What $150M could buy, apart from James Bond
Money might persuade a certain presidential candidate to drop out of the race
When James Bond actor Daniel Craig publicly announced that he’d rather “slash” his wrists than play 007 one more time, it may just have been one of the greatest moves in the annals of contract negotiation.
That apparently made producers all the more excited to throw money at the British actor who has played Bond since 2005. According to celebrity website RadarOnline.com Sony is offering Craig $150 million (U.S. or $192,615,000 in Canuck money) to do two more Bond films.
There is no question that Craig is one bankable star: his last outing in Spectre earned $880 million in worldwide box office sales. And before that, Skyfall earned more than a billion dollars: the first in the Bond franchise to surpass that lofty mark.
But $150 million is not chump change, especially for an aging actor who does a lot of his own stunts.
If Craig isn’t willing to be forced kicking and screaming into a Tom Ford suit for that amount, it seems there are plenty of actors willing to make the sacrifice.
Tom Hiddleston, Michael Fassbender and Idris Elba are just a few potential leading men who are rumoured to be in the running for a role in Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
It also got us wondering. What else you can get for $150 million besides one disgruntled actor?
Fight Zika There is apparently a greater villain than Spectre. And Daniel Craig could be a real-life Bond if he would just donate the proceeds of his salary. In February, the World Bank committed $150 million to Latin America and Caribbean countries to fight the spreading Zika virus.
The economic impact of the virus in 2016, is expected to be in the $3.5billion range in the tourism-dependent region.
The virus, which is carried by mosquitos, is especially harmful to pregnant women.
“Our analysis underscores the importance of urgent action to halt the spread of the Zika virus and to protect the health and well-being of peo- ple in the affected countries,” said World Bank Group president Jim Yong Kim in a statement.
Buy Tori Spelling ’s childhood home The home of TV god, the late Aaron Spelling, was purchased by heiress Petra Ecclestone for a reported $85 million (U.S.) in 2011. Ecclestone, daughter of Formula One mogul Bernie Ecclestone, has reportedly been shopping the house around for $150 million, which was the original list price back in 2011. A flat real estate market meant Ecclestone got “a great deal” as she told reporters back then. Since taking possession she has apparently put another $20 million in renovations. Close to five acres and 56,500 square feet in Beverly Hills makes it a fit bachelor pad for Mi6’s swankiest agent.
Get rid of Donald Trump Craig might do democracy a solid, just like Bond. According to Politico, a former Trump adviser says The Donald might drop out of the presidential race if someone gave him $150 million to quietly go away.
Trump’s response to Politico: “Did Obama and the Clintons get you to write this garbage?”
Play basketball with Mike Conley With $150 million you can have Mike Conley, one of the NBA’s best point guards, play basketball with your kids for the next five years in your driveway. In July, Conley signed a $153 million (U.S.), five-year contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, making him the highest paid NBA player. Buy a yacht Super yachts and James Bond are the martini and olive pairing of the secret agent world. The 330-foot Atessa IV is owned by billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist Dennis Washington and is valued at $150 million. It has its own helicopter, pool and14 guest cabins. Ernst Stavro Blofeld would feel right at home.
Vacation on the moon If, like most Sony executives, you are tired of those all-inclusives on Cozumel, you can try taking a vacation on the moon. Tickets are expected to be $150 million (U.S.) each. And according to website IFLScience! two have already been sold. This, of course, would be the ultimate James Bond Moonraker experience.
First, you would launch from a modified Soyuz rocket from Russia, where you would be accompanied by your own cosmonaut. After a pit stop at the International Space Station you would circle the moon. The trip should last 17 days, about the same time as that creaky Transatlantic cruise you were planning and the water views should be even better. Take a selfie.