Jim Carrey is back on the big screen after a brief retirement, and he’s back to work because he says he needs the money. He revealed this at the London premiere of his new movie “Sonic the Hedgehog 3.”
Where’d The Money Go?
The actor, once one of Hollywood’s highest-paid stars, said on the red carpet on Dec. 10, “I came back to this universe ’cause, first of all, I get to play a genius, which is a bit of a stretch, and it’s just … it’s just … I bought a lot of stuff and I need the money, frankly.”
Though the comedian could be joking, he had been in retirement up until this point.
The 62-year-old, who famously announced his retirement in 2022 following “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” had said at the time he would only return for a script “written in gold ink.”
“If the angels bring some sort of script that’s written in gold ink that says to me that it’s going to be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road, but I’m taking a break,” he told “Access Hollywood” in 2022.
Now, less than two years later, Carrey has reprised his role as Dr. Robotnik — and he also plays the character’s grandfather, Gerald Robotnik — in the third installment of the blockbuster franchise, set to release on Dec. 20.
Known for his roles in 1997’s “Liar Liar,” 1998’s “The Truman Show,” and 2003’s “Bruce Almighty,” Carrey was once among Hollywood’s top earners. At the height of his career in the 1990s, Carrey, who gained the spotlight in Keenen Ivory Wayans‘ sketch comedy TV show “In Living Color,” commanded $20 million per film, The Daily Mail reported. Despite an estimated net worth of $300 million, Carrey seems to admit he’s currently low on cash, though he said he took his current role not just for the cash.
“’At the same time, it had heart, and that’s why I did it the first time. There was something beautiful about the heart of the piece,” he shared.
Carrey’s finances seem to be a focus, as he continues to wait for a substantial payout from the sale of his stunning Los Angeles mansion, which remains on the market despite several price cuts, according to Realtor.com.
It was initially listed in February 2023 at $28.9 million, it has dropped to $19 million.
In April 2023, Carrey decreased the price to $27 million, followed by another cut in October to $24 million. By May 2024, he had slashed the price to $21.9 million before the most recent drop in September.
The actor’s admission about his financial motivations is a reminder of the challenges of maintaining wealth even for Hollywood megastars. Denzel Washington recently during interview rounds for “Gladiator II” admitted to taking a slew of clunker films just for the paycheck.