The list of celebrities who've made an absurd amount of money for a short role proves how Hollywood's A-list stars rake in astronomical salaries for their services. One looks through the collection; many would be surprised to see the work done.
These examples prove how a star's name alone could make one film more marketable and even justify the heavy fees associated with it. Many A-listers received hundreds of thousands for roles that took only a few minutes on the screen or even just a few days on set.
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1) Johnny Depp
Per Vanity Fair, Johnny Depp was paid a staggering $16 million for his minute's role as Gellert Grindelwald because he had a "pay-or-play" clause that made sure he received payment regardless of the role being reduced or limited in a movie.
He appeared on the screen for just a few minutes, yet Warner Bros. had to give him his pay without considering how long he showed up on the screen.
2) Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey earned $1 million for her appearance as Kara in Furious 7 (2015), although she appears in the film for less than five minutes. In a fantastic penthouse in Abu Dhabi, she is a bodyguard of Letty, Michelle Rodriguez's character. Though brief, it was also one of the highlights when her scene was filmed because she has an actual background in MMA action.
3) Robert Downey Jr.
Downey Jr. was paid $10 million for about 8 minutes of screen time in Spider-Man: Homecoming, where he plays Tony Stark/Iron Man. His character mentors young Spider-Man and helps link him to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe.
At one level, it was a hefty paycheck because Downey Jr. had become an enormous star by the success of the MCU.
4) Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts was paid $3 million for a cameo appearance in the ensemble romantic comedy Valentine's Day. The film tells multiple stories and features the actress on screen for only six minutes.
Yet, one waits to see her performance as one of the highlights. That's why her salary has translated into approximately $500,000 per minute she is on the screen, proving the star value of the movie.
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando was paid $3.7 million plus a percentage of profits from the Superman film for his 10 minutes of screen presence as Jor-El, Superman's father. One of the world's most famous screen icon's presence was necessary to add prestige and public appeal to this film.
His Superman scenes are one of the first instances where a major film star has been paid a handsome amount for a brief appearance in a movie, which set a standard for other blockbuster films later on.
6) Anne Hathaway
As per Celebrity Net Worth, Anne Hathaway was paid $7.5 million for a role in which she appears only around 15 minutes—that of Fantine in Les Misérables (2012). Her character is a poor factory worker who turns to pr*stitution to help raise money for her daughter, and she dominates the film's emotional core.
Hathaway had key roles in Ravenna and Alice, so this was an excellent opportunity for her to seize the chance under Tim Burton's direction. Her take on I Dreamed a Dream would stand out as a high point, as she went on to win rave reviews and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
7) Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis allegedly was paid $3 million for shooting only two days for The Expendables, equivalent to about four minutes of screen time. He plays Mr. Church, who recruits Sylvester Stallone's character for a mission.
It's not a major role, but with guys like Willis and other big names, the movie is being marketed as a celebration of action movie legends. His high fee highlighted how good it looked on screen when big action stars made cameos.
8) Ben Affleck
Per Celebrity Net Worth, Ben Affleck received $12.5 million for several short scenes playing Batman in Suicide Squad. Although his character is mostly absent from the screen, his presence would bind the movie to the rest of the DC Extended Universe, making it an interesting watch for fans of superheroes.
9) Sean Connery
Sean Connery earned $250,000 for his brief cameo appearance at the end of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Although he appeared in the movie for little more than two minutes, his presence added a touch of flair to the film, which may have fattened its box office prospects.
Since his presence was for only one day, he was paid heavily compared to the efforts he would have to make for the whole venture.
10) Matt Damon
Matt Damon was paid $1 million to appear in Thor: Ragnarok. In it, he plays an Asgardian actor who plays Loki in a street play. Matt Damon's $1 million cameo adds to the movie's general fun and entertainment.
Damon recounted how he accepted the role after director Taika Waititi and lead Chris Hemsworth pitched the idea to him in an interview with Collider. He thought the idea was hilarious to play Loki as an intergalactic theater actor in the movie.
11) Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise cashed in $3 million for Tropic Thunder, playing the minor role of abrasive studio executive Les Grossman. Even though the part was small, it was an unforgettable opportunity to see a different side of Cruise as he let loose as a foul-mouthed studio executive.
The role required little more than several scenes, but his outrageous performance became one of the movie's highlights as people cheered his surprising comic prowess.
12) Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz earned a whopping $10 million for again lending her voice as Princess Fiona in Shrek Forever After. The role may not have occupied much of her schedule, but her star power could merit her huge checkbook since she plays a big part in the franchise's success.
The "Shrek" series has now become the 18th highest-grossing film franchise of all time, and to maintain consistency and appeal, having Diaz back in the final installment proved to be a good decision.
13) Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt made a flash appearance in Deadpool 2 as the Vanisher, receiving $1,000 in compensation to give to charity. And, of course, his character was invisible throughout the entire film until he was electrocuted, where viewers saw his face on screen for what felt like a millisecond.
Although the fee was small, Pitt's appearance stirred everyone to buzz and exhibited how even the most minor role could attract big stars for the sake of comedy. His willingness to appear for charity also threw light on his lighthearted approach to the role.
14) Christopher Walken
Christopher Walken was paid $70,000 for his five-minute monologue in Pulp Fiction. Playing Captain Koons, a Vietnam War survivor, makes a powerful and hilariously funny speech inscribed into the film's narration.
Since his scenes were short, Christopher Walken made his scene a pivotal moment in the movie with his performance. Producer Lawrence Bender often saw Walken drink hot sauce between takes and assumed that was method acting.
However, when asked about it, the actor playfully alluded that the hot sauce prevents his mouth from drying up.
15) Glenn Close
Glenn Close was paid $1 million for her brief appearance as Nova Prime, leader of the Nova Corps, in Guardians of the Galaxy. Her character on screen didn't take much prime real estate here, but it was nice to see Close adding some much-needed gravitas to the movie.
And just by being affiliated with a production like this, having an actress of Close's stature added value to the film.
16) Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger was paid $25 million for a five-minute cameo as Prince Hapi in Around the World in 80 Days.
In one of his last film appearances, before becoming the Governor of California, he played an action hero but in a lighthearted comedic role in the film. The amount reflected his huge appeal at the time for doing even these minor roles.
17) Ving Rhames
Ving Rhames earned $7.7 million for his brief cameo appearance in Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol. Luther Stickell appeared only in the tail end of the film, but for fans looking at the big picture, he was just one part of what made the franchise's continuity possible.
This is a pretty big paycheck for someone with as long a history with the franchise as he has. He has been a series regular since the first "Mission."
18) Robin Williams
Robin Williams was reportedly paid $5 million for playing Teddy Roosevelt in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, the final installation in this trilogy.
Though he appeared only a few times on screen, Williams's character was one of the series' signature presences. It was perhaps one of his last performances before his death, making it a befitting performance for the fans.
19) Will Smith
Will Smith was featured in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues for only one minute of screen exposure and earned $1 million for the cameo. It is there in the climactic news team battle scene that holds several cameoed celebrities.
Though he appeared in the movie for just a few minutes, his cameo appearance added some star power to the scenes for moviegoers, making it a pleasant surprise for them.
20) Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey had been set to play J. Paul Getty in All the Money in the World (2017). Still, in the wake of serious sexual misconduct allegations that surfaced in October 2017, director Ridley Scott decided to replace him with Christopher Plummer merely six weeks before the scheduled release of the film. Spacey reportedly had already shot his scenes, for which he was paid $1 million.
Plummer's reshoots took ten days and added $10 million to the production, including bringing back other cast members to reshoot scenes.
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