Brad Pitt’s Salary for Playing Ladybug in “Bullet Train” Will Make Your Jaw Drop 

Brad Pitt has been in the entertainment industry for decades, and one thing we can all unanimously agree on is that man is aging gracefully like fine wine. But today, we’re not here to talk about his handsomeness or how he has consumed our minds and soul with his good looks. Today, we’ll simply take a look at his wallet. 

Brad Pitt in a still from Bullet Train (2022) | image: Sony Pictures

Well, particularly his salary for playing the role of Ladybug—a highly experienced assassin who wants to retire—in David Leitch’s Bullet Train. So, let’s break down some numbers really quickly and see if Pitt can actually make our jaws drop with his 2017 paycheck. 

Brad Pitt’s paycheck for starring in Bullet Train

When it comes to Hollywood’s A-listers, Brad Pitt is one of the few stars, who demands extravagantly high paychecks for their participation. Well, why won’t he? Given his undeniable skill of keeping audiences hooked to the screen, no matter how odd the character is or what role is thrown at him—be it of a vampire, a fearless warrior, or even a thief—Pitt is highly likely to demand high income for his roles. 

And that’s exactly what happened when he was cast to take on the titular role of Ladybug in the 2022 film Bullet Train. Donning the role of an eccentric and unlucky assassin who just wants to get out of the brutal business, Pitt sought an eye-watering sum. According to reports from Variety, the actor bagged a whopping amount of $20M to deliver his iconic charm and wit to the big screen in the action-packed comic thriller. 

Yes, you read that right—$20M for his singular role in the solo action flick Bullet Train. And if this isn’t the kind of salary that makes him one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood—a group he has been part of for years—what will? But amid discussions about his eye-watering salary, what made his paycheck even more interesting was the film’s box office success.

Pitt as his character Ladybug in Bullet Train | image: Sony Pictures

Given that the film grossed $238M worldwide against its $85M budget (via The Numbers), Brad Pitt alone earned 8.4% of the film’s total earnings. You read it right—because that’s apparently the remarkable price tag of Pitt’s portrayal of an assassin in David Leitch’s 2022 film. Perhaps, it was both the filmmaker as well as Pitt’s confidence in himself that allowed them to negotiate such a high sum for his appearance as Ladybug. 

What is David Leitch’s Bullet Train about? 

Before we lose our minds over Pitt’s earnings from other projects, let’s take a closer look at his action thriller Bullet Train. Directed by David Leitch, who’s popularly associated with projects like John Wick (2014) and Deadpool 2 (2018), his 2022 movie is based on the 2010 black humor thriller novel Maria Beetle by Japanese author Kōtarō Isaka.

The movie narrates the hilarious tale of five assassins who find themselves on the same bullet train in Japan and soon realize that all of their respective missions are actually connected. In the film, Pitt plays the role of Ladybug, an experienced but unlucky assassin who sets out on what should be a straightforward mission to recover a briefcase. 

However, things quickly fall out of control when—as mentioned earlier—it turns out that the train from Tokyo to Kyoto is packed with other assassins whose purposes are mysteriously interconnected. Now if you haven’t watched this marvelous piece of cinema, then you must know the result of his hilarious situation is quite chaotic. 

Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry in a still from the 2022 movie | image: Sony Pictures

Filled with explosive action sequences, sharp dialogues, and unexpected twists, Bullet Train featuring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Zazie Beetz, Michael Shannon, Logan Lerman, Joey King, and Sandra Bullock became a blockbuster hit, following its release. Garnering a fresh 53% critics score and 76% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie even featured a cameo from Channing Tatum. 

How much does Brad Pitt usually earn from his movies? 

With a career spanning over three decades and a reputation of being one of Hollywood’s leading men, Brad Pitt is known for being one of the highest earners in the entertainment industry. So while you were already stunned by the actor’s salary for Bullet Train, prepare to be shocked when we unravel his income from other projects. 

Jumping right into it, Cosmopolitan revealed how Pitt made around $6,000 to rob Thelma and Louise in Ridley Scott’s 1991 crime drama. He further earned a base salary of $500,000 for Kalifornia, $4M for his hard hitter Se7en, and $10M each for Sleepers and Seven Years in Tibet. Meanwhile, by the late 1990s, his base film salary increased to $17.5M. 

Thereafter, the actor started earning more than $15M for films like Meet Joe Black, Fight Club, Spy Game, and Troy. Later on, starring in Doug Liman’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith not only led him to meet Angelina Jolie but also turned him into one of the most famous and highest-paid entertainers in the world. This led Pitt to seek a consistent earning of a minimum of $20M for major motion picture releases. 

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in Mr. & Mrs. Smith | image: 20th Century Studios

However, he surprisingly reduced his salary from an astronomical $20M per film to $10M, when he was hired to appear in Quentin Tarantino‘s Inglorious Basterds and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Further, when he appeared alongside George Clooney in Ocean’s Eleven, Pitt once again reduced his salary to $10M while seeking a percentage of backend receipts. 

Now, this led Pitt to earn around $30M from Ocean’s Eleven. Meanwhile, as of recent years, Brad Pitt is reportedly earning an estimated $35M for his work in the 2024 Apple TV movie Wolfs, and around $30M for his 2025 Apple TV racing drama, F1. So, based on these figures, it’s clear that Pitt’s $20M paycheck for Bullet Train was well within the range of what he typically earns for high-profile roles. 

But in the end, it’s not always about the actor’s paycheck, but also about the value he brings to a project. Considering how most films that Pitt has starred in, have become golden successes, it’s understandable why studios pay him handsomely to appear in their films. And with his versatility—ranging from action flicks to drama and comedy—it becomes even easier for the actor to become an asset to any production. 

Bullet Train is currently available to watch on Disney+.