Matt Damon Million-Dollar Decision: The Avatar Rejection That Shaped His Career
On CNN’s “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace,” Oscar-winning actor Matt Damon revealed a shocking secret. Damon had to choose between $250 million and life in 2009. The actor revealed that he had been offered the lead role in James Cameron’s groundbreaking film “Avatar,” along with a percentage of the film’s earnings.
Damon joked, “It’s something awful like that.” Such a high-profile film role had never been offered before. Damon said “sure it’s the most money an actor ever turned down.” Damon declined Pandora’s dreamworld.
He chose loyalty and professionalism. Damon played “Bourne” since 2002. He didn’t want to leave “Bourne” unfinished. Damon rejected “Avatar” due to his “Bourne” commitment. “Avatar” stars Sam Worthington, Michelle Rodriguez, Joel David Moore, and Zoe Saldana. Cameron’s “Avatar” was a classic.
History vindicated Cameron. “Avatar” grossed nearly $3 billion in 2009. After “Avatar”‘s success, “Avatar: The Way of the Water” was released last year. “The Way of the Water” made the franchise the third highest-grossing film ever with $2.3 billion. It trailed “Avatar” and “Avengers: Endgame,” which grossed nearly $2.8 billion since 2019.
Despite turning down the “Avatar” role, Damon’s career has shown his talent and versatility. The versatile actor has excelled in many films. “Oppenheimer,” starring Damon, opened recently. Damon’s latest work shows his passion for acting.
Damon’s claim that rejecting “Avatar” was an actor’s biggest financial loss is debatable. Actors have declined lucrative roles. Famous actor Sean Connery. Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy cast Connery as Gandalf. He declined the role, saying “didn’t get it.” Each film received $30 million and 15% of box office earnings. The role could have earned Connery $450 million.
“Avatar” rejection made Damon famous. Despite what could have been, Damon’s versatility and impressive body of work live on. The “Avatar” saga’s cinematic success reminds us that decisions, big and small, can change a person’s path. Even though “Avatar” was a hit, Damon has had a successful Hollywood career.
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Our Reader’s Queries
How did Matt Damon get so rich?
Matt Damon’s films have raked in a whopping $4.10 billion at the box office, solidifying his status as one of the wealthiest actors in the industry. His stellar performance in Good Will Hunting earned him an Academy Award. In addition to his acting career, Damon has also ventured into producing numerous hit movies and television shows.
How much money has the US government spent saving Matt Damon?
The total amount comes to $900 billion and some extra change. This is almost a trillion dollars, which is 1/18th of the United States’ gross domestic product and a quarter of the government’s yearly budget.
Does Matt Damon have 4 daughters?
Matt Damon proudly parents four daughters, who often serve as his most discerning critics.
How much is Matt Damon’s net worth?
Cameron highlighted that Damon is still one of the best actors globally, with a net worth of approximately $55 million. This shows that one career mistake doesn’t determine the whole career. Get the CEO Daily newsletter for the top business headlines from a CEO’s point of view. Join for free.