What was Tom Hanks paid for Forrest Gump?
Tom Hanks is one of the most beloved and highest paid actors in Hollywood history. He has starred in countless hit films, but perhaps his most iconic role was Forrest Gump in the 1994 film of the same name. Forrest Gump went on to become a massive critical and commercial success, but how much did Tom Hanks get paid to play this character?
Tom Hanks‘ Pay for Forrest Gump
According to multiple reports, Tom Hanks took a significant pay cut to play Forrest Gump, earning only $7 million for what would become a $678 million global blockbuster.
Normally, an A-list actor like Hanks would command $20 million or more for a big budget film. However, Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis believed so strongly in Forrest Gump that they waived their usual fees and took percentage points of the film‘s profits instead.
This turned out to be an extremely lucrative deal for Hanks, as Forrest Gump went on to be 1994‘s second highest grossing film worldwide. While his upfront salary was only $7 million, Hanks ultimately walked away with over $60 million from the backend points.
Why Tom Hanks Took Less Pay for Forrest Gump
So why did Hanks agree to such a relatively small upfront payment? Apparently, the studio Paramount was initially skeptical about Forrest Gump and was only willing to pay $7 million for Hanks and $5 million for director Robert Zemeckis.
However, Hanks and Zemeckis believed strongly in the heartwarming story and were willing to sacrifice their regular fees to get the film made. In fact, Hanks and Zemeckis even put up their own money to cover scenes that Paramount refused to pay for.
In the end, their gambles paid off massively, as Forrest Gump charmed audiences around the world and earned over $330 million domestically and $347 million internationally. Thanks to their percentage points, Hanks and Zemeckis profited handsomely.
Tom Hanks‘ Net Worth
While he took a pay cut for Forrest Gump, that film helped catapult Tom Hanks into the upper echelon of Hollywood stardom. He is now estimated to be worth $400 million, making him one of the richest actors in the world.
Other major paydays for Hanks include:
- $70 million for Saving Private Ryan
- $40 million for Toy Story 3
- $45 million for The Da Vinci Code
- $8 million for Elvis
In total, Hanks‘ films have grossed over $10 billion worldwide. He continues to earn $20 million per movie on average thanks to his legendary status in Hollywood.
While he may have taken a discount upfront, Forrest Gump proved to be one of the most financially successful films of Tom Hanks‘ illustrious career. His willingness to sacrifice helped turn a little film about a simple man into one of the most beloved movies of all time.
