When it comes to acting, it’s one of those things where you just need to take what you can get. Sure, there might be some people out there who are lucky enough to land a big-time role right off of the bat, but, most of the times, the A-listers who we all love so much had to pay their dues in order to get there. Need proof? Just take a look at this list of mega-rich actors who starred in really bad movies—and, yes, all of them are low-budget horror films.
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15. Keira Knightley – $48 million
Best known for her roles from the Pirates of the Caribbean series and from several rom-coms, British actress Keira Knightley found herself cast in the 2011 movie, “The Hole,” which was, at that time, her biggest role ever. She has since gone on to earn about $48 million, so it turned out well.
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14. Kevin Bacon – $50 million
We all know that there’s nothing like playing Seven Degrees of Kevin Bacon—and this is why it’s so easy to do. Seemingly showing face in any film during the ’80s and ’90s, the actor might not actually be in every film, but it kind of feels like it. His first, major credit came in the first “Friday the 13th,” playing one of the counselor’s who doesn’t make it out alive.
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13. Bradley Cooper – $60 million
He has gained notoriety for several of his films, but before Bradley Cooper was winning hearts and earning acclaim for his choice of movies, he was just hoping for a role in-front of the camera. That break came in 2002 on a film called, “My Little Eye,” where he played a role that didn’t really fit with the type of stuff he’s doing these days. Earning $60 million since, Cooper is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.
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12. Ben Affleck – $75 million
Many people think that Ben Affleck just came out of oblivion when he and Matt Damon won Oscars for writing “Good Will Hunting” during the late-’90s. But, way before then, Affleck was trying his hand at making it as an actor. And one of his first breaks came during the cults classic, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” which pretty much flopped at the box office before gaining some recognition once the TV show came back out a few years later.
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11. Jon Stewart – $80 million
Yes, that Jon Stewart. The same guy that many of us have watched for so long to get our satirical news each night on The Daily Show once starred in the 1988 film, “The Faculty,” which seemed to help launch a few other future stars’ careers. Worth $80 million now, Stewart has done quite well for himself.
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10. Charlize Theron – $110 million
Before burning it up in, well, everything that she stars in, Oscar winner Charlize Theron was trying to avoid going six-feet under, making her film debut in “Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest.” Many might wonder why horror films make so many sequels to the original, and this might be the exact reason—because, every once in awhile, an actress like Theron comes along and gets launched.
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9. Demi Moore – $150 million
Landing her second acting gig at the time, longtime star Demi Moore found herself in the low-budget film, “Parasite” back in 1982, about an apocalyptic world where civilization has vanished due to atomic disaster. Earning $150 million from there, Moore was, at one time, one of the biggest A-listers around before her beginning to be recognized for her private life than professional one.
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8. Jim Carrey – $150 million
It has long been reported that the funny man once wrote himself a $1 million check, believing that he would, one day, be able to cash it. Thankfully, for Jim Carrey, he did just that, reportedly carrying a net worth of $150 million. Before all of that, though, he was cast as a virgin high school student in the horror-comedy film, “Once Bitten” back in 1985.
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7. Jennifer Aniston – $150 million
One of America’s longtime sweethearts, Jennifer Aniston’s rise to fame has been well-documented. Before landing the role of a lifetime as Rachel Green on the TV show Friends, though, Anison had to scratch and claw like others before her, taking a role in the slasher movie “Leprechaun” in 1993. Clips from the movie have been shown for years, but Aniston has gotten the last laugh, with her net worth at $150 million.
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6. John Travolta – $160 million
Before snagging the role in “Grease” and in “Saturday Night Fever,” A-lister John Travolta’s first big break came in the 1975 film called, “The Devil’s Run,” where he was dealing with devil worshippers instead of dancing the night away. As owner of a private jet and one of the most-recognized stars in Hollywood, Travolta has earned $160 million since.
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5. George Clooney – $180 million
Before he turned himself into this generation’s version of Cary Grant, Hollywood’s darling, George Clooney, was busy playing a cop in the movie “Horror High,” busy investigating a bunch of murders that were taking place at the local high school. Just one in a handful of murders in the movie, Clooney has since gone on to become one of the most accomplished actors, writers and producers in showbiz.
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4. Leonardo DiCaprio – $220 million
Most of us probably remember when actor Leonardo DiCaprio had roles in films like, “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” and on the TV show Growing Pains, but many forget that he was the young kid in the 1991 film, “Critters 3.” Nothing about this film was good, but Leo emerged to become one of the biggest names in Hollywood, landing epic roles in some of the biggest movies worldwide.
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3. Brad Pitt – $240 million
Arguably the definition of what an A-lister should be, actor Brad Pitt went from the horror-comedy film, “Cutting Class” in 1989 to the heartthrob that landed on magazine covers and in-front of the camera ever since. While the film flatlined in every sense of the word, Pitt didn’t have it slow him down, as he has gone on to earn $240 million, capable of getting ay role he wants to.
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2. Tom Hanks – $350 million
Known as one of the most successful actors of his generation and earning numerous Oscar nominations and wins, Tom Hanks has accomplished it all in Hollywood. Still, like so many others, Hanks had to go through the ups and downs that the career of an actor gives, as he started in 1980 with the low-budget film called, “He Knows You’re Alone.” Worth over $350 million and influencing others in the film industry, I’m sure no one saw such stardom for Hanks way back then.
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1. Johnny Depp – $350 million
Actor Johnny Depp seems to take big risks with the choices he makes in various roles, but one that was more out of necessity than want was when he played a teenager in the 1984 film, “Nightmare on Elm Street.” His character may have drowned, but his career didn’t, as he was recognized and began the career path that he’s still on and earning $350 million in the process.
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