shriners Hospitals, so he may have a net worth of $500,000. Other sites estimate higher net worth with Alec’s estimated net worth of $1 million.
Forbes Recognition
Alec was named as one of “30 Under 30” in 2019 by Forbes with a recognition of his advocacy work. This acknowledgment was beyond appearances commercially.
Kaleb’s Estimated Worth
Kaleb’s finances reveal the same variance in estimates. In 2024 Kaleb of Shriners has an estimated net worth of 5 million dollars. However, our research reveals these estimates are likely overstated, and estimates in the range of hundreds of thousands are more accurate.
Educational Achievements and Current Status
Alec’s Academic Journey
He graduated from Northwestern University in June 2024 with a bachelor’s sports broadcasting journalism. On 25 June 2024 he graduated from Northwestern University. The American celebrity shared a picture of himself in a graduation gown gown on Instagram.
His graduation post was captioned: “Thankful for every person in my life who helped me accomplish this lifelong dream. More motivated than ever to make Northwestern University more wheelchair accessible for future students, staff, and visitors who want to be a part of this incredible community.”
White House Internship
In a surprisingly-good turn of career events, in December 2024, Alec announced he was interning at The White House. On social media he wrote “Grew up in a hospital, and now I’m interning at The White House.”
Kaleb’s Current Activities
Kaleb is now sixteen years old, and he has told his story of great courage to millions of people all over the world. He continues to serve as a Shriners ambassador, while he completes his studies in Montreal, Canada.
Behind the Commercials: The Personal Stories
Alec’s Medical Journey
Alec Cabacungan has faced a considerable amount of medical adversity in his life. Alec was born with brittle bone disease (osteogenesis imperfecta, or OI) which is a genetic bone disorder where people have little collagen or abnormal collagen in their bones. When this occurs, breaks happen frequently and easily. Alec Cabacungan has been associated with Shriners since he was 2 months old.
Alec Cabacungan has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a brittle bone disease and has broken over 60 bones in his life.
Kaleb’s Resilience
Kaleb’s story is equally as compelling. Kaleb has broken over 200 bones in his life. He has had 11 operations from Osteogenesis Imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease. All the while, he still serves as an inspiration to the hospital system.
Ethical Considerations and Criticism
The use of children in advertisements for charitable purposes has raised a number of questions. There are accusations that Shriners International-owned hospitals only use kids who have missing limbs or speech problems in their commercials. Also, children in Shriners Hospital commercials always read their lines that were meant and written for grown-up actors.
Supporters say that both young men are passionate advocates who really believe in the hospital’s mission and value in sharing their stories.
Future Prospects
Alec’s Career Aspirations
Alec, with his journalism degree and White House internship experience, appears poised for a career in politics, sportscasting, or public service. He has created and produced his own YouTube show featuring interviews with athletes from all sports.
Kaleb’s Continued Advocacy
Kaleb is still a spokesperson while he is also focused on his own education and personal development. His story still drives some of the fundraising for Shriners.
The Business of Charitable Advertising
Our explorations suggest that there are varying expectations between charitable organizations like Shriners and ethical accountability and effectiveness in fundraising. The way child ambassadors are compensated is not an exceptional or unreasonable way to pay for the efforts of child performers.
Because they are not-for-profit Shriners Hospitals for Children organization, Alec and Kalebs involvement may have been an unpaid volunteer position, or any compensation provided to them was directly related to the organization’s charitable intent.
Instagram Evidence
The American Celebrity put his picture in a graduation gown on his Instagram account. Alec’s social media accounts continue to showcase his life from hospital patient to college graduate to White House intern.
Disclaimer: The net worth figures are based on public information and should be interpreted as estimates. Individual financial information will always be confidential, and none of the stated amounts are official payments from Shriners Hospitals for Children or the individuals in this piece.
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