Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Biggest Paycheck Came from a Surprise Comedy Classic

Arnold Schwarzenegger is famous for his action-packed roles in movies like The Terminator, Predator, and Total Recall. But surprisingly, none of those films brought him the most money. That honor goes to the 1988 comedy Twins, where he starred alongside Danny DeVito.

In a recent interview on Watch What Happens Live, Schwarzenegger revealed that Twins earned him over $40 million, more than any of his action movies. The reason behind this big payday was a clever deal he made with DeVito and director Ivan Reitman.

Instead of taking a regular salary, they chose to share in the film’s profits. Schwarzenegger explained, “We got no money for the salary but ownership with a piece of the back end. It was fantastic. We went all the way to the bank with that.”

This decision paid off well. Twins made $216 million worldwide and continued to earn money through home video sales. This back-end deal, giving them 40% of the profits, turned out to be a smart business move for the stars and the director.

When the movie was first proposed, many doubted Schwarzenegger could succeed in a comedy role. People were used to seeing him as a tough action hero. “They said, ‘Are you crazy? The more people that this guy kills on-screen, the more money we make. Why would we change that?’” Schwarzenegger said during a chat with his son Patrick. But Reitman and DeVito believed the idea had potential and pushed the project forward.

Schwarzenegger added that they pitched the movie as a low-budget film to make it happen. “If we don’t take any salaries, we can shoot the movie for $16.5 million. We worked out a deal where we got 40% of the backend of the movie. It happened to be the best deal we’ve ever made.”

Twins surprised many by becoming a huge success. It wasn’t just a fun comedy—it also proved Schwarzenegger could do more than action films. The movie opened at number one at the box office and stayed there for several weeks, eventually earning $112 million in the U.S. alone. Audiences loved the film’s goofy charm and the chemistry between Schwarzenegger and DeVito, although critics were mixed. Some enjoyed the humor, while others felt Schwarzenegger wasn’t quite right for the comedy role.

There was talk about a sequel called Triplets, which would have added Eddie Murphy as another brother. But the project was never completed, especially after the death of director Ivan Reitman. Schwarzenegger said, “Reitman passed away before we wanted to start shooting.”

The success of Twins also led to more collaborations between Schwarzenegger and Reitman, including Kindergarten Cop and Junior, the latter reuniting DeVito as well.

Overall, Twins was more than just a hit movie. It marked a big moment in Schwarzenegger’s career, showing off his versatility and sharp business sense. By taking a chance on a comedy and making a smart deal, he earned his biggest paycheck in Hollywood.

If you have thoughts about the film or Schwarzenegger’s career, feel free to share them in the comments below.