Jennifer Lawrence, known for her acclaimed performances, faced a significant disparity in pay during the early stages of her Hollywood career.

Despite earning multimillion-dollar paychecks for her later movies, she had to accept a meager $3,000 per week contract for her breakthrough role in Winter’s Bone.

From $3,000 To $25,000,000: The Pay Gap

While Jennifer Lawrence now commands top-dollar salaries, her journey began with humble paychecks. In Winter’s Bone (2010), where she portrayed the character of Ree Dolly, Lawrence received only $3,000 per week during the film’s production.

It is a sharp contrast to her later earnings, such as the reported $25 million for her role alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2021 film Don’t Look Up.

Learning The Value Of Negotiation

Jennifer Lawrence reflected on her early experiences, acknowledging her initial struggles as a negotiator. In one instance, during the filming of the 2013 movie American Hustle, she admitted not advocating for herself effectively.

However, she learned from these experiences and became more assertive in securing fair compensation for her work, leading to greater paychecks and a more selective approach to film projects.