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The original The Lord of the Rings trilogy is still considered one of the greatest achievements in fantasy cinema, despite the influx of remakes, prequels, and spin-offs that have come and gone. Peter Jackson’s adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved books not only solidified the story’s place in film history but also attracted a massive new fan base to Middle-earth. However, when these groundbreaking films were first being made, no one knew just how successful they’d become. As a result, many of the stars who worked on them were paid much less than they deserved compared to the franchise’s eventual success.
How Much Did the Lead Lord of the Rings Stars Make?
Despite becoming global superstars thanks to The Lord of the Rings, many of the lead actors didn’t see the kind of paychecks you might expect from such a blockbuster series. Here’s a look at what they were paid:
- Orlando Bloom: Bloom, who played Legolas, received just $175,000 for his role. Although this was a modest amount at the time, his career took off, and he later starred in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, eventually amassing a net worth of about $40 million.
- Sean Astin: Astin, who portrayed the essential character of Samwise Gamgee, was paid $250,000 per film. This sum seemed quite low compared to the impact of his performance, but it helped launch his career. He now has a net worth of around $10 million.
- Elijah Wood: As Frodo, Wood was initially paid $250,000 for The Fellowship of the Ring. His salary improved to $1 million per film for the subsequent movies, which contributed to his current net worth of $20 million.
- Andy Serkis: Known for his groundbreaking motion capture work as Gollum, Serkis negotiated a more favorable contract from the start, earning $1 million per film. His innovative performance helped him earn a net worth of about $18 million.
- Ian McKellen: McKellen, who brought Gandalf to life, was well-compensated with around $13 million for the trilogy, and even more for his return in The Hobbit. His extensive experience and popularity contributed to his impressive $60 million net worth.
- John Rhys-Davies: Rhys-Davies, who played Gimli, had a less lucrative contract compared to McKellen. Though his exact salary isn’t known, much of his $5 million net worth is attributed to his role in the franchise.
- Sean Bean: Bean, who played Boromir, earned $250,000 for his role in The Fellowship of the Ring. While this wasn’t a huge amount at the time, it helped establish his career in fantasy films, contributing to his $20 million net worth.
- Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd: As Merry and Pippin, they brought a lot of charm to the series. Although their exact salaries aren’t disclosed, they likely earned similar to other secondary stars. Monaghan’s net worth is about $12 million, while Boyd’s is around $6 million.
- Liv Tyler: Tyler, who played Arwen, was paid $2 million for her role in The Fellowship of the Ring. This amount was higher than some of her co-stars’ salaries but contributed to her $50 million net worth.
- Viggo Mortensen: Mortensen, who played Aragorn, likely had a lower initial salary but renegotiated for higher pay as the films progressed. His performance helped him earn a $40 million net worth.
- Cate Blanchett: Blanchett, who played Galadriel, was already a well-known actress when she joined the cast. Although her exact earnings for the trilogy aren’t publicly known, her role helped her accumulate a substantial $95 million net worth.
While the paychecks for the Lord of the Rings stars may have seemed modest compared to the franchise’s massive success, their performances left a lasting impact and set the stage for their future careers.