Generous George
How Clooney gave out $1m dollars EACH to 14 friends
IT pays to have friends in high places – especially if you’re lucky enough to count George Clooney among your pals.
The Hollywood star rewarded 14 friends for their years of loyalty with $1million (€850,000) each – presented in cash in individual suitcases.
After being invited for dinner at Clooney’s Los Angeles mansion, they were given the designer luggage filled to the brim with $20 notes.
Businessman Rande Gerber, the husband of supermodel Cindy Crawford, said the 56-year-old star of Hail, Caesar! and Ocean’s Eleven had even paid the tax on the gift. He said the money was ‘lifechanging’ for some of the group, one of whom was working at a bar in Texas and struggling to provide for his family.
Gerber, 55, said: ‘George began to say, “Listen, I want you guys to know how much you mean to me in my life.
‘“I came to LA, I slept on your couch. I’m so fortunate in my life to have all of you and I couldn’t be where I am today without all of you.
‘“So it was important to me that while we’re all here together, that I give back. I want you to open your suitcases”.’
The group then opened up the black cases to find the $1million.
Clooney, who is thought to be worth $500million, then told his stunned friends: ‘I know we’ve all been through some hard times, some of you are still going through it. You don’t have to worry about your kids, you don’t have to worry about, you know, school, you don’t have to worry about paying your mortgage.’
Gerber, who is a multi-millionaire himself, said that he tried to reject the cash, but Clooney insisted, saying that if he didn’t accept it, no-one would be allowed to keep their share. As a result, Gerber said he donated the money to charity.
Clooney married human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin, 39, in 2014. In June, she gave birth to twins Alexander and Ella.
Appointed as a UN Messenger for Peace in 2008, Clooney is known for his philanthropy and support of good causes.
Clooney and Amal said they took in a Yazidi refugee from Iraq, who is now studying at the University of Chicago.