Hollywood star Channing Tatum’s journey to stardom has been a testament to perseverance and talent. From earning a modest hundred dollars for his initial venture into showbiz, he has soared to an impressive net worth of $80 million. Renowned for his roles in iconic films such as Magic Mike, Step-Up, and Logan Lucky, Tatum exudes charm and charisma on screen.
However, prior to his cinematic success, he navigated the modeling world, and secured his first show business opportunity in the music video of Ricky Martin’s She Bangs, where he pocketed a mere $400.
Channing Tatum’s Humble Beginnings in Show Business
Channing Tatum reportedly excelled in physical activities from an early age, and with his active participation in sports such as football, he even earned a football scholarship to pursue higher education. But the Magic Mike star decided to drop out of college and direct his focus towards exploring more career opportunities.
Transitioning through various odd jobs, Channing Tatum eventually found himself working as a stripper and later moved to Miami. While he continued his professional dance career Tatum would also venture into modeling, working with prominent brands like Nautica, Gap, American Eagle Outfitters, and Abercrombie & Fitch.
However, his entry into the world of showbiz came with a small role as an extra in Ricky Martin’s music video for She Bangs. The actor makes a brief appearance in the music video, as a bartender behind a bar who is seen dancing and shaking a drink.
As per Metro UK, The Lost City star was paid only $400 for five days of work on the music video. Following his debut in the mid-2000s, Tatum had his breakout with the 2006 film She’s the Man. He experienced a significant leap in his career with the film Magic Mike, which was inspired by his own experiences as a stripper before embarking on his acting journey.
Channing Tatum’s Real Life Experience Inspired Magic Mike
The Magic Mike film series features the 43-year-old actor Channing Tatum as a male stripper Michael Lane, aka Magic Mike. And the film was loosely inspired by the actor’s real-life experience in the industry. The actor worked as a male stripper in Tampa, Florida, when he was 18 years old.
“I did it for almost a year. I’ve lived a crazy life, for sure,” the actor said, talking about his time working as a stripper. During an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, the actor shared that he wanted to talk about his past in stripping at the beginning of his career, but his publicist didn’t allow him.
He also shared his plans to make a movie about the same, as he shared, “I’ve already got the director picked out,” before adding, “It needs to be a crazy film and I think it’s also possible to do a cute, romantic movie.” While the movie draws inspiration from his real-life experiences, it’s important to note that the characters and storyline of the film are entirely fictional.
The 2013 film was a commercial and critical success and made $167 million on an estimated budget of $7 million. The film has been followed by two sequels Magic Mike XXL and Magic Mike’s Last Dance, with the latter being the third and final film in the series.
The Magic Mike film series is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.
