Austin Butler may not have won the Oscar for his performance in Elvis, but the breakout actor isn't going anywhere. He'll be gracing the silver screen again in the highly anticipated sequel to Dune, which is expected to be released in November 2023.
Austin has been working in Hollywood since 2005, and along with amassing an impressive resume of acting gigs, he's sustained a pretty substantial net worth as well. According to online sources, the actor has a net worth of over $4 million as of March 2023. From his time on the CW to his starring roles in Hollywood's biggest films, here are the jobs from Austin's over 20-year acting career that have helped secure Austin some huge paydays.
How Much Money Did Austin Butler Make Working On TV Shows?
Austin Butler was steadily becoming a teen heartthrob prior to getting cast as a series lead in 2013's The Carries Diaries. He was only 12 when he began his career in Hollywood. According to Austin, his mom gave up her job to help chauffer him to auditions. "I printed out 'Pulp Fiction,' and I read it to my mom as we would drive to auditions," said Austin in a 2019 interview with Access Hollywood.
He bounced across networks, getting guest spots on popular Disney Channel and Nickelodeon shows like Hannah Montana, iCarly, Wizards of Waverly Place, and Zoey 101. His most significant role during that stage in his life was on Nickelodeon's Ned's Declassified. He played the character Zippy Brewster for 41 episodes over the course of two years.
While we don't know precisely how much Austin made at that time, online sources state that the base rate for a child actor is $1,030 for either a half-hour or one-hour show. For a week the base rate for child actors is roughly $3,575. Adjusting for inflation, $668.66 would be the base rate Austin could have received in 2005. Considering how many various episodes he guest starred in, he probably made a hefty chunk of change working from 2005 to 2013.
Austin's steady work history before landing the role on The CW's The Carrie Diaries gave him room to negotiate about how much he made. We don't know exactly how much he made while working on the series, but online sources have confirmed that the channel was offering newcomers $15,000 to $20,000 per episode. In comparison, more experienced actors' salaries went up to as much as $75,000 to $100,000 an episode.
Austin has only spoken fondly of his time working on The Carries Diaries. "I never lived in New York before, and I was able to move to New York for two years and make that show. It was that and getting to be around AnnaSophia (Robb), everybody in that show, just so fun to be around, even just going back and watching Sex and the City," said Austin to Us Weekly.
How Much Money Has Austin Butler Made From Making Movies?
By 2015, Austin was venturing onto the silver screen. That year he starred in the horror movie The Intruders alongside Miranda Cosgrove. While we don't know how much Austin made, it was most likely around $50,000.
He was featured in a few other movies and landed a starring role in a one-season-wonder television show on MTV, The Shannara Chronicles. It wouldn't be until 2019 that he got his big movie break when he was cast as Tex Watson in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. According to online sources, he received $250,000 for the movie.
Austin also worked on Broadway, co-starring in the play The Iceman Cometh with none other than the legend himself, Denzel Washington. It was during their time working together that Austin was offered the opportunity to audition for the role of Elvis, thanks to Denzel.
The Equalizer star was amazed by Austin's work ethic and talent and took it upon himself to send a video of the actor singing a cover of "Unchained Melody" to Elvis director Baz Luhrmann.
"I received this videotape of this young man in a flood of tears playing 'Unchained Melody,' and I thought, 'Wow, what is that? How is that happening?' And then I got a call from Denzel Washington, who gave me a cold call," said Baz during a May 2022 interview with Entertainment Weekly. "I did not know Denzel, and he said, 'I've just worked with this guy on stage. I've never seen a work ethic like it,' and I'm like, 'Okay, I must see him."
Thus began Austin's journey to becoming Elvis. According to online sources, the star received $700,000 for his role in the Oscar-nominated film. There's a chance Austin potentially made more from his role in the movie as well, thanks to how well it did in theaters and in the awards circuit.
How Much Money ls Austin Butler Making For Dune 2?
Austin Butler's next role is a complete 180 from Elvis. He's delving into the world of science fiction, starring in the highly anticipated sequel to Dune alongside Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, and Florence Pugh. Austin loved the first Dune film, so he was ecstatic to receive the call that he'd been cast in the second installment of the franchise.
"It was this cinematic masterpiece, so the idea of getting to be a part of that world is just incredibly exciting, and Denis is one of my favorite filmmakers and just an amazing human being. He's so kind, and I'm a fan of every one of those actors in the film, so I felt really honored," said Austin to Variety in November 2022.
For fans worried his notorious Elvis accent might interrupt the vibes of the Dune universe, fear not. According to his co-star in the film Dave Bautista, he's lost it completely for the role. "I don't know who this guy was, but it's not Austin Butler. It's not Elvis. His voice is different, his look is different. Everything about his demeanor is terrifying," said Dave about Austin's performance in Dune 2.
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