Lord of the Rings triology made $2.92 billion but Samwise Gamgee star Sean Astin got so little that he had to sell his house

The Lord of the Rings trilogy grossed nearly $2.92 billion worldwide and became one of the biggest movie franchises in history. But Sean Astin, who won hearts as Samwise Gamgee, says he earned so little from the trilogy that he was eventually forced to sell his house.

Speaking to The Guardian, Astin admitted he wasn't prepared for the level of fame that came with the films and said the financial rewards didn't match the global success.

"There was a disconnect between the attention that I was getting and how much money we had. It was not a lot of money!"


He then revealed the shocking consequence of the deal he signed.

"In fact, I had to sell my house because I negotiated such a small amount on the trilogy."

Astin has previously opened up about the contract he signed before filming Peter Jackson's epic fantasy trilogy.

In a 2017 interview on The Jim & Sam Show, he explained that he had already bought a home with a $250,000-a-year mortgage when he landed the role of Samwise Gamgee.



He recalled being offered $250,000 for a year and a half of work, a deal that left him unable to meet his mortgage commitments.

"My pen signed this contract, which obligated me to $250,000 a year, and I'm gonna sign this contract, which will make it so that I absolutely cannot satisfy that other thing."

Astin later clarified the math behind the deal.

By the time The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King premiered in 2003, he said his finances had improved.

Today, Astin says he is "very comfortable financially."

Sean Astin wasn't the only Lord of the Rings star paid modestly

Astin isn't the only cast member who has spoken about relatively low salaries on the trilogy.

Elijah Wood, who played Frodo Baggins, has said the cast's pay was "not massive" because making all three movies at once was considered a huge gamble for New Line Cinema.

Cate Blanchett joked in 2024 that she "basically got free sandwiches" and claimed "no one got paid anything."

Orlando Bloom, who portrayed Legolas, revealed in 2019 that he received $175,000 for all three films. "Nothing, nothing, nothing. I got nothing. 175 grand for three movies."

Despite that, Bloom said he would happily return. "It was the greatest gift of my life... I'd do it again for half the money."

A new Lord of the Rings project remains in development, with Stephen Colbert attached as a co-writer. Astin confirmed he has discussed the project with Colbert and is interested in reprising Samwise Gamgee.

When asked whether he expects better pay this time around, his answer was immediate. "Goddam right."

How much did The Lord of the Rings trilogy earn at the box office?

Despite the cast's modest salaries, Peter Jackson's fantasy trilogy became one of the highest-grossing franchises ever, earning a combined $2.92 billion worldwide.

• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001): $901,990,952 worldwide on a $93 million budget.
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002): $926,797,210 worldwide on a $94 million budget.
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003): $1,126,146,639 worldwide on a $94 million budget.

Together, the three films grossed $2,954,934,801 (about $2.95 billion) worldwide, cementing The Lord of the Rings as one of the most successful movie trilogies in cinema history.