Making money is the name of the game in Hollywood, and we have seen stars like Vin Diesel and Daniel Craig make a fortune in entertainment. Sometimes, these stars are totally fine with taking their traditional salaries, while others like to gamble on a movie's success to see just how much they can pocket.
As one of the most popular actors ever, it makes sense that John Travolta has been rolling in the dough for years. The man has a massive net worth, and his paydays have been in the elite tier in Hollywood. He has, however, made a movie that wound up losing him millions.
Let's take a look back at how Travolta gambled and lost on a sci-fi flop.
John Travolta Has Had An Amazing Career
There aren't too many actors in recent history who have had careers like John Travolta, and the actor's ability to find success in multiple decades is truly impressive. From television star to film legend, Travolta has seen and done it all, and at this point, the man can sit back and enjoy the spoils of a successful Hollywood career.
Welcome Back, Kotter introduced audiences to John Travolta during the 70s, and making the switch to film was the right move for the young actor. Carrie and Saturday Night Fever were early successes for Travolta, and after a slump in the 80s, he would revitalize his acting career in the 90s after starring in Pulp Fiction.
Following his career revival, Travolta would see a number of peaks and valleys, and many of the films that he starred in during the 90s and early 2000s went on to find success at the box office. Because of this, Travolta forged an impressive legacy while cashing in on premium paydays from movie studios.
He's Made Millions
Because John Travolta has been a major star since the 70s and has been the lead in countless hit films, it goes without saying that he has been able to make millions during his time in Hollywood. While some of his best roles paid him a fraction of what some would expect, other movies shelled out a fortune to get Travolta on board.
Some of Travolta's biggest paydays include $12 million for Michael, and a combined $40 million for Face/Off and Mad City. Primary Colors was another huge payday, as Travolta nabbed $17 million for the movie. For A Civil Action, the actor earned himself a staggering $20 million, per CelebAnswers.
Keep in mind that these are just a few of the roles that paid Travolta a healthy check. Plenty of other movies gave the actor millions to turn in a performance, and this does not even factor in the money that he was making on television in his younger years. With this information, it's easy to see why he has a net worth of $250 million.
Despite all of these amazing salaries coming his way, Travolta has not always made the right choices. In fact, one of his biggest flops wound up costing him millions.
How He Lost A Fortune With 'Battlefield Earth'
So, how did John Travolta cost himself millions? Well, by using a tactic that normally pays off for A-list stars, Travolta shot himself in the foot and lost a fortune.
According to Yahoo, "He waived his $20 million fee to get "Battlefield Earth" -- the sci-fi action feature based on the book by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard -- commissioned for the big screen. In return, he agreed to a $10 million salary and an extra $15 million if the movie surpassed $55 million in ticket sales. Sounds great -- but "Battleship Earth" tanked at the box office, totaling just $21.5 million. Travolta's foolhardy move cost him $10 million."
That's right, Travolta's decision to collect on the film's profits was a huge swing and miss. We have seen plenty of stars cash in this way, but stories like this one show the amount of risk that is involved with this decision. Sure, Travolta has made more than his fair share of bucks, but losing out on $15 million still stings.
Not only did Travolta lose money, but CNBC reports that the movie itself lost over $40 million thanks to its huge budget and inability to make much at the box office. Battlefield Earth was a disaster, and while he had some hits following this, Travolta was never a red-hot star again.
Banking on a film's profits can pay off, but Travolta's decision to roll the dice backfired to the tune of $15 million.
