James Van Der Beek’s $4.8M Texas Ranch Purchase Sparks GoFundMe Backlash

Reports have surfaced suggesting that James Van Der Beek finalized a $4.8 million purchase of the Texas ranch his family had been leasing in Austin shortly before his death.

The revelation has sparked frustration among a section of fans on social media, with many questioning the GoFundMe campaign launched to help cover medical and living expenses for the Van Der Beek family.

Still, some have defended the initiative and also pointed out that the “Dawson’s Creek” star may have been focused on securing long-term stability for his wife and children amid his ongoing health battle.

According to Realtor.com, Van Der Beek and his wife, Kimberly, secured the 36-acre property in a $4.76 million deal on January 9, 2026. Just over a month later, the actor tragically succumbed to colorectal cancer at the age of 48, as The Blast reported.

The family had originally moved onto the Spicewood property in November 2020 after leaving Los Angeles. At the time, the couple had five children, with their sixth later born in Texas.

In a past interview with City Lifestyle, Van Der Beek explained that the decision to relocate from California was in search of a quieter, more grounded lifestyle for their children.

“We wanted to get the kids out of Los Angeles,” he said. “We wanted to give them space, and we wanted them to live in nature.”

News of the nearly $5 million ranch acquisition has not gone down well with some users on social media.

Most of the backlash appears tied to the GoFundMe campaign launched shortly after Van Der Beek passed away.

The fundraiser, which set an initial goal of $1.5 million, was intended to help cover medical bills and other living expenses for his wife and children.

Critics have questioned whether members of the public should have been asked to contribute financially, given the reported real estate acquisition just weeks earlier

“This is why these GoFundMe efforts are annoying,” one user wrote on Reddit. “It's usually gullible people giving celebrities with bad financial planning their hard-earned money.”

Despite criticism from sections of social media, others have stepped in to defend Van Der Beek and his decision to purchase the Texas ranch before his passing.

Some observers suggested that securing a permanent home for his wife and children may have been a deliberate effort to provide long-term stability.

“Looked like JVDB was responsibly preparing to set his family up in case of his death,” one Redditor wrote. “It makes sense to prioritize your family’s home and income as part of one’s estate planning.”

However, the same user expressed uncertainty about whether Van Der Beek himself would have endorsed the GoFundMe initiative.

“I would’ve done the same,” the commenter added. “[But] I don’t think he’d be comfortable asking the public for money.”

The GoFundMe campaign set up after Van Der Beek passed away on February 11, 2026, quickly exceeded its original fundraising goal as fans and celebrities alike rallied to support his family.

According to updates from the fundraiser page, the campaign surpassed $2.5 million in donations within just a few days of its launch.

This total far exceeded the initial target, which was set at $1 million before being increased to $1.5 million to cover medical bills and other financial needs for his wife and six children.

In the final interview of his life, Van Der Beek described cancer as “the best thing” that ever happened to him.

Speaking to TODAY in December 2025, the actor credited his diagnosis with a drive to be more present and mindful in a way that he had never done before.

“I think, before cancer, I took all these little beautiful moments as part of a collective. I was just aware of everything,” Van Der Beek said. “And now, I am able much more to just settle into that exact moment. So, presence, I think, is the gift that cancer’s given me.”