Our typical idea of a Hollywood actor confines us to the archetype of someone who is filthy rich and extremely famous. But shockingly, that’s not the case for most working actors. Throwing light upon the lifestyles of struggling actors in the industry, Giancarlo Esposito revealed what his living condition was, ahead of starring in Breaking Bad.
Speaking on Sirius XM’s Jim & Sam show, Giancarlo Esposito initially began by thanking Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan for believing in him and offering the opportunity to play the role of Gus Fring. Thereafter, Esposito revealed his dire financial straits, ahead of starring in the show, which almost forced him to arrange his own murder for the life insurance money.
Giancarlo Esposito’s Financial Condition Made Him Consider Self-Annihilation
Before landing his role as Gus Fring in Vince Gilligan’s Breaking Bad, Giancarlo Esposito admitted being severely broke and desperate for money. Close to bankruptcy, and at the end of his rope, the esteemed actor had even considered taking extreme steps to arrange money for his kids. Appearing on Sirius XM’s Jim & Sam show, Esposito opened up about his dire financial condition ahead of Breaking Bad.
Recalling how he almost committed insurance fraud before thinking better of it, Giancarlo Esposito admitted considering self-annihilation for the sake of his children. The actor revealed that the year before landing his role in Breaking Bad, he was so broke that he even considered arranging his own murder for the life insurance money. Esposito admitted to asking his wife weird questions about how suicide and life insurance work.
“My way out in my brain was: ‘Hey, do you get life insurance if someone commits suicide? Do they get the bread?’ My wife had no idea why I was asking this stuff. I started scheming.”
“If I got somebody to knock me off, death by misadventure, [my kids] would get the insurance. I had four kids. I wanted them to have a life. It was a hard moment in time. I literally thought of self-annihilation so they could survive. That’s how low I was.”
It was back in 2008 when Giancarlo Esposito believed the only solution to his money troubles was the good, old-fashioned murder for the sake of exacting insurance money. However, eventually realizing the consequences, the actor backed off, and in the end, things turned out fine for him, as he landed Breaking Bad.
Giancarlo Esposito is Grateful Towards Vince Gilligan for Breaking Bad
While discussing his financial condition and the suicidal thoughts that plagued his mind, for the sake of offering his kids a better future, Giancarlo Esposito admitted that it was the thought of his children that finally stopped him from taking any extreme step. Realizing that his death would devoid them of a father, Esposito claimed to back off and focus on a more ethical way of making money.
“That was the first inkling that there was a way out, but I wouldn’t be here to be available to my kids. Then I started to think that’s not viable because the pain I would cause them would be lifelong, and there’d be lifelong trauma that would just extend the generational trauma I’m trying to move away from. The light at the end of the tunnel was Breaking Bad.”
Revealing how Breaking Bad saved him from further downfall and bankruptcy, Giancarlo Esposito appeared grateful towards Vince Gilligan. In 2009, Esposito got hired for the recurring role of drug lord Gus Fring in the hit TV series alongside Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul. He later reprised his role as Fring in the prequel series Better Call Saul and earned three Emmy nominations for the same character.
I’m glad he never gave up because we got one of the best actors in the world
— OB (@GhostRMCF) April 18, 2024
I’m grateful he is still with us. What an actor. 🙏🏼
— Chris (@PositivelyChris) April 18, 2024
that’s really sad. I’m glad he didn’t hurt himself.
— ReelTalker (@TalkerReel92) April 18, 2024
Damn, that’s grim. Glad things have turned around for him
— SamJReimer (@SamuelStark93) April 18, 2024
Jesus, that's sad. I'm glad he got Breaking Bad. Sucks that he's type cast into Gus Fring knockoffs now, but its clearly better than the alternative. Hopefully he has a long and prosperous career now. https://t.co/VcCY1zhRNh
— Creetosis | EN VTuber 🐐 (@Creetosis22) April 18, 2024
Gah damn. To think he was at rock bottom while playing that role is crazy. He’s such a PHENOMENAL talent. Always keep grinding, you NEVER know when a life changing opportunity will present itself. https://t.co/pyqC7goTHt
— Russel Orhii (@RusSwole) April 18, 2024
Meanwhile, as the actor revealed his life’s painful truth during the interview, netizens felt deeply saddened by his honest confessions. Taking to social media, fans of Breaking Bad expressed their grief over Giancarlo Esposito’s dire financial status that forced him to plan his own death. Calling him one of the best actors in the industry, fans claimed to be grateful that the actor didn’t actually execute his plan.
