Here’s What These Celebrities Bought With Their First Paychecks

Celebrities Spending Their First Paycheck

The path from aspiring artist to international superstar is amazing, frequently distinguished by humble beginnings and lofty goals. When these ambitions begin to come true and the first substantial paychecks arrive, it's intriguing to observe how celebrities choose to celebrate their accomplishments. From lavish purchases to meaningful gestures, these celebrities' decisions reveal their early priorities and the principles that define their lives. In this fascinating investigation, let's look at how several well-known celebrities choose to spend their first considerable gains at the start of their careers.

1. Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez's first car was a Honda Hatchback, the same car she drove in In Living Color. This car, interestingly, was a gift from the show's creator, Keenen Ivory Wayans. During a roundtable session with The Hollywood Reporter in 2016, Lopez revealed to her industry colleagues that this dependable vehicle had accompanied her to several auditions. However, when she earned her first significant paycheck, she had to say goodbye to it. "I think I just got a regular series, I think. And I bought a car. I bought a Mercedes. And it was a big, huge deal ... It was exciting at the time! she recalled.

2. Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift bought a Lexus SC430 convertible with her first big paycheck. "All the girls who were mean to me in middle school, like, idolized The Plastics. I think I chose that car as a kind of rebellion against that type of girl." Swift told in an interview with The Guardian. "Instead of going to parties I've been writing songs and playing shows and getting these really small paychecks that have added up and now I get to buy a car — and guess which one I'm going to buy? The one that the girl you idolize has."

3. George Clooney

George Clooney, the star of Ticket to Paradise, has a great giving streak. Long before he generously contributed $1 million in cash to fourteen of his pals, he had shown a similar generosity with his first substantial gains. Clooney once lived in a friend's closet, sharing living space with the friend's grandmother, according to a PopSugar interview with his Ticket to Paradise co-star Julia Roberts. This is how Clooney spent his first salary. "I bought [my buddy's grandmother] a TV with a remote," he admitted. He went on to say, "She would always have to get up and go change the channel, so my first check I bought her a TV."

4. Henry Cavill

Henry Cavill had a humble beginning with his first automobile, a Peugeot 206, before becoming an advocate for environmental conservation, driving in an electric Audi, or savoring the raw luxury of a Bentley, per Nicki Swift. Cavill unveiled his first automobile, a French hatchback that had seen better days, during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, necessitating its replacement. He went to a showroom on his father's advice and saw a variety of "nice cars". He fell in love with the Audi R8, but his father's refined taste won out. Cavill eventually drove away in an Aston Martin DBS, a hallmark of the legendary James Bond character.

5. Kelly Rowland

Kelly Rowland, a former member of Destiny's Child, wasted no time when her large payment arrived. In an interview with InStyle, she disclosed her first splurges, which included purchasing items her mother formerly considered too expensive. Rowland also threw a great party to celebrate her achievement, but the genuine delight of her newfound fortune had yet to be realized. Rowland embraced a fast-paced lifestyle after reaching the million-dollar mark at the age of 20. She spent money on her beauty, investing in her hair and apparel. "I remember just going completely nuts on trips to Paris and Italy, blowing like 30 grand in 30 minutes at Bergdorf Goodman," Rowland shared. "I was, like, 21 years old with five bedrooms and 5,000 square feet to myself."

6. Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise's total career earnings were expected to cross the astonishing billion-dollar mark in 2022. Cruise's performance as Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in the movie Top Gun: Maverick cemented his standing as a Hollywood star, grossing a whopping $100 million in its first week. When it came to celebrating his accomplishments, Cruise took a unique method. His first substantial gain was spent pleasantly: he paid for his sister's college education. During an interview on The Graham Norton Show, Cruise revealed this information and added, "Next one I bought my other sister a car."

7. Oprah Winfrey

In a candid moment, Oprah Winfrey revealed her first purchase after receiving her first $1 million check. In response to a query on the O, The Oprah Magazine YouTube channel on living her "best life," the renowned talk-show presenter and philanthropist stated that she used the money to buy "really good fluffy" towels. She admits to initially photographing the cheque, recognizing its significance. Oprah, 65, told Brooklyn, a five-year-old, that she loved quality towels, which are large and fluffy enough to cover one's entire body, per Independent. She purchased high-quality Ralph Lauren towels, which was surprisingly a relatable choice.

8. Matt LeBlanc

When Matt LeBlanc, best recognized for his role as Joey Tribbiani on Friends, auditioned for the part, he was in financial trouble. With only a little more than $10 to his name, he was beginning to wonder if acting could sustain him. Faced with the hard reality of life as a struggling artist, he considered getting a regular job. LeBlanc's intuition, on the other hand, warned him that his fortune was going to change. He was selected for the role and earned large paychecks. LeBlanc's priority was to put food on the table. "I was so broke. I needed the job badly. And the first thing I bought was dinner," he admitted during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno alongside his fellow cast members.

9. Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille O'Neal spent the entire $1 million he received from an endorsement deal before entering the NBA in a single day. After deducting his expenses, he got $600,000 and went straight to a Mercedes store. On In Depth with Graham Bensinger, O'Neal explained, "I go buy a $150,000 car. No negotiations." When he returned home, his father asked, "Where's mine?" In appreciation for his father's part in his upbringing, O'Neal returned to the showroom and spent another $300,000 to buy the same Mercedes model for his father. To adapt to his newfound position, he also purchased a car for his mother.