Kevin Costner’s Biggest Hollywood Paydays Revealed

Kevin Costner’s financial standing has long been a subject of public curiosity, especially following his high-profile divorce from Christine Baumgartner. Estimates of his net worth have ranged from $200 million to $400 million, with court documents suggesting a monthly income of $1.53 million and family outgoings exceeding $550,000. His wealth is the result of a combination of substantial acting fees, television contracts, and a shrewd approach to property investment. Costner’s earnings peaked during the early 1990s, when he was regularly listed among the world’s highest-paid actors. Here’s a breakdown of his most lucrative roles, ranked by reported salary.

Waterworld (1995): £14 Million

Costner famously turned down a leading part in The Shawshank Redemption to collaborate once more with director Kevin Reynolds on Waterworld. Set in a future where the polar ice caps have melted, the film saw Costner as the enigmatic Mariner. The production was plagued by delays and budget overruns, with the shoot stretching from a planned 96 days to 150, and costs soaring from $100 million to $175 million.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Costner was paid $14 million for the role.

The film’s troubled production led to a rift between Costner and Reynolds, and it initially flopped at the box office, though later home video and television sales eventually turned a profit. At the time, Costner was also dealing with a costly divorce from Cindy Silva, reportedly paying an $80 million settlement.

The Bodyguard (1992): £20–30 Million

Starring alongside Whitney Houston, Costner played Frank Farmer, a former Secret Service agent hired to protect a pop star. While critics were less than kind, giving the film a 38% score on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences flocked to see it, and it grossed $411 million worldwide on a $25 million budget.

According to The Baltimore Sun, Costner reportedly made somewhere between $20 million and $30 million from the movie.

Costner was so committed to the project that he delayed filming for a year to accommodate Houston’s schedule.

Yellowstone (2018–2024): £29.9 Million

Costner’s portrayal of John Dutton in the television series Yellowstone made him the highest-paid actor on TV at the time. He began with a fee of $500,000 per episode, which rose to $1.3 million by the fifth series. Over 47 episodes, this amounted to nearly $30 million. Creative disagreements with the show’s creator led to his departure before the final episodes, but not before he had left a significant mark on the series’ success. He also served as an executive producer, further boosting his earnings.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991): £40 Million

Costner’s collaboration with director Kevin Reynolds continued with this action-adventure, where he took on the role of the legendary outlaw. His compensation was not limited to an upfront fee; he also secured a percentage of the film’s profits.

According to the Daily Mail, Costner’s salary was $40 million for the action-adventure movie.

The film was a commercial hit, earning $390.5 million globally, despite some criticism of Costner’s accent. A later legal dispute over unpaid profit shares resulted in additional payments to the actor.

Dances With Wolves (1990): £50 Million

Costner’s directorial debut, Dances With Wolves, was a gamble that paid off handsomely. After failing to find a director who shared his vision, he took the helm himself, investing his own money into the project.

According to the Daily Mail, Costner’s salary for the movie was only $3 million. However, the success of the movie and his additional role as the filmmaker brought him quite a fortune from the movie.

The film grossed $424.2 million worldwide and won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Costner. Forbes reported his earnings for 1991 at $59 million, with the bulk attributed to this film.