Fame and fortune are far from guaranteed in showbiz; in fact, many actors and other talent with big aspirations find themselves balancing jobs outside their artistic domain for years, just waiting to land the job that will launch them into their chosen career. If and when that first job is finally booked, soon-to-be stars might find themselves getting the fattest paychecks of their lives up to that point. Others, not so much; but hey, every penny counts.
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How have some celebrities spent their first paychecks? Let’s have a look at what Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and nine other rich and famous people did when they first hit payday.
Tiffany Hadish
In an interview with Time, Tiffany Hadish disclosed that her first check was around $120. This is hardly the big bucks, but it was enough to inspire the comedian and actor to get her banking on track, and to stock up on some sweet tooth treats too.
“First thing I did is I went to the bank and I opened up a checking account,” Haddish said. “And I bought a big box of Snickers and lollipops, Jolly Rancher sticks, and Blow Pops. Oh, and Corn Nuts.”
Sarah Paulson
The actor Sarah Paulson started out as a waitress, but quit because she couldn’t spell “parmesan,” she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2016. Her first acting job came when she was still a teenager. Like most teenagers would, the “American Horror Story” star went on a bit of a shopping spree with her earnings.
“I bought a lot of stuff at the Gap because I was 19,” Paulson told The Hollywood Reporter. “I was still living at home, and I was understudying Amy Ryan on Broadway in ‘The Sisters Rosensweig’, and my check was substantial.”
Paulson also bought “some flaming Dr. Pepper drinks.”
But there is some regret here; Paulson said she wishes she’d bought a car instead. Fair!
Read: 30 Celebrities Who Went From Rags to Riches
Rami Malek
Academy Award-winning actor Rami Malek told GQ that he spent his first paycheck on an espresso machine. It may sound whimsical, but considering how much lattés at Starbucks go for, it’s not a bad investment!
Donald Glover
Gushers — the teeth-crushingly sweet gummy candies that are sneakily marketed as “fruit snacks” — is what Donald Glover, aka, Childish Gambino, scooped up with his first paycheck. “I wasn’t allowed to have candy as a kid,” the multitalented artist told Jimmy Kimmel of the inspiration behind this purchase. He was probably joking, to some extent.
America Ferrera
America Ferrera, who most recently captured the hearts of America in her role as the star mom in “Barbie,” told InStyle that her first job was acting in a Disney Channel movie called “Gotta Kick It Up!”