Although Tom Hanks didn’t receive an upfront salary for 1994’s “Forrest Gump,” he certainly didn’t walk away empty-handed. Instead of the traditional paycheck, the Oscar-winning actor decided to take a percentage of the film’s box office profits. That decision turned out to be life-changing: The movie went on to gross over $678 million worldwide, netting Hanks an estimated $60 million to $65 million.
Like A Box of Chocolates
The deal reflected Hanks’ belief in the film’s potential, as well as his close creative partnership with director Robert Zemeckis. When the studio was hesitant over funding certain key scenes, such as Forrest’s now-iconic cross-country run, Hanks and Zemeckis personally paid for the production costs.
During an interview with “In Depth with Graham Bensinger” in 2022, Hanks revealed how the studio initially refused to greenlight the cross-country running sequence due to cost. “They said, ‘We can’t afford it,’” Hanks recalled. Zemeckis and Hanks decided to pay for the scene themselves by forgoing part of their salary in exchange for a bigger cut of the profits. The studio agreed.
The deal recently resurfaced on Instagram.
And it wasn’t the only time they stepped in. Hanks and Zemeckis also paid for insurance on another scene that the studio refused to cover due to poor weather conditions.
Their gamble paid off. Hanks, whose net worth is now estimated to be $400 million, won his second consecutive Best Actor Oscar for “Forrest Gump,” following his win for “Philadelphia.” “Forrest Gump” “also took home five other Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Hanks is now gearing up for the June 2026 release of the wildly popular animated “Toy Story 5,” for which he voices the “Woody” character. “The Toy Story” film franchise, which began in 1995 and consists of the four main films and the spin-off “Lightyear,” has grossed over $3.2 billion at the worldwide box office.