Hollywood stars are often known for their multimillionaire salaries, and A-list actors make more money with a single movie than we are going to see in a lifetime. However, before earning a seven-figure paycheck, those stars often start with much lower salaries. In some cases, those low-income jobs help their career take off and they start earning millions. That is what happened to Julia Roberts and Mel Gibson.
Others take a lower salary even when they are worth millions because they believe in the project or made a deal to receive part of the film's gross. Here are some actors who were paid almost nothing for their best roles.
10 Tom Cruise In Magnolia– $100,000
Commonly, actors don't receive millionaire salaries when they start their careers, but Tom Cruise was already a star when he agreed to get $100 thousand for his role in Magnolia. The actor loved the script and wanted to work with Paul Thomas Anderson again, which motivated him to accept the role, according to Insider.
The actor was the star of Interview with the Vampire, Jerry Maguire & Eyes Wide Shut and was among the highest salaries in Hollywood when he accepted the role. But he was right, and the critics loved it. Cruise received the Best Actor Golden Globe for Magnolia.
9 Hilary Swank In Boys Don't Cry– $3,000
Boys Don't Cry was responsible for making Hilary Swank an A-list star and gave the actress her first Oscar. However, it didn't change her bank account. The actress received $3,000 for one of her most iconic roles.
"I made $3,000. In order to have health insurance, you have to make $5,000. So I didn't even know that I didn't have health insurance until I went and tried to get a prescription filled," Swank said in an interview with People. "They said, 'That's $160.' I went, 'Um, did you try my insurance?' They said, 'Mmm-hmm.' I had an Academy Award, no health insurance."
8 Harrison Ford In Star Wars– $10,000
When Harrison Ford was cast as Han Solo in 1977, the actor made $10 thousand for the role. He was not the only member of the cast who didn't have an impressive salary back then. James Earl Jones received $7 thousand for playing Darth Vader.
Ford was a beginner, and the movie would change his life. His salary would increase in each new film, and he receives $20 million for playing Han Solo now, much more than his co-stars Daisy Ridley ($100 thousand) and John Boyega ($300 thousand).
7 Julia Roberts In Pretty Woman– $300,000
Julia Roberts received $300 thousand to play Vivian in Pretty Woman, which would change her career forever. Although many people might claim that it is more than some people make in one year, it is essential to consider that the movie made over $460 million worldwide, and it was one of the most successful films of the year. So her salary is nothing compared to what the movie made.
Pretty Woman changed Julia Roberts' career, and she already made $25 million for a movie. Now she earns $600 thousand per episode in the Amazon show Homecoming.
6 Jim Carrey In Yes Man– $0
When Jim Carrey accepted to be the star of Yes Man, he made a bold negotiation. Back then, the actor used to receive $20 million per movie and also a percentage of the box office, but with Yes Man, he decided to let go of his upfront salary. However, it doesn't mean that he did it for free. The deal is that the actor would receive 36% of the film's gross, and that was a good choice. According to The Telegraph, the actor received $30 million in total.
5 Oprah Winfrey In The Color Purple– $35,000
The Color Purple is one of those movies that you have to watch at least once. The A-list cast brings a 28-year-old Oprah, who received only $35 thousand for her role while earning an Academy Award nomination.
She was relatively unknown back then, and the movie helped Oprah reach a new audience. As we know, she built a communication empire, and she is now worth over a billion.
4 Nick Castle In Halloween– $1,000
Nick Castle was the man behind the mask who scared generations in the original Halloween. The actor received approximately $25 a day to play the iconic role of Michael Myers, and some sources claim that he made a total of one thousand for the movie.
An interesting fact is that when the public sees the face of the villain, it is the actor Tony Moran who appears on the screen, and he made $250 for his appearance in the movie.
3 Dustin Hoffman In The Graduate– $17,000
Dustin Hoffman has a net worth evaluated in over $50 million, but his salary was not that impressive when he started. When Hoffman was cast to play the leading role in The Graduate, he was just starting his career and didn't expect to get the part. Years later, the actor revealed that he made $650 a week for his breaking role, a total of $17 thousand.
Although The Graduate is considered one of the best movies of all time, some people think it problematic today due to the protagonist's stalking behavior.
2 George Clooney In Good Night And Good Luck– $1
George Clooney was paid $1 for writing, producing, and acting in Good Night and Good Luck. The intention was to lower the costs of the movie, which had a $7.5 million budget, almost nothing compared to other productions. Clooney was already a veteran actor with a millionaire salary, and he was sure the movie would be a success. He was right about that. The critics loved it, and Good Night and Good Luck was nominated for the main awards in 2006.
1 Mel Gibson In Mad Max– $15,000
Mad Max might be one of the most classic post-apocalyptic movies ever made, but many did not believe it would perform well & the film only had a $350 thousand budget. Mel Gibson, who would become famous thanks to the movie, received only $15 thousand for the leading role. And he was the lucky one. Some members of the crew were paid in beers when the money ended.
