Hollywood icon George Clooney’s incredible act of generosity, where he gifted $1 million in cash to each of his 14 closest friends, remains one of the most remarkable celebrity stories.
Though the news surfaced in 2017 via his longtime friend Rande Gerber, Clooney himself revealed the full details in a GQ interview back in 2020.
The grand gifting of $14 million took place in September 2013, right before the release of Clooney’s sci-fi film Gravity. The film starring him alongside Sandra Bullock turned out to be highly profitable for Clooney. Both actors had dealt contracts based on a percentage of box office earnings rather than a fixed salary.
Back then, Clooney had met Amal Alamuddin (now his wife), but they weren’t dating yet. Without close family to provide for, he recalled the people who had supported him throughout his career. Speaking to GQ, Clooney recalled how his closest friends had been there for him during his tough times.
“And I thought, what I do have are these guys who’ve all, over a period of 35 years, helped me in one way or another, I’ve slept on their couches when I was broke. They loaned me money when I was broke. They helped me when I needed help over the years. And I’ve helped them over the years.”
“We’re all good friends,” Clooney continued. “And I thought, you know, without them I don’t have any of this. And we’re all really close, and I just thought basically if I get hit by a bus, they’re all in the will. So why the f— am I waiting to get hit by a bus?”
Decided to execute his plan, Clooney looked for a way to acquire $14 million in cash. And he found a highly secure location in Los Angeles where large sums of money were stored for purchase. Keeping his plan hidden, he acquired an old van with “Florist” printed on the side to avoid suspicion. He entered the facility, took an elevator down to the vault, and loaded the van with cash with the help of security.
With everything ready, Clooney invited his closest friends, called “The Guys,” to dinner at his home. When they arrived, they found 14 luxury Tumi travel bags neatly arranged. Clooney gave an emotional speech about how much their friendship meant to him before revealing the surprise.
Rande Gerber, one of the recipients, described their collective shock when they opened their bags. “We open it up, and it’s $1 million in $20 bills,” he told MSNBC. “Every one of us — 14 of us — got a million dollars. Every single one of us. We were in shock. Like, ‘What is this?’”.
For Clooney, the experience wasn’t just about giving away money—it was a celebration of friendship and a way to thank those who had been by his side long before he became a Hollywood icon. Reflecting on that day, he later told GQ, “It was fun.” Even years later, the story remains a testament to his loyalty and generosity.
