Story perspectives

Schwarzenegger's $0 Salary Strategy Yields $40 Million Twins Fortune

3/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

In 1988, Arnold Schwarzenegger turned a $0 salary for the film Twins into a $40 million fortune after Twins earned about $216.6 million worldwide.
Studios hesitated to cast him in a buddy comedy.
Schwarzenegger, co-star Danny DeVito, and director Ivan Reitman proposed working without pay in exchange for a significant backend deal.
The strategy proved successful and highlighted the potential rewards of ownership deals over traditional salaries in Hollywood.

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Story summary

In 1988, Arnold Schwarzenegger turned a $0 salary for the film Twins into a $40 million fortune after Twins earned about $216.6 million worldwide.
Studios hesitated to cast him in a buddy comedy.
Schwarzenegger, co-star Danny DeVito, and director Ivan Reitman proposed working without pay in exchange for a significant backend deal.
The strategy proved successful and highlighted the potential rewards of ownership deals over traditional salaries in Hollywood.