The highest-grossing Bond film of all time, Skyfall raked in a stunning $1.1 billion upon its release in 2012, that's $1.5 billion (£1.12bn) today. The star-studded cast featured Daniel Craig as Bond, Javier Bardem as the villainous Raoul Silva, and Judi Dench in her final appearance as M.
With that in mind, Connery isn't our first choice (cue gnashing of teeth from hardcore fans), but he's an inescapable part of the franchise's legacy. The Scottish actor was the first Bond to take up the reins seriously and make the role his own. As the original, he is what many would see as the best Bond.
How much did Sean Connery get paid for James Bond?
Back in 1967, Sean Connery starred as James Bond in You Only Live Twice for what he thought would be the fifth and final time. The Scottish actor had become bored with the role and was dissatisfied with his salary of $750,000 (almost $7 million today) with 25% of merchandise profits.
Specifically, the site reports that he earned $3.2 million for Casino Royale, $7.2 million for Quantum of Solace, $20 million for Skyfall, $30 million for Spectre, and $25 million for No Time to Die. Add all those very large numbers up, and you get the actor's $85.4 million lifetime James Bond salary.
For example, Madonna would be far and away the wealthiest ex-Bond Girl – with a net worth of $850 million – except she only made a cameo in “Die Another Day” (2002) as the fencing instructor, Verity. The Bond Girl title is usually reserved for the main female character in the film with whom 007 spends the most scenes.
Despite this, Connery made numerous statements during his lifetime that he would disinherit his son with the intention of teaching him a valuable lesson about hard work and self-sufficiency.
Then let's press on. For us, the Irishman swings the top spot, purely because he marks the perfect mid-point between everything that makes Bond great. His films see a blend of Timothy Dalton's grittiness and Roger Moore's campiness.
As would be reasonable to expect, the Bond movie to earn the least amount of money from cinemas was the first, and it would take a disaster of monumental proportions for Dr. No to be usurped.
Key Points. 1 After countless legal battles on Sean Connery's estate, Connery's family has inherited all of his wealth. 2 Sean Connery had a net worth of $400 million at the time of his death. 3 He was best known for playing James Bond.
After five outings as 007, Connery called it a day with You Only Live Twice and put it down to the "terrible pressure" that came with the iconic role, comparing it to "like living in a goldfish bowl". "That was part of the reason I wanted to be finished with Bond.
Summary. Sean Connery's love/hate relationship with the James Bond role led him to quit the franchise twice, as he grew tired of the fame, pressure, and being typecast.
Christmas Jones. This one may be controversial due to Denise Richards' performance as the character, but on paper, Dr. Christmas Jones is the most intelligent Bond girl. She is a nuclear scientist who helps Bond on his mission to topple Elektra King's plans in The World is not Enough.
Monica Bellucci in Spectre became the oldest Bond girl at the age of 50, although she stated that she does not consider herself to be a "Bond girl", but a "Bond woman".
Teresa "Tracy" Bond (née Draco, formerly Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo) is a fictional character and the main Bond girl in the 1963 James Bond novel On Her Majesty's Secret Service, where she becomes the first Bond girl to marry 007. In the novel's 1969 film adaptation, Tracy is played by the actress Diana Rigg.
It was about Craig making the cleanest possible break from the franchise that defined the last 15 years of his life. “The other was so that I could move on. I don't want to go back,” Craig said. “I suppose I should be so lucky if they were to ask me back, but the fact is I need to move on from it.
Moore garnered incredible fame and fortune during his 68 year long career, earning him a net worth of $110million (£89million) at the time of his death in 2017. Fans of the celebrated actor can catch him this evening in the 1979 James Bond instalment Moonraker.
