“Apple spent $85 Million on just 3 crew members”: Brad Pitt and George Clooney’s Colossal Salaries For Wolfs Will Make Robert Downey Jr.’s $95 Million Salary the Lesser Evil
- Apple spent $85 million on Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Jon Watts for 'Wolfs.'
- In contrast, Robert Downey Jr.'s $95 million for Doctor Doom is costly but strategic.
- Clooney and Pitt’s salaries seem like a big gamble compared to Downey Jr.’s $95 million.
Shelling out $85 million for just three people sounds like a high-stakes poker game, right? But that’s exactly what Apple did for their latest blockbuster, Wolfs. With Brad Pitt and George Clooney each pocketing $35 million and director Jon Watts grabbing $15 million, the total talent bill is eye-watering.
In contrast, Robert Downey Jr.’s recent $95 million salary for his role as Doctor Doom in the MCU’s Avengers: Doomsday seems almost reasonable. While his paycheck might appear exorbitant, Apple’s star-studded spending is an even riskier bet.
Apple’s $85 Million Gamble on Brad Pitt and George Clooney’s Wolfs
According to The New York Times, when Apple announced that Brad Pitt and George Clooney were each getting $35 million to star in Wolfs, it was a jaw-dropper. Add in Jon Watts’ $15 million directing fee, and we’re talking about $85 million on just three people.
That’s a lot of cheddar, especially when the film is only hitting theaters for one week before streaming on Apple TV+. Clooney told Deadline last year:
Brad and I made the deal to do that movie where we gave money back to make sure that we had a theatrical release.
This hefty price tag might seem like an investment in star power, but it’s a gamble. In the past, big names like Pitt and Clooney could guarantee box office hits. However, today’s movie landscape isn’t as star-driven.
Recent Apple films, like Argylle and Fly Me to the Moon, struggled to break even despite high production costs. Meanwhile, during their box office runs, Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon were also under scrutiny for not meeting their hefty production budgets.
With the movie only showing in theaters for a week, Apple’s hoping the big-name stars will make it a hit before it quickly heads to streaming. The premise of Wolfs follows two top-notch fixers (Pitt and Clooney) who, each preferring to work solo, end up stuck working together after being hired for the same job.
Disney’s Big Bet on Robert Downey Jr. for His MCU Comeback
While Apple’s spending on Wolfs raises eyebrows, Robert Downey Jr.’s reported $95 million salary (via Marvel Source) for playing Doctor Doom is causing a stir of its own. The actor’s paycheck for his role in the upcoming Marvel film Avengers: Doomsday is distasteful, especially with perks like private jet travel and top-notch security (via Variety).
Critics argue that no actor deserves such a massive payday, but let’s be real—Marvel films have a track record of making money hand over fist. Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU is set to pull in huge crowds and rake in serious cash.
Over his MCU career, which spans four Avengers movies, three solo films, appearances in Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and a cameo in The Incredible Hulk, Downey Jr. is estimated to have earned between $500 million and $600 million.
Not bad for an actor who’s basically become the face of Marvel! Even though some people grumble about the size of his paycheck, the studio probably sees it as a smart investment to guarantee a blockbuster hit.
Wolfs is set to hit theaters on September 20 and make its global debut on Apple TV+ starting September 27. Meanwhile, Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for release on May 1, 2026.
