Home Alone actor Daniel Stern, the clumsy thief, has revealed how he skillfully negotiated a special clause in his contract that saw him earn millions in royalties.
Actor Daniel Stern PHOTO: 20th Century Studios
It is common knowledge that the first film became an international phenomenon immediately after its release in 1990. Thirsty for a sequel, 20th Century Studios approached the actor to reprise his role for Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
Although he was initially excited about the opportunity, Stern soon discovered that some actors were earning much more than he was. Believing he deserved a better contract, the actor fired his agent and took matters into his own hands, according to AOL.com.
“I knew they couldn’t make the movie without me”Stern said.
After negotiating on his own, Stern demanded an increase in his salary to $1.5 million, but more importantly, he insisted on a clause giving him two percent of the film’s gross profits.
According to the cited publication, negotiations dragged on and both sides finally agreed on a one percent royalty clause. Plus the increased salary mentioned above.
Although Stern hasn’t publicly disclosed the exact amount of money he’s earned over the years, the film’s massive grosses have seen royalties add up to millions of dollars over time.
Actor Daniel Stern PHOTO: 20th Century Studios
The sequel to Home Alone was a massive hit, earning over $350 million worldwide.
Internationally, the film earned $185.3 million for a global total of approximately $359 million.
If the one percent clause is taken at face value, it is possible to calculate that Stern’s earnings have totaled $3,590,000 over the years.
However, this figure is purely speculative as the actor has not officially confirmed any amount.
Actor Daniel Stern now lives on a farm and works as a sculptor, specializing in bronze statues for gardens.
He says the film copyright has allowed him to pursue other paths in life without financial pressure.
