Certain Hollywood elite reportedly have extravagant and unusual contract clauses. But there's more to being a top actor than their star performances. It has been reported for decades that stars use their influence to get deals far beyond salaries, including private jets and exclusive trailers, creative control over characters, and profit-sharing agreements. It runs the gamut from practical to just plain absurd.
Whether they are headlining big-budget films or are ensuring their legacy through merchandise rights, these stipulations bare how much muscle A-listers have. The list delves into 20 actors whose contract clauses have defined how it feels to be in control of show business.
1) Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is a highly-paid player in Hollywood. He demands a percentage of the profits made by the film, besides insisting on having his trailer that includes a gym and even space for his pet dogs. Recently, his deals have been changing to require input on the character's development to align his brand with his public identity. He has also been an executive producer on most of his films.
2) Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson is infamous for his demands and strict negotiation power. One of the most popular clauses in his contracts is the percentage he demands in profits from the film. Another thing he requires is a trailer with all luxury amenities. On the set, he is precise and controls every word uttered by his character.
3) Uma Thurman
Uma Thurman is no stranger to outrageous demands made in contracts. She often requires lengthy fight training during preparation for her various action-packed roles, such as Kill Bill. Thurman also asks for protection while performing dangerous stunt actions and even approval over the film's final cut. One of the best examples of her work is Pulp Fiction, where she asked for a specified number of minutes on screen, and some specific dialogues show the depth of her character.
4) Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson has had one of the most storied careers in Hollywood. In Batman (1989), he demanded a percentage of the movie's merchandise sales and a paycheck to play the Joker. This meant that every Batman toy featuring his likeness became a source of income for him. Nicholson also famously negotiates for a provision that guarantees he won't have to do any promotional work unless he wants to, reflecting his disinterest in press tours.
5) Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise is known for his perfectionist attitude and control over his projects. His contracts typically require a substantial upfront fee, but he also fights for and gets a gigantic percentage of the box office. A signature clause in his contracts, specifically with regard to the Mission: Impossible series, includes a considerable amount of leeway over the marketing of the film and the stunts.
6) Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah is a multi-talented artist/actress/musician, and her demands are diverse too. She insists on the right to choose directors with whom she would like to work along with co-stars. In films like Chicago and Hairspray, she bargained for a percentage of the profits.
7) Roger Moore
Roger Moore immortalized himself on screen after playing James Bond. He would not permit action scenes unless he was guaranteed some relaxation time between such scenes so that he would remain fresh during the long shoots. In his contracts, Moore was also known to have bargained for substantial travel accommodations with private jets and first-class accommodations.
8) Mark Wahlberg
Mark Wahlberg is known for careful planning, and it shines through in his contracts. He famously insisted on provisions for maintaining a personal fitness program to be provided on-set, including access to a gym and trainers specializing in the required activities. He negotiated a higher percentage of the box office gross on movies such as Transformers instead of a guaranteed salary.
9) Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen was a top star, and his contracts often included significant assurances. A private man, McQueen wanted total creative control over his roles and would often bring in scripts to be rewritten, tailoring them to his persona. He loathed the pressures of promotional duties and had a contract negotiation condition—don't look behind the curtain, don't watch the machinery that makes it all happen, and look at the work.
10) Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves is as famous for his commoner approach as he is for his peculiar contract conditions. For The Matrix trilogy, he allowed himself a lower salary for the beginning of the series in exchange for a percentage of the gross profits the films were to rake in, and he became a millionaire many times over as the franchise successfully reached new heights of popular success. Reeves has also been noted to have a specific, drama-free set; he maintains an environment where everyone is respectful and works together.
11) Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon has proven to be a smart businesswoman apart from being an actress. She has lately been known to negotiate profit-sharing contracts on her projects. She reportedly asked for an equal pay clause in Big Little Lies so that she was paid the same as her co-stars. She usually adds provisions that guarantee her script and character approval. Witherspoon has always been keen on accepting roles that portray powerful, multi-dimensional female characters.
12) Lauren Graham
Lauren Graham, known as Lorelai Gilmore from the television series Gilmore Girls, is also a perfectionist regarding her contracts. She often includes clauses that allow her a significant amount of say in work and especially have a lot of control in developing her characters and story arcs. She also demands shooting flexibility to ensure she can film her parts when she wants.
13) Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage's freaky and enormously prolific career in cinema has some very wild contract clauses, reflecting his offbeat take on filmmaking. Cage famously demanded a gigantic paycheque for Ghost Rider, not to mention several other films. One of his more bizarre requests included a private island! His contracts often stipulate that his films must have unique and extreme visual effects, further imbibing his over-the-top style.
14) Daniel Day-Lewis
Daniel Day-Lewis is infamous for his extreme method of acting, which also pans out in contract clauses. He typically demands that he live in the same condition as his character, which can result in some pretty amazing clauses. For example, while shooting for There Will Be Blood, he insisted that his character's oil rig camp be built according to the era. Most of his contracts guarantee him only shooting for one film to become deeply ingrained with the role, and he requires the whole crew to keep silent during the shooting as well.
15) Danny Trejo
While a hard-boiled movie star in real life, you do not know anyone tough enough to match Danny Trejo behind the camera. His strange contract clause: A "no whining" clause on set, meaning everyone keeps their chins up! Trejo is also known to negotiate provisions that ensure fair pay for all on the crew, not just the main cast as he's proven to be a true advocate for equal pay on set. He's also demanded a lot of stunt training and practice time because he does not compromise on doing most of his stunts
16) Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx is an actor, singer, and comedian, who has made a name for himself. He's known for wanting flexibility with his shooting schedule to accommodate music recording time. Foxx has also asked for considerable rehearsal time for parts that involve musical performances to ensure that his work is as perfect as he would want it to be.
17) Vin Diesel
Vin Diesel is known to be a hard negotiator, especially for the Fast & Furious franchise. A bizarre clause he's asked for is that his character, Dominic Toretto, has to win in fight sequences, no matter what the plot dictates. Diesel often negotiates for a percentage of the film's profit in addition to his base salary and has even ensured major action sequences fall under his approval. His contracts often require his brand of "family" to be a central theme in the movies.
18) William Frawley
William Frawley, who played Fred Mertz on I Love Lucy, had bizarre contract clauses reflecting his offbeat personality. One of his stipulations was to be allowed to come in late to set. He also insisted on a private dressing room to rehearse his lines in quiet and seclusion. Another unusual stipulation was that he did not want to share screen space with co-star, Vivian Vance.
19) Eddie Murphy
One of the most talked-about clauses in Murphy's films was that he had to be credited as the sole writer or co-writer. Murphy demanded a considerable percentage of the merchandise profits for most films, including Beverly Hills Cop and Shrek. He also insisted on having soundproofed trailers and demanded top security while on set.
20) Julia Roberts
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Julia Roberts is another Hollywood legend with a thriving business head. The most famous clause she has demanded is that a "pay-or-play" deal is guaranteed, meaning she will be paid even if the movie gets canceled or pushed back. She's also bargained for great control over her image and promotional material to ensure that project involvement does not harm her brand. True to herself, she often arranges her schedule around her family and philanthropy.
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