Sean Connery walked away from $450 million because he didn't understand the script

When Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema were assembling the cast for The Lord of the Rings, Sean Connery was the studio's first choice for Gandalf. The package they put on the table was, by Hollywood standards, deranged: a $10 million up-front salary for all three films, plus 15% of the worldwide box-office gross. For an unproven trilogy being filmed back-to-back-to-back in New Zealand, it was an unprecedented bet.

The Offer on Paper

Three films. One actor. Backend points on every territory, every format, every re-release. Connery read the script. He read the book. He watched concept art and test footage. He still said no.

What Connery Said

Asked about the decision in subsequent interviews, including with the New Zealand Herald, Connery offered the same answer he gave The New York Post: "I never understood it. I read the book. I read the script. I saw the film. I still don't understand it." The reason wasn't money, ego, or scheduling. It was comprehension. Or rather, the lack of it.

What 15% of $2.981 Billion Looks Like

The Lord of the Rings trilogy grossed $2.981 billion worldwide, per Box Office Mojo. Fifteen percent of that figure works out to roughly $447 million. Add the $10 million base salary and Connery walked away from approximately $450 million - the largest acting payday that has ever been offered, before or since.

Ian McKellen took the role instead. He was paid an estimated $20 million for all three films plus reprising the role in the Hobbit trilogy. He has called Gandalf the role of his life.

The Encore

The Lord of the Rings was not the only nine-figure script Connery declined for being too confusing. He was later offered the Architect in The Matrix Reloaded. He turned that down too. Same reason.