Lord of the Rings Stars' Salaries Revealed: Orlando Bloom Earns $175,000 for Trilogy

Cate Blanchett and Other Cast Members Received Minimal Pay

"I Basically Got Free Sandwiches," Says Blanchett

In a revealing interview, Cate Blanchett has disclosed that she and her fellow cast members of The Lord of the Rings trilogy received minimal salaries for their iconic roles.

During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show in 2019, Orlando Bloom, who portrayed Legolas, stunned listeners by announcing that he had earned just $175,000 for all three films in the series. "I think it's probably Lord of the Rings," host Howard Stern suggested, to which Bloom replied, "Are you kidding me?"

Blanchett, who reprised her role as Galadriel in The Hobbit trilogy, echoed Bloom's sentiments. "I basically got free sandwiches," she added. "And I got to keep my ears." Blanchett emphasized that none of the cast members received substantial compensation for their contributions to the massively successful franchise.