Chris Pratt, the beloved star of blockbuster franchises like “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Jurassic World,” recently shared a candid reflection on his financial journey during an appearance on SiriusXM’s Sway in the Morning. Despite his modest beginnings, Pratt admitted he wasn’t very smart with his first big paycheck after breaking into Hollywood.
When asked if he was frugal with his initial earnings due to his humble background, Pratt quickly dispelled the notion. “No!” he exclaimed with a laugh. “I was under the impression that I would never run out of money.” Recalling his first significant payday, Pratt explained, “The first paycheck I got, I was like, ‘Are you serious?’ I had lived on very little money for a long time, so the first big job I got was a TV movie. I got paid $75,000.”
With newfound wealth, Pratt’s excitement led to reckless spending. “I was like, ‘I’m never gonna wait again. Screw you, I am leaving,’” he quipped, even singing a bit of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” to illustrate his mindset. However, the reality of financial management soon set in. “About two months later, I was like, ‘Where’d that money go?!’”
Pratt’s initial exuberance led him to travel extensively, visiting places like Hawaii and Australia, and dreaming of grand investments like a yacht. “That was just a crazy amount of money to me. I never could have possibly imagined making that amount of money, and it went very quickly,” he reflected. Growing up without financial education, Pratt realized he needed to create a plan as life became more expensive.
“I didn’t know what to do with money. It was like, it would come in, I would spend it,” Pratt admitted. “It took a good amount of time for me to stop and say, ‘All right, I gotta get wise about this.’ I needed to think about, ‘How am I gonna get to the point where if I stop working one day, I’ll still be OK? My family will be OK.’ So, developing a financial literacy plan later in my life was a crucial step in growing up.”
Pratt also reminisced about key moments when he felt he had “made it” in his career. From starring in a Carl’s Jr. commercial to getting his SAG card and finding a talent rep, each milestone was significant. However, the most memorable moment was buying his mother, Kathy Pratt, a house after his role on the TV drama “Everwood.”
These days, Chris Pratt is a major Hollywood star with substantial earnings from each movie. Reflecting on his journey from living out of a van in Maui to his first acting role in Rae Dawn Chong’s short film “Cursed Part 3,” Pratt acknowledged the transition from financial naivety to savvy management.
“I had lived on very little money for a long time,” Pratt shared. “So, the first big job I got was called a Schedule F job for a TV movie. I got paid $75,000, and I thought, ‘I’m never going to wait tables again.’ But I quickly realized I needed to learn financial literacy.”
Pratt’s story underscores the importance of financial education, especially for those who suddenly come into wealth. His experiences highlight the need for planning and wise decision-making to ensure long-term security and stability.