The answer may surprise you – Mel Gibson only earned $9 million from Braveheart. This may seem like a lot, but it’s actually a relatively small sum for a Hollywood blockbuster. The movie was made on a budget of $70 million, and it went on to earn over $200 million at the box office. So while Gibson did well from the film, the studio made far more money.
Gibson’s salary was bumped up to $25 million for his next film, Ransom. But he took a pay cut for his next project, What Women Want, earning just $15 million. He then made a return to big bucks with Signs, earning $20 million. For his work on The Passion of the Christ, Gibson earned a reported $30 million – although some have suggested that figure is closer to $50 million.