Ke Huy Quan has revealed in his new memoir that director Steven Spielberg and producer George Lucas gave him an unexpected share of profits from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom whilst he was just 12 years old. This gesture was highly unusual, as profit-sharing was not standard practice for actors at the time, particularly for child actors on their debut film, making it exceptionally generous.

Quan discovered a cheque from Lucasfilm for nearly $100,000 in an envelope after filming concluded, in addition to his already-agreed acting fee. The film grossed over $300 million worldwide, and Spielberg and Lucas ensured the young actor received a portion of those earnings. Quan recalled that such profit participation was virtually unheard of for emerging performers, yet even more extraordinary given that Temple of Doom was the highly anticipated sequel to a successful franchise that was expected to generate substantial revenue.