Sean Astin Says ‘I Had to Sell My House’ During ‘Lord of the Rings’ Era Because $250,000 Payday Was So Low: ‘I Negotiated Such a Small Amount on the Trilogy’

Sean Astin revealed in an interview with The Guardian that he had to sell his house during the early 2000s. Despite the fame from playing Samwise Gamgee in Peter Jackson's LOTR trilogy, Astin negotiated a small salary of $250,000. He explained that a significant disconnect existed between the public attention he received and his actual financial situation, forcing him to sell his property due to the low payday from the landmark movie series.