$400M Jackie Chan Was So Desperate for Work He Agreed to Disgustingly Low Salary, Said It’s a “Stingy Contract”

$400M Jackie Chan Was So Desperate for Work He Agreed to Disgustingly Low Salary, Said It’s a “Stingy Contract”
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Jackie Chan has been dubbed the “dragon” of Hollywood for his wildly successful films, which have gained him widespread fame and public affection. In addition to being a skilled actor, Chan is also a skilled martial artist, capable of pulling off his own stunts, and a well-known director. He was deemed one of the biggest stars in the business at one point in his career and the second-highest-paid actor in the world.

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During his tenure in Hollywood, Jackie Chan attained everything he desired, including fame, fortune, authority, and respect. Additionally, he earned the respect of the populace via his diligent service to the community. Although he had a very fruitful career, he had some desperate times too, making some bad decisions or signing poor deals, he has experienced it all.

Jackie Chan is regarded as a martial arts icon
Jackie Chan

Also read: “Can I get married? A Girlfriend?”: Jackie Chan Set Up a Meeting With 3,000 “Crazy” Japanese Women to Ask if He Could Get Married

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Desperation Makes Jackie Chan Sign a Poor Contract

Jackie Chan was at the peak of his career for a long time, and his films, like Rush Hour and New Police Story, were adored by the public. Chan absolutely charmed the audience, and many people admired his unusual acting style. Moreover, when he rose to stardom and received big projects, his inability to speak English properly in the movies became a fan magnet. Currently, Chan has retired from his Hollywood days with a towering net worth of $400 million with countless businesses all over the world, especially in his home country, Hong Kong. And now he leisurely reaps the fruits of his hard work for the past six decades.

Jackie Chan in a still from his iconic action comedy movie series Rush Hour
Jackie Chan in Rush Hour

Also read: Jackie Chan Demanded “Acting-Based Movies” To Become as Good as 6-Time Oscar Winner Tom Hanks

Jackie Chan spoke about his struggles in his autobiography, Never Grow Up, he mentioned that at first, he was only a mere stuntman in the industry and from there he slowly made his way to the better part of Hollywood. Chan also mentioned that the pay was tremendously low and he had to perform every task or role no matter how risky it was if the director instructed it.

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“It was for two years, with a monthly salary of $3000 plus an additional $3000. Looking back, it was a stingy contract, but at that time, it seemed fair”

The actor signed his first major contract with director Lo Wei, whom he admired very much. Chan opened up that as per contract, he will be paid a total of $6000 per month which was not bad at that time as he was just growing, but looking back he finds it tough to deal with as the pay was exceptionally low.

Jackie Chan Is Treasured as One of the Best in the Industry

Jackie Chan has a wild fan base who have stuck with him for decades, and unlike actors who play the short game, aiming for immediate fame, Chan was here for the long haul. This is one of the primary reasons fans love him and his movies, it does not lack the proper script, cast, acting, and his drive to be the best. Moreover, his movies do not step foot into the aggressive part, i.e., his movies have no slurs or intimate scenes, which makes his movie more children-friendly.

Jackie Chan and the late Bruce Lee in a still from Enter the Dragon (1973)
Jackie Chan and the late Bruce Lee in a still from Enter the Dragon

Also read: “No s*x, no violence, no F-words”: Jackie Chan Revealed Why Fans Will Never Stop Loving His Movies

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Jackie Chan has won a number of awards during his time in the industry, such as the Academy Awards, MTV Movie + TV Awards, People’s Choice Awards, USA, and many others.

Source: Never Grow Up

Rajdeep Majumder

Written by Rajdeep Majumder

Articles Published: 675

On top of all things music and pop culture, Rajdeep has a vested interest in the world of film and television. As a dedicated writer, he stays informed about the day-to-day happenings in Hollywood as well as the world of manga. Currently, Rajdeep has accumulated more than 600 published articles on FandomWire under his byline. Looking ahead, he can envision himself leaving a mark in the highly competitive and rapidly evolving world of entertainment journalism.