The $0 Gamble That Paid $35 Million

In the late 1980s, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the highest-paid action star in the world. His films - The Terminator, Commando, Predator - had grossed hundreds of millions. So when he pitched himself for a comedy, playing opposite Danny DeVito as long-lost twin brothers, Universal Pictures was skeptical. Schwarzenegger in a comedy? Nobody was buying tickets for that.

The Zero-Dollar Gamble

Arnold proposed a deal that made the studio's accountants smile: he'd take $0 upfront in exchange for a percentage of the film's gross profits. DeVito and director Ivan Reitman made similar deals, each forgoing their salaries for backend points. In total, the trio split roughly 40% of the film's profits between them.

Universal loved it. They were making a major studio comedy with three big names and paying zero in upfront talent costs. The production budget came in at just $15 million - a fraction of what a typical Schwarzenegger film would cost. In the studio's eyes, the risk was close to nothing.

A $216 Million Punchline

Twins opened on December 9, 1988, and was an immediate hit. Critics were surprised. Audiences loved the chemistry between the 6'2" Austrian bodybuilder and the 4'10" DeVito. The film grossed $216 million worldwide against that $15 million budget - a 14-to-1 return.

Arnold's backend deal reportedly paid him approximately $35 to $40 million - more than he had earned for any Terminator film up to that point. DeVito and Reitman made similar fortunes. The studio that thought they were getting a bargain had handed the trio the most profitable deal of their careers.

The Best Financial Decision He Ever Made

In a 2025 interview, Schwarzenegger confirmed that Twins earned him more money than any other film in his career. He called it "the best financial decision I ever made in Hollywood." The studio saved a few million on salaries and lost tens of millions in profits. Arnold took home nothing on paper and walked away richer than ever.