Why did Jackson Pollock struggle financially despite becoming famous?

Despite his fame, Jackson Pollock struggled financially throughout his life primarily because his work did not command high prices at the time. He never sold a painting for more than $10,000 during his lifetime and was frequently hard-pressed for cash.1

While Pollock became a significant figure in Abstract Expressionism, his public reception was often polarized. His innovative "pouring" technique was frequently misunderstood by the press, which sometimes dismissed his work as mere "artistic caprice" rather than the deeply personal expression he intended. Although he gained critical support from figures like Clement Greenberg and was recognized by some international artists as the "greatest living American painter," this acclaim did not translate into commercial success during his career.1