To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Matt Damon Calls Himself 'Dumbest Actor Of All Time' For Turning Down 10% Stake In Avatar

Matt Damon Calls Himself 'Dumbest Actor Of All Time' For Turning Down 10% Stake In Avatar

Matt Damon looks back with regret at saying no to James Cameron's Avatar

EMS 7

EMS 7

James Cameron's Avatar is one of the highest-grossing films of all time, drawing in a whopping £2.17 billion ($2.78bn) at the international box office. It's only been topped by Avengers: Endgame's £2.18 billion ($2.79bn).

So you can understand why anyone who turned away a stake in the movie's profits would be kicking themselves right now, especially if it was a healthy percentage stake.

That's the unfortunate situation facing Matt Damon, who could've been a helluva lot richer now had he taken advantage of the opportunity when it was handed to him.

Speaking to GQ alongside Christian Bale for their upcoming movie Le Mans '66, the actor said that Cameron offered him 10 percent of the 2009 film's profits if he was willing to play the lead character, Jake Sully.

Matt Damon and Christian Bale in Le Mans '66.
Fox

But nope, he turned the filmmaker down, leading the way for Sam Worthington to step in for the job instead.

Matt said: "Jim Cameron offered me Avatar. And when he offered it to me, he goes, 'Now, listen. I don't need anybody. I don't need a name for this, a named actor. If you don't take this, I'm going to find an unknown actor and give it to him, because the movie doesn't really need you'.

"'But if you take the part, I'll give you ten percent of...'

He went on to say that he had duties to do with the Bourne series at the time and so unfortunately couldn't say yes, adding: "I realised in having to say no that I was probably passing on the chance to ever work with him.

Matt Damon missed out on some serious dosh when he turned down the lead role in Avatar.
Fox

"So that sucked and that's still brutal. But my kids are all eating. I'm doing OK."

After making the revelation, just in case Damon wasn't feeling regretful enough, the BBC did the calculations for him and figured out that he missed out on a whopping £195 million ($250m). Ouch!

What was his reaction to this painfully frustrating fact? He says he's the 'dumbest' actor of all time.

He joked: "I don't want to hear it, I honestly don't want to hear it. I do like the fact that I'm allowed to say with pride I'm the dumbest actor of all time, I'm like the worst businessman."

Considering he has a net worth of £132 million ($170m), that's gotta sting. But at the same time, with a net worth like that, it can't be too much of a tough life.

Featured Image Credit: Universal

Topics: Rich, Actor, Matt Damon