Clint Eastwood, the iconic actor and director, received a relatively modest payment for his role in the classic 1964 spaghetti Western film A Fistful of Dollars. Initially, he was paid only $15,000 for his performance as the mysterious “Man with No Name.”
This sum was quite small compared to what top stars would usually earn, but Eastwood’s career was just beginning to take off, and the film marked his breakthrough role.
In addition to his salary, Eastwood was given a special bonus: a brand-new Mercedes-Benz car. The story goes that the car was a gift from the film’s producers, acknowledging the success of the film and Eastwood’s contribution to its international popularity.
“A Fistful of Dollars” was a major success and led to the rise of Eastwood as a major star.
The film also launched the career of director Sergio Leone, marking the beginning of the “Dollars Trilogy,” which includes For a Few Dollars More (1965) and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966).
The role of the “Man with No Name” became one of Eastwood’s most enduring and recognizable characters, and his performance is still celebrated as one of the defining moments of the Western genre.”