It's the Pitts! How Brad made a paltry $6,000 for breakout role in Thelma And Louise

By Mike Larkin

PUBLISHED: 22:00 EST, 23 February 2014 | UPDATED: 22:00 EST, 23 February 2014

Nowadays he has multiple mansions and is worth an eye-popping $150m

But Brad Pitt earned a paltry $6,000 for his breakout role as a sexy hitchhiker in cult classic Thelma And Louise.

The beefcake actor played rugged J.D in the 1991 Ridley Scott film, which stared Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon as the movie's titular charcters.

Brad payday: But while Pitt earned just $6,000 for 1991's Selma And Louise his eye-catching turn was his passport into the big time

Brad payday: But while Pitt earned just $6,000 for 1991's Selma And Louise his eye-catching turn was his passport into the big time

He is picked up by the pair after they go on the run from the law after Sarandon's Louise shoots dead a man for trying to rape her friend.

And while his character turns out to be a charmer who ends up bedding Thelma, he is also a thief who runs off with all of their money.

While his pay packet was rather light, there is little doubt the part in the critically acclaimed movie helped launch the then unknown actor's career.

Just a year later he would star in his breakthrough lead role in the Robert Redford directed film A River Runs Through It.

He was taking his vitamins: Brad was looking in good shape when appeared in the popular 1991 movie

He was taking his vitamins: Brad was looking in good shape when appeared in the popular 1991 movie

And in 1993 his place as an A-lister was cemented when he starred alongside Tom Cruise in the smash box office hit Interview With The Vampire.

And with such pictures as Seven, Troy, Moneyball and Mr And Mrs Smith under his belt, it is easy to see how he now commands an annual salary estimated to be $23m.

But while Brad is always guaranteed a bulging wad of cash whenever he makes a film, some stars are not afraid to speculate to accumulate.

For fellow star Jim Carrey walked away with more than a few wheelbarrows full of cash after taking no upfront fee for 200's Yes Man, instead asking for 36.2 per cent of the profits

It proved to be a shrewd move by the Canadian, as the movie made almost $226m at the box office on a $70m budget.

On top: While then superstar Geena Davis' career would soon nosedive with Cutthroat Island while Brad's has shot into the stratosphere

On top: While then superstar Geena Davis' career would soon nosedive with Cutthroat Island while Brad's has shot into the stratosphere

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Fate is rather peculair....he became highly profitable for the movie executives when he replaced the late River Phoenix in Interview with a Vampire. I felt his acting, compared to Tom Cruise in that movie, was one dimensional and lacked depth. And in most of his films, I always found his acting quite rigid and as if he was reading his script.....

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No, he break out role was on Dallas playing Charlie's boyfriend! Just watching the re runs.

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I remember watching that film for the first time, and my reaction to him when he first appeared in the film "wow whose that" he's always had a slight lisp though, don't know if anyone else has noticed but apart from that he was pretty gorgeous

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To me, he was at his best- looks wise- in Thelma & Louise!

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Brad Pitt is great looking and a great actor to boot! And he seems like a nice guy.

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$6,000 is a lot for acting badly.

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Your poor hubby/boyfriend.

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In British pounds about £3,500 minus his fee to agent, PR and whoever else - Yes this is very poorly. Considering the film made so much money. But Brad had a job dressed as a chicken before, so not all bad going.

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Looking old. Angelina will replace you soon.

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You have to start somewhere!

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