MCU Star Josh Brolin Reveals He Earned More From Trading Than Playing Thanos

So here’s something you probably didn’t expect out of the Marvel universe’s resident Mad Titan: Josh Brolin, aka Thanos himself, has actually made more money hustling stocks than crushing superheroes (or, you know, acting generally). And yes, he’s surprisingly open about just how little Hollywood paid him for some pretty major roles early on. Let’s untangle this career detour—and all the weird twists that came with it.

Brolin, Day Trader: More Bulls Than Box Offices

Brolin shared on Guy Raz's ‘The Great Creators’ podcast that there was a stretch where acting gigs dried up, bills piled up, and paying for his kids’ school wasn’t just tough—it felt impossible. Here’s a direct quote that basically tells you how unglamorous star life can be:

'If you’re lucky enough to make 100,000 a year, which I wasn’t, then you’re clearing 30,000 after taxes and commissions.'

Desperate times, desperate measures. Enter: a plane ride next to Brett Markinson, an entrepreneur and (luckily for Brolin) a guy who couldn’t stop talking about the ins and outs of stock trading. Brolin, embracing full nerd mode, grilled Markinson on everything, soaking up stock strategies and day-trading know-how.

Here’s the bit that made my eyes go wide: according to Brolin, trading made him more money than acting ever did. Not lottery-ticket luck, either—a methodical grind. He says he wasn’t just picking one rocket-ship stock; he was 'very disciplined in the breaths of upward momentum.' (Translation: he put in the work.)

Exactly how much money did he clear? He’s not saying. But he does admit he’s stepped off the trading treadmill because 4:30 a.m. stock market alarms and micromanaging your portfolio is 'a full-time job.' Now, he just sticks to long-term investing. Less stress, still rich.

The Struggle Before the Stones: Brolin’s Not-So-Successful Years

It’s easy to think actors are all minted after their first breakout role, but if you want a reality check, Brolin dished out plenty of it on another podcast (Hawk vs Wolf). Really, he earned next to nothing for some pretty major movies. Here’s how his “payday” for blockbusters breaks down:

• No Country for Old Men: Basically minimum wage (or less) for a Coen brothers classic.
• American Gangster: Slightly better, but he was so broke that he didn’t even know what 'points' (the backend cut actors sometimes get) meant. His lawyer called and told him to check his email—he thought he’d scored a $60,000 windfall, which would have been life-changing… then realized he’d actually misread how much he got. The real number, by the time taxes and fees took their cut? Maybe $25k–$30k. Ouch.

Fast forward a few years, and Brolin’s net worth sits at about $25 million (per Celebrity Net Worth), but it’s pretty clear he didn’t get there by coasting on studio checks alone.

Thanos’ Paycheck: Big, But Not the Biggest

So, what did Marvel pay Brolin for snapping half the universe out of existence as Thanos? Various reports say he scored $15 million for Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame combined, or somewhere between $5–6 million per movie depending on which leak you believe.

The really wild part: when Marvel first called him for the job, they pitched it as a throwaway 10-minute cameo—he was busy filming Everest in London and had no clue it’d turn into a franchise-defining mega-villain.

Now compare Brolin’s Thanos payday to a few other MCU baddies:

• Tom Hiddleston (Loki): Allegedly pocketed just $800,000 for the first Avengers movie. That’s surprisingly low for the god of mischief.
• Jonathan Majors (Kang): Was reportedly set to make $20 million for the scrapped Kang Dynasty film. (Brolin’s Thanos could probably snap half that paycheck away and no one would notice.)
• Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom? If rumors are true, Marvel was ready to shell out $100 million for RDJ to play Doom in the upcoming Secret Wars/Doomsday saga. Thanos’ checks are looking downright modest next to that.

The Takeaway

Josh Brolin: one-time broke actor, Marvel supervillain, surprise day-trading success story. If you’re out there wondering how stars survive between blockbusters, just know: sometimes it’s less red carpets, more candlesticks and stock tickers.

Think Brolin could teach a masterclass in hustle? Or is his success just high-stakes luck? Drop your thoughts below.