2021's No Time to Die marked the end of Daniel Craig's tenure in the James Bond role, but just how much was Daniel Craig paid for No Time to Die? After over a decade in the role, Craig definitely earned the money MGM paid him to play Bond one last time. After the widely panned Die Another Day ended Pierce Brosnan's time as 007 with a resounding thud, it was clear that the storied franchise needed an overhaul. As part of that overhaul, the franchise needed a new kind of Bond, someone with more grit and toughness.
Craig ended up filling that role nicely in Casino Royale, a movie that largely eschewed the laughable excesses and crazy gadgets found in Die Another Day for a more grounded adventure rooted in the Jason Bourne movie school. Somewhat ironically, a more hard-edged and less fantastical depiction of Bond had been tried previously with Timothy Dalton, only to meet resistance from audiences. If anything, Craig's success proved Dalton may have just been ahead of his time.
While Craig's run as Bond had its ups and downs too, for the most part, he is now considered a top-tier Bond actor, and he leaves big shoes for the next 007 to fill. Luckily, he went out with a critical and commercial smash in No Time to Die, and the large amount he was paid proved worth it. Craig earned a gargantuan $25 million upfront salary for No Time to Die, and that won't be all he makes, as he no doubt also earned a percentage of the profits, although it is unclear how much. These kinds of bonuses are standard for A-list stars in blockbuster releases. No Time to Die earned $774 million worldwide.
How Much Was Daniel Craig Paid For His Other James Bond Movies
According to available information, Daniel Craig has hauled in right around $85 million total for his work in the legendary James Bond franchise. His salary increased with each new movie. Craig pocketed $3.2 million for Casino Royale and $7.2 million for Quantum of Solace. Skyfall netted Craig $17 million base and $3 million in performance bonuses, with Spectre estimated to have earned Craig about $30 million total.
Why Daniel Craig Decided To Stop Playing James Bond
After Spectre's shoot turned out to be a particularly hard one for Daniel Craig, with him suffering a serious injury during production, the actor infamously said he would rather slash his wrists than play Bond again. He obviously softened on that enough to finish things out with No Time to Die, but going into that film Craig had zero doubts it would be his last hurrah. In fact, Craig had proposed killing off Bond to producers years prior, insisting that is how he wanted his time as the character to conclude. A major factor in Craig's decision to retire as Bond is age, as he does not feel he is up to the physical demands of the role anymore. Still, Craig had problems with how Spectre turned out, inspiring him to end things properly with No Time to Die.