# In 1957, Steve McQueen was paid $2,500 for his first starring role in a movie. One rash decision cost him $400,000

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1957-steve-mcqueen-was-paid-2500-for-his-first-starring-role-in-a-movie-one-rash-decision-cost-him-400000/
- Published: 2026-11-06T21:45:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T22:38:08+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/steve-mcqueen-paid-2500-first-starring-role-rash-decision-cost-him-400000/
- Topics: Entertainment, Film

## Key points

- McQueen took $2,500 upfront for *The Blob*.
- The film earned about $4 million.
- The exact profit-share agreement is disputed.

## Summary

In 1957, Steve McQueen took his first starring role in the science-fiction horror film *The Blob*, accepting $2,500 upfront rather than a share of the film’s earnings. The film became a major independent hit, leaving him with far less money than he might have earned, though it also helped launch his acting career.

McQueen was reportedly offered a choice between taking his salary immediately or receiving 10 per cent of the gross; he needed money at the time and did not trust the film to succeed. *The Blob* went on to earn about $4 million, and a percentage could have been worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Co-writer Kate Phillips recalled that she and McQueen were each due $150 plus a share, but neither received the percentage, so the precise deal remains unclear.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.