While some Hollywood actors are perceived to be A-listers, and it can be hotly disputed, Matt Damon is not one of those people. Damon ranks alongside some of the most prominent actors of his generation, starring in multiple films alongside the likes of childhood friend Ben Affleck, Leonardo Di Caprio, Mark Wahlberg, and Jack Nicholson, to name but a few.
Having worked with some of the greatest directors of all time, like Christopher Nolan & Martin Scorsese, Damon has been aptly paid for his time on the silver screen, but how much is the Massachusetts man actually worth?
Humble Beginnings
In the early 1990s, the 20-something Damon wanted to break into the lucrative acting world. Following a handful of reasonably notable roles in the early to mid-1990s, Damon would get his big break after co-writing and co-starring in the Oscar-winning movie Good Will Hunting. Once this film broke him from the obscurity of background roles into the vast pool of Hollywood casting agents and directors, the world became his oyster, and he has reveled in the opportunities since.
Following Good Will Hunting, he turned down a number of big-money roles to star in Rounders, which, although poorly received at the time, has gone through many critical revisions and is regarded as arguably the most significant poker movie of all time. As an avid poker player alongside Ben Affleck, his close friend, the two have been pictured in casinos worldwide over the last 25 years. This connection to the world-famous card-based casino game would have helped Damon understand the nature of the role and know how to appeal to poker players and movie fans on a global scale.
Although Damon has wound down his poker playing in his later years, whenever he emerges at a casino, it’s clear that he’s a fan of the traditional live dealer game as opposed to online poker, which negates any need for bluffing or psyching out your opponent with a big bet. Poker players cite this as one of the main reasons to play with a live dealer. However, we’d say there are 5 reasons why you need to play a live dealer game as opposed to virtual tables, which don’t have the same aura, social feel, or gripping nature of conversing with the live dealer in the casino, and other players at the table as you place your bets.
21st Century Onwards
As we entered the new century, Damon was one of Hollywood’s brightest young acting talents, starring in globally successful franchises such as The Bourne movies and the ensemble cast of Ocean’s Eleven, which pieced together four or five of the biggest names in Hollywood at the time. This rich vein of form culminated in an appearance in the iconic Martin Scorsese film The Departed, which earned an Academy Award for Best Picture and featured A-listers Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, and Jack Nicholson. Around this point, Damon was touted as one of the highest earners in the world. Given that his films have grossed nearly $4 billion, this puts him in an elite bracket alongside some of the highest-grossing actors of this century.
Projected Net Worth
Most figures believe Damon is worth somewhere between $170 to $200 million. It can be challenging to pinpoint the wealth of individuals like Damon as he has multiple properties, investments, new films in the pipeline, and sponsorships, so his annual earnings can fluctuate considerably. Given that he now has the financial freedom afforded to him by his incredible success, he can take years out of the limelight and still afford to live a life of luxury.
For instance, the Harvard attendee earned over $50 million in 2016, predominantly thanks to his starring role in The Martian, which grossed over half a billion dollars. This would be enough to set anybody up for life. Still, his continued royalties from other iconic films and big money deals with companies ranging from sports, beverages, and investments will set Damon’s family up for generations of serious wealth.
Unlike many other Hollywood stars, Damon is renowned for his charity work, giving millions of dollars to charities specializing in delivering clean drinking water to parts of the world struggling with extreme drought and famine and using his reach to shine a light on this plight.
Conclusion
Although some other actors of Damon’s generation might have earned more money than he has, his career has likely got a couple more decades to go. Now that he is one of the biggest names in the world, he will only command the most significant fees, so don’t be surprised to see this net worth figure expand considerably over the next decade or two, surpassing the $200 million mark and potentially breaking through the $250 as he reaches the twilight of his iconic career.
Source: Explore
