NFL Legend Dan Marino has made a fortune from the sport but he missed a truly great opportunity to add a few bucks to his net worth. In the 1994 hit comedy film, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Marino played a small role as himself alongside Jim Carrey. The film went on to become a major box-office success and Marino’s involvement may have influenced this success. However, Marino took only a flat fee for the role instead of the more lucrative option of a percentage of the gross of the film.
The former Miami Dolphins quarterback even went on to jokingly claim that he built Jim Carrey’s career with the film and took full credit for it. Marino has one of the highest net worth among the NFL Hall of Famers, despite the Dolphins not taking home a single Super Bowl.
According To NFL Star Dan Marino, Jim Carrey Owes His Career To Him
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective was a different attempt at slapstick comedy when it was released in 1994. The film gained a cult following among younger male viewers and launched the career of its lead actor, Jim Carrey. The Canadian actor would then make a name for himself acting in similar comedy movies. The film, made on a budget of $15 million, grossed $107.2 million at the global box office.
One of the highlights of the film was the cameo from Miami Dolphins star Dan Marino. Marino didn’t plan to do the film after reading the script about a disgruntled former Dolphins player seeking revenge. He was playing himself, the star player who gets kidnapped by this villain, but Marino was not convinced. He had to finally meet the charismatic lead of the movie, Jim Carrey, to agree to the role.
However, he missed out on a major fortune from this film due to his one mistake. When he appeared on The Pat McAfee Show, the host asked him whether the rumors about him opting for a flat fee for the film were true. Marino confirmed the rumors, sharing, “That’s very accurate.” Pat McAfee was surprised by this revelation and shared that Marino stole the show in the film.
Marino jokingly responded that if it wasn’t for him nobody would recognize Jim Carrey today. He shared, “I actually made Jim Carrey a star because if it wasn’t for me nobody would know who the hell he was.” He went on to share that the filmmakers offered him a percentage of the gross. But he took the “short-end cash” instead. Dan Marino shared on the show:
“It’s either going to do really well or it’s going to be nowhere. So they offered me a percentage of the gross and, knowing me, I didn’t take it. I took the short-end cash. But that’s okay. It made over 100 million.”
While Marino admitted that he “would’ve done pretty good” with the film’s money, he has no major regrets about it. It remains unclear how much the quarterback received as a flat fee, but it is undoubtedly a far lower number compared to what he would’ve earned from the percentage. Marino also acted in Adam Sandler‘s Little Nicky.
Dan Marino’s Net Worth Is Huge Despite Losing Out Money On Jim Carrey’s Movie
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Dan Marino has a net worth of $50 million, making him one of the richest Hall-of-Famers. His paychecks were from his time as a player, sportscaster, and later special advisor to the Dolphins. Apart from his NFL career, his endorsement deals and business ventures contributed to his net worth.
In 1983, he signed a four-year contract with the Dolphins for a $2.1 million contract. In his final season, he was earning $6 million per season. His total salary during his NFL career amounted to $51.5 million (via Celebrity Net Worth). According to a CNBC report, he has stakes in business establishments like Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza and Passing Time winery in Washington state. He was also a pitchman for Nutrisystem.
He revealed to CNBC that he was a long-term investor in the stock market and invested in “big, solid companies like Walmart and Coca-Cola.” However, he lost millions after Digital Domain Media Group, a company he invested in, filed for bankruptcy (via Bleacher Report).
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is now available for streaming on AMC+.
