Tom Cruise’s payday for that wild 2024 Paris Olympics stunt is truly shocking
It’s a mission impossible.
Tom Cruise made a shocking amount of money for his attention-grabbing stunt at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics: zero dollars.
Casey Wasserman, the president and chairman of the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, talked about Cruise, 62, during Tuesday’s CNBC x Boardroom: Game Plan panel at the Fairmont Miramar hotel in Santa Monica, Calif.
“He finished filming ‘Mission: Impossible’ at 6 p.m. in London, got right on a plane. He landed in LA at 4 a.m. and filmed the scene where he pulls onto a military plane,” Wasserman said about Cruise, per the Hollywood Reporter.
Wasserman added that “every step of the way, [Cruise] got more involved and more engaged” and ultimately did the pretaped stunt for free.
“We’re like, ‘Well, there’s no way we’re getting this. We’re going to get four hours of filming time. We’ll do the thing … with the Hollywood sign, he’ll hand the thing off and he’s done. Maybe we’ll get the other stuff, and the rest will be just a stunt double.’”
But, the entertainment executive recalled, “About five minutes into the presentation, [Cruise] goes, ‘I’m in. But I’m only doing it if I get to do everything,’” he said, adding that Cruise did the whole thing for free.
The “Top Gun” star, who was a consistent presence at the Olympics, including watching Simone Biles in gymnastics, wowed audiences at the August 11 closing ceremony.
During the proceedings, Cruise descended from the top of the French stadium to officially pass the Olympic torch on to Los Angeles. That city will host the next Summer Olympics in 2028.
The “Edge of Tomorrow” actor was handed the Olympic flag and rode off with it on a motorcycle, zipping through the streets of Paris.
In a prerecorded video, Cruise then boarded a jet — which he parachuted out of onto the famous Hollywood sign in California.
The handoff ended with skateboarder Jagger Eaton reaching a stage in Venice Beach, Calif., where the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed.
Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre also performed.
US swimming superstar Katie Ledecky and rower Nick Mead served as flag bearers in the closing ceremony — as America came out on top in the Olympic medal count, with an impressive 126 medals, including 40 gold.
The 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles will kick off July 14 that year.
