Matt Damon used his first big paycheck to pay for his mom’s Ph.D. program. Other stars of the film also spent their paychecks on various things.

Matt Damon used his first big paycheck to pay for his mom's Ph.D. program. Other stars of the film also spent their paychecks on various things.

Hollywood Stars and Their First Paycheck Splurges

The stars of Christopher Nolan’s latest masterpiece, “Oppenheimer,” have recently shared what they did with their first big paychecks. Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, and Matt Damon, lead actors in the historical drama, gave some fascinating insights in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

Damon’s first big check: A gesture of love and support

Damon, who portrays Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves, revealed that his first substantial paycheck came in 1990 for a film called “Rising Son.” Valued at $25,000, it provided him with an opportunity to show his love and support for his family. Damon used his earnings to buy his brother a car and fund his mother’s Ph.D. program. “And that was a really cool feeling,” he said in the interview.

Interestingly, in the late 1980s, Damon and his childhood friend Ben Affleck shared a bank account to fund their auditions and trips to New York. They both recognized the value of supporting each other’s dreams, creating a “when one of us win, we both win” situation. This unique partnership helped them navigate the early stages of their careers and laid the foundation for their future success.

Blunt’s leap to independence

Emily Blunt, who portrayed Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer, took a different path with her first significant paycheck. She used the money to move out of her parents’ home and rent her own apartment. This decision marked her step towards independence and cemented her commitment to pursuing her acting career. Blunt’s determination has paid off, as she was listed as the sixth-highest-paid actress in 2020, earning an impressive $22.5 million.

The privilege of working with Nolan

While the A-list actors in “Oppenheimer” could have demanded astronomical salaries, they reportedly chose to earn only $4 million each for the “privilege of working with Nolan.” Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, and Matt Damon recognized the unique opportunity to collaborate with one of the most celebrated filmmakers of our time. However, don’t be mistaken – they will still receive back-end compensation, enabling them to profit from the film’s box-office success.

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‘Barbenheimer’ and the Hollywood writers’ strike

The release timing of “Oppenheimer” coincided with Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated film, “Barbie.” The conjunction of these two movies birthed a social media craze known as “Barbenheimer” and resulted in remarkable combined ticket sales of $311 million. This joint success propelled their opening weekend to become the fourth-highest-grossing domestic box office weekend in history, following the likes of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “Avengers: Endgame.”

Similar to Damon’s gesture, “Barbie” star Margot Robbie used her Hollywood success to pay off her mother’s mortgage. Robbie expressed gratitude for her mother’s support and said, “One day, when I made enough money, I just paid that whole mortgage off completely.”

Unfortunately, while these movies flourished at the box office, the Hollywood writers’ strike entered its third month, and actors have been on strike for nearly three weeks. The strike has caused delays in release dates for movies such as “Dune 2” and “Challengers,” as well as new seasons of popular television series like “White Lotus,” “The Last of Us,” and “Euphoria.”

However, the solidarity within the industry is evident as some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Oprah Winfrey, have raised over $15 million for the strike fund. Their generous contributions aim to support fellow actors and writers during this critical time.

Reflecting on their own journeys, Streep noted, “I remember my days as a waiter, cleaner, typist, even my time on the unemployment line. In this strike action, I am lucky to be able to support those who will struggle in a long action to sustain against Goliath.” Clooney added, “We’ve stood on the shoulders of the likes of Bette Davis and Jimmy Cagney, and it’s time for our generation to give something back.”

This display of unity among industry icons showcases their commitment to ensuring fair working conditions and just compensation for all those involved in the creation of our beloved films and television shows.

In a world where the glitz and glamour of Hollywood often take center stage, it’s heartening to hear stories of actors using their success to support their loved ones and contribute to causes they believe in. Damon, Blunt, and Robbie exemplify the positive impact of Hollywood and remind us that behind the red carpet, there are individuals who make a real difference with their first paychecks.