Chris Tucker has made his mark in Hollywood, appearing in roles that have included Michael Jackson’s “You Rock My World,” music video as well as the “Friday” and the “Rush Hour” film franchises. This year, the actor returns to Hollywood after a self-imposed hiatus to play a role in Ben Affleck’s new film “Air,” which tells the story behind the groundbreaking business deal between Michael Jordan and Nike.
Tucker says he took a small break from Hollywood simply because the money didn’t seem worth it, the 51-year-old veteran actor told Classic ATL.
“But I felt like, you know, it was a ceiling right there, and I wanted more,” he said of working in Hollywood. “It wasn’t enough. So I stepped back and lived a little bit, travelled the world, and did a lot of humanitarian stuff that really broadened my perspective on the world. It ain’t just about me being the biggest comic or actor in the world; it’s about becoming somebody to give to the world, inspiring in some kind of way, hopefully.”
His Hollywood success afforded him the desired break.
How much did Chris Tucker make from Rush Hour?
Chris Tucker earned about $48 million from the “Rush Hour” franchise, which at one point made him one of the highest earners in Hollywood. According to CAKnowledge, Tucker is worth about $6 million and makes about $40,000 monthly. He was paid $20 million for “Rush Hour 2” and $25 million for “Rush Hour 3.”
But as he was building his wealth, the IRS noticed some discrepancies.
The IRS Issue
In 2014, the “Silver Linings Playbook” actor ran into trouble with the IRS. During that time, the actor was said to have owed between more than $11 million and $14 million, Fox News and Forbes reported. He reportedly settled with the IRS for $2.5 million. According to Radar, Tucker sold his Georgia home and used the profits to pay the IRS in October 2020.
And in 2021 the IRS came knocking again, according to USA Today. Two years ago, the IRS sued him for not paying his back taxes, estimated at about $9.6 million.
In March, Radar reported that Tucker appeared to be “engaged in settlement discussions” with the government. It was reported at that time that the arrangement would be updated by the court in two months.
Will Tucker be in ‘Rush Hour 4’ movie?
Should a “Rush Hour 4” be on the cinematic horizon, Tucker told V-103 that he would be down to continue in the buddy cop comedy that co-stars Jackie Chan. He also expressed how excited he was to start working again.
“Now, ‘Rush Hour 4,’ that’s something I definitely will probably drop in there, ’cause I love working with Jackie. But I’ve got some new stuff I think y’all really gonna like…Jackie is ready, and we want to do this so that people don’t ever forget it,” Tucker said.
Even Chan has expressed excitement about continuing the franchise and confirmed that a “Rush Hour 4” is in development. One person who may not continue in the franchise is the film’s director and producer Brett Ratner, who was accused of sexual harassment and misconduct in 2017, causing Warner Bros to sever ties with him.
“I wanna work till I drop now,” Tucker continued. “I traveled the world over and over again…now I’m ready to work. You’re gonna see a lot of good stuff coming, but it’s gonna be on a whole ‘nother level. That’s what I like about it; I’m excited about that; it’s not gonna be what you’ve normally seen.”
Great article! Chris Tucker has been an iconic figure in Hollywood, and it’s fascinating to learn more about his financial journey. His ability to build such a significant net worth is truly admirable. As a fan, I’m eagerly waiting for Rush Hour 4, and it’s exciting to hear about the rumors surrounding it. Thanks for shedding light on this topic! Keep up the excellent work, DominionCinemas.