Was Angelina Jolie Worth Her 'Salt' Paycheck?

By Rob Shuter Posted Jul 26th 2010 08:45AM

Angelina Jolie set a new salary high for herself with her latest spy-related movie 'Salt,' earning over $20 million for the role; however, what she did to get that money surprised everyone -- including her man, Brad Pitt.

"You don't just get paid to act anymore," one veteran producer tells me. "Selling the movie these days is more important than actually making the film and no one sells better than Angelina Jolie. You must have been living under a rock not to know 'Salt' opened this weekend and it's Angie they can thank for that."

Which explains why the action-packed film grossed an impressive (but not enough to top 'Inception') $36.5 million at the box office.

"Angie earned every cent of her $20 million salary," a Sony Pictures insider tells me. "Even though Angelina's contract insists she promote the film, no one expected her to sign autographs at the premiere for over 45 minutes, pose for pictures with fans and shake hands before walking the red carpet. Even partner Brad Pitt looked confused watching her spend so much time with all the fans."

And her dedication and work ethic didn't stop there in her drive to promote the flick.

"The studio was shocked when Angie agreed to go to Comic-Con [the largest comic book and popular arts convention in the world] as well as when she traveled to Washington, D.C. to host a reception and tour of the International Spy Museum. Angie even allowed studio publicists to plant stories about her inviting the real-life Russian sleeper spy, Anna Chapman, to the premiere, to help promote 'Salt.'"

However, no one should really have been surprised. After all, this is a superstar who knows better than any star alive today how to sell a product. Paul Dergarabedian, box office president of Hollywood.com, explains to me, "With 'Salt' becoming her 'Bourne Identity,' Angelina Jolie proves that she may be the most bankable female star in Hollywood."

New York Daily News film critic Joe Neumaier, whose quotes appear in 'Salt' newspaper ads, tells me, "I think 'Angie, Inc' has been a brand name perfectly run by Jolie since the late '90s. Since hitting the pop culture map with HBO's biopic 'Gia' and her Oscar-winning turn in 'Girl, Interrupted,' Jolie hasn't worried about box office numbers. Yet she's had hits with action flicks of low and high-caliber -- playing women ranging from Lara Croft to Mrs. Smith -- and starred in dramas that made full use of those great pouty lips, such as 'A Mighty Heart' and 'Changeling.' Yet 'Salt' combines the best of both worlds: As double agent Evelyn Salt, Jolie makes us care about the character while, at the same time, we totally buy her spy-jinks. Fans of both genres can root for her -- which explains why 'Salt's' audience was almost perfectly split between men and women."

Neumaier also told me that when he was interviewing Jolie in 2004 she got up to get a coffee and offered to get him some breakfast from the buffet table.

It's nice to know that breakfast is included for $20 million.

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Tags: angelina jolie, salt

Comments

(143)

Monday 26 July

By Cynthia J

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Say what you will about Jolie, but she is one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. And I do admire the charity work the couple engage in. They give away millions to help kids around the world.

By nick

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......worth every penny......salt was great

By Shane

I find if funny when people think that they know best of what another person should make in his/her profession. If people want to pay her millions for bringing in millions, who are we to judge. It's their money and they can pay her what they think she should get paid for her work. There's no reason to get jealous if you're not making that much! Right?

By Mike

I can honestly say that I have never watched so much as a second of any of her movies. She does absolutely nothing for me.

By hitman

She deserves to be broke and she is way overpaid to begin with

Tuesday 27 July

By Sick Of It

Actors/Actresses get paid WAY TOO MUCH!! It's too bad that even half of that money can't go to better things like building betters schools, paying off our national debt, feeding the hungry in our country, etc.

I don't like Angelina Jolie or many of other celebrities that are home-wreckers or weirdos. I still find it HILARIOUS that she condones her father for cheating on her mother while they were married, yet she turns around and does the same thing. How does that phrase state it: You usually hate someone who is just like you.

By caroline

I am all for capitalism. It's the best system on earth and I believe in making as much as one can. However "this" is what we "Value" as a society. It's fine that Angie made that... I just wish we valued the teacher, the nurse, the policeman, the fireman that much. Their jobs are far more important and far harder, yet we do not value these people as much as actors, which is kind of a shame.

By slguerranotary

She is a great actor and person, if others can get that kind of PAY why not her. ANGIE DESERVES IT and MORE

By bigdaddyhero

how sweet, 45 minutes.

By Jessica

That was really nice of her to do. It was cute to see that Brad try to stand to the side and give her her time to shine, but she wasn't having it. She wanted him there with her every step of the way.
I do like her and she's great. She has flaws just as every other human on this earth, I don't know her pesonally, but she seems to want to learn and grow from them, which demonstrates her character which is all in all, good.
She's rich, so... she does try to give back to the "world", not just the US, in return. She's beautiful...genetics, get over it.

By ~Jeff

You're obviously gay! If you're not out of the closet yet, you might as well kick that door open and let the world see!!!

By Sara

I think it's a great thing that she spent so much time with her fans to promote the movie. I think more actors should do things like that

By ceoalex

Bottom line, people pay to see the movies she stars in. Therefore, she brings in the money. Where else is that money supposed to go when people pay to see the movies ANGELINA stars in? It's the basics of sales. If a sales person closes a huge transaction, he/she would expect to get paid accordingly...whether it's 2k or 20m...he/she made the sale happen. In this case, she made the sales for the movie. I don't understand the fuss on getting overpaid.

By muttzee

I for the life of me can not figure out what is so special about this women-I think she's wacko-just ask her dad......

By bob

I'm a guy and she doesn't nor any other person is worth for 1 movie. Her oldman got her started. Anyone can act..It's not what you know, it's always who you know..Hey good luck to them all.

By heather

no one is worth that much money its a movie not a "job" you show up act wash the makeup off go home the stunt people do the majority of the work they should be paid more! and we wonder why its so expensive to go the movies!!!

By NotesToMel

She gives me the creeps. Ugly personality, questionable character, and an average actress. Stupid people supporting stupid trashy actors and their movies. I have an idea.... read a book, it is a lot more interesting and expands the mind and imagination and costs a whole lot less as well!

By Lees

Her legs are way too skinny. Nice face, but she's no bombshell.

By Dr. Chronos

Angelina Jolie got up from a breakfast table in 2004 and offered to pick up some breakfast for a critic from the buffet table! Wow, I'm sure I'd find that memorable too... if I didn't have a life!

By 66027636

Usually whenever I see a picture of Angelina she looks very sullen. This has to be the most beautiful picture of her ever. I haven't seen the movie, there to expensive now so I'll wait for T.V. She looks so happy and that's so good to see.

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