Not Tom Cruise, Shah Rukh Khan, or Johnny Depp have reached the earning heights of Keanu Reeves during his peak in the early 2000s. Six decades ago, Hollywood stars first started earning million-dollar paychecks, with icons like Marlon Brando, Richard Burton, and Elizabeth Taylor leading the way. Less than two generations later, Keanu Reeves shattered records by earning $156 million for a single film project, a record that has remained unbroken for over 20 years. This is the story of how Keanu achieved this monumental payday. (Also read: World’s richest actor with only one hit but a $1.4 billion net worth, surpasses Tom Cruise and Shah Rukh Khan).
Keanu Reeves achieved unprecedented success with The Matrix in the late 90s, making him Hollywood’s most sought-after actor. Warner Bros quickly secured his talent for the simultaneous production of The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. For these two films, Keanu received an upfront salary of $30 million, along with a share in profits and residual income. The combined box office haul of The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions was $1.2 billion upon their release in 2003. The films have since been streamed on OTT platforms and aired on TV numerous times, bringing Keanu’s total earnings from these projects to an astounding $156 million. This figure remains the highest for any actor from a single film production.
