10 Ridiculous Movie Star Paychecks

9. Marlon Brando - Superman (1978)

Marlon Brando One of the most notoriously tortured productions in Hollywood history, the back-to-back filming of Superman and Superman II took over 19 months and involved multiple rewrites, numerous behind-the-scenes problems and one of the greatest actors of all time getting paid a lot of money for very little work. Signing on to play Jor-El as far back as 1975, Marlon Brando negotiated a deal for a basic salary of $3.7 million plus 11.75% of the movie's profits for only 12 days work, which was the most lucrative contract the business had ever seen at the time. According to producer Ilya Salkind, the famously eccentric actor wanted the character to either appear as a suitcase or a glowing green bagel (this is actually true) so he wouldn't have to appear on screen, but he was dissuaded by director Richard Donner. Brando also flatly refused to learn any of his lines, and instead read directly from cue cards while on set. With the movie becoming a $300 million worldwide smash-hit, Brando is estimated to have earned around $19 million in total, which isn't too shabby for 12 days work and less than 15 minutes in screen time. It remains the most of expensive cameo of all time, and adjusted for inflation is equivalent to well over $50 million. Yet he still sued the producers for $50 million after the movie's release, claiming he wasn't paid a fair share.
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