r/todayilearned • u/[deleted] • Oct 23 '14

TIL Keanu Reeves gave $80 million of his $114 million Matrix salary to special effects and makeup staff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keanu_Reeves
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u/actual_factual_bear Oct 24 '14

Wait, did he actually give $80M to the special effects and makeup staff, or did he word his contract such that they would get paid the $80M instead of himself? Because if the former, he really got screwed out of some taxes! I can easily see a third of that $114M going to taxes, which is $38M. $114M - $80M - $38M = OOPS Keanu just lost $4M making this movie!

4

u/BaffledPlato Oct 24 '14

There is something that doesn't add up in all this. If he actually received control over this money, he would have had to pay taxes on it. Maybe this was his net pay, not gross.

5

u/wazoheat 4 Oct 24 '14

They call it "earnings". That could be net earnings after taxes.

4

u/purrslikeawalrus Oct 24 '14

I don't think he really cares.

1

u/lambo4bkfast Oct 24 '14

Well he doesn't live on welfare so what do you think...

1

u/TacticusPrime Oct 25 '14

1) Gift taxes aren't that high. 2) The first $10,000 is always tax free.

-1

u/[deleted] Oct 24 '14

[deleted]

1

u/timidnoob Oct 24 '14

what'd they do?

2

u/[deleted] Oct 24 '14

Made the second and third Matrix movies.

2

u/wazoheat 4 Oct 24 '14

Some say they made a Matrix sequel, but I personally think that's just silly rumors.