Taraji P. Henson starred as the adoptive mother of Brad Pitt’s character in David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Henson opened up about the salary discrimination she faced, as she was paid less than 2% of what Pitt earned for the role. While Henson clarified that the Troy actor received the money he deserved, she revealed that the producers didn’t comply with her fair demand for a higher salary.
The Empire actress received an Oscar nomination for her supporting role in the film. Henson has been vocal about her salary negotiation fights with producers. In later years, she revealed that she even had to walk out of a film that didn’t value her stardom.
Taraji P. Henson Received A Meager Salary For Her Role In The Brad Pitt Film
Taraji P. Henson first opened up about her low salary from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in her memoir, Around the Way Girl. She initiated a widespread discussion on pay disparity in the industry. She recounted the salary issue in a 2019 interview with Variety, where she began by clearing Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett’s names from the controversy. She revealed that they deserved the money as the movie relied on their star power.
However, she disclosed that the producers didn’t pay her according to her worth. Henson asked for half a million in salary, acknowledging that she wasn’t worth a million yet. However, the producers initially offered her a mere $100,000, despite her being the third name on the call sheet. The Person of Interest actress shared that it made no sense, but she finally agreed to $150,000. Henson shared with Variety:
“I was just asking for half a million – that’s all. That’s it. When I was doing Benjamin Button, I wasn’t worth a million yet. My audience was still getting to know me. We thought we were asking for what was fair for me, at the time. […] And they wanted to give me $100,000. Does that make sense? I’m number three on the call sheet. Does that make sense to you? All I was asking was $500,000 – that’s all we were asking for.”
She later revealed that she took home only $40,000 for her work after accounting for taxes and payments to her managers and agents. Interestingly, Brad Pitt was paid $10 million for his role in the film. Henson’s first $500,000 salary came from another 2008 film, The Family That Preys. Her other major film roles include Hidden Figures and the recently released critically acclaimed film The Color Purple.
Taraji P. Henson gained international fame as Cookie Lyon, the matriarch on the show Empire. According to Celebrity Net Worth, she earned $175,000 per episode for the show.
Also Read: “The math ain’t mathing”: Taraji P. Henson Regrets 1 Kevin Costner Film Didn’t Get Her Oscar Nod
Taraji P. Henson Contemplates Quitting The Industry Due to Pay Disparity
Taraji P. Henson recently garnered attention when she revealed to Elle that she might quit acting. Henson broke down in tears when asked about her remarks in an interview with Gayle King. She cited her salary issues once again and explained that she was tired of “working so hard” and “getting paid a fraction of the cost.” She broke down her average $10 million salary and detailed how she netted much less from that amount.
Henson revealed that 50% of the salary went into taxes, and 30% went to her team. She disclosed only taking away nearly 20% of the salary. She shared that every time she broke the glass ceiling, the salary negotiation pulled her down, leaving her exhausted. Henson shared with Gayle King:
“Off the top, Uncle Sam is getting 50 percent. Now [you] have $5 million. Your team is getting 30 percent off what you gross, not after what Uncle Sam took. Now do the math. I’m only human. Every time I do something and break another glass ceiling, when it’s time to renegotiate, I’m at the bottom again, like I never did what I just did, and I’m tired. I’m tired. It wears on you.”
Henson also mentioned in the interview that she pursued side hustles to make a living. Celebrity Net Worth reports her net worth as $12 million. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is now available for streaming on Paramount+.
