What happened to Jim Carrey's $300M fortune? Comedian only filmed new Sonic flick because he 'needs the money'

Jim Carrey may have once been the king of Hollywood paychecks, but these days, he’s a bit more elusive on the silver screen. 

The 62-year-old actor, who used to command a cool $20 million for films like The Cable Guy in 1996, now admits that his return to the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has more to do with balancing his checkbook than sheer passion.

Carrey enjoyed a legendary run with hits like Liar Liar, The Truman Show, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Bruce Almighty, but his star began to dim in the late 2000s. 

Despite once having an estimated net worth of $300 million, Carrey still needs to make sure the bills get paid — which is why he’s come out of 'retirement.'

'I came back to this universe 'cause, first of all, I get to play a genius, which is a bit of a stretch, and it's just... it's just... I bought a lot of stuff and I need the money, frankly,' he quipped on the red carpet of Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s London premiere on Monday.  

But don’t be fooled into thinking it’s entirely about the paycheck; Carrey was quick to add, 'At the same time, it had heart, and that's why I did it the first time. There was something beautiful about the heart of the piece.'

Of course, he couldn’t resist throwing in his signature humor, concluding, 'I hope it will bring families together and cure several diseases.' 

However, finances appear to be on Carrey's mind, as he is still holding out for a big payout on his stunning Los Angeles mansion, which remains on the market after a series of his price cuts, according to Realtor.com.

Initially listed in February 2023 for a lofty $28.9 million, the five-bedroom, nine-bathroom Brentwood estate has now been reduced to a more palatable $19 million.

Two months after listing the property, he cut the price to $27 million, and in October 2023, he reduced that number to $24 million. 

And in May 2024, the Truman Show actor slashed the price to $21.9 million — bringing the total discount to $7 million.

When he first listed his home for sale in February, he told The New York Post that he was ready for 'changes' in his life.

'For three decades it's been a sanctuary for me, but I don't spend a lot of time there now and I want someone else to enjoy it like I have,' he told the outlet in a statement.

'Cha cha cha cha ... Changes!' he added as he referenced the iconic David Bowie song.

Despite the price slashes, Carrey is poised to make a significant profit, having purchased the property for just $3.8 million back in 1994.

He bought it while he shot to fame starring in the hit movie Ace Venture: Pet Detective.

The actor also owns a property in Maui, confirming in 2017 that he is a resident of the island after buying a home near the waterfront in Makena. 

Some of his art is even displayed in the local Wyland Gallery.

His luxury car collection is rumored to have taken a bite out of his fortune as well.

The comedian has owned several Mercedes, a Porshe Panamera and a Tesla, according to Supercarblondie.

He’s also shared stories of his travels to various corners of the globe, from humble trips to Buffalo, NY, to lavish getaways in London and awe-inspiring visits to Machu Picchu, Peru.  

Carrey’s journey from humble beginnings to Hollywood icon began in the streets of Toronto, where he grew up.

After leaving school in 1978 to help support his family, Carrey spent two years working as a janitor in a factory—far from the spotlight, but not for long.

By age 15, he was already performing stand-up comedy in local Toronto clubs, and by 1979, he was earning a living as a comedian. 

At 19, Carrey took a leap of faith and moved to Hollywood, where he quickly immersed himself in both television and film. In 2004, he solidified his place in both countries by obtaining dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship.

In 1983, Carrey made his mark on Canadian television with a role in Introducing…Janet. 

The following year, he stepped onto the big screen in his feature film debut, Finders Keepers, before landing a leading role in Once Bitten (1985).

But it was Earth Girls Are Easy (1988) that saw Carrey take on the quirky role of Wiploc, an intergalactic alien, cementing his place in the world of eccentric comedy.

Carrey’s first TV special, Jim Carrey: Unnatural Act (1991), earned rave reviews and opened the door to his breakout role on the sketch comedy series In Living Color, where his zany, larger-than-life persona became a household name. 

Interestingly, in 1985, Carrey made a daring and prescient decision: he wrote himself a check for $10 million for 'acting services rendered,' dated it ten years into the future, and kept it in his wallet as a symbol of his ambition. 

Remarkably, in November 1995, Carrey learned that he had been cast in Dumb and Dumber for exactly $10 million.

In 2022, he announced his plans to retire from acting once and for all, claiming that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 would be his final film.

'It depends, if the angels bring some sort of script that's written in gold ink that says to me that it's gonna be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road, but I'm taking a break,' he said at the time. 

At the Sonic 3 premiere, an interviewer from the Associated Press said to him: 'You said in a past interview that you'd come back if you got a script written in gold ink written by angels...?'

As Carrey began to laugh he replied saying: 'That might've been hyperbole, yeah.'

The Sonic series has been one of the most lucrative projects of his career, with the first two films grossing a combined $725m (£568m) worldwide. 

Sonic The Hedgehog is back on the big screen with another hair-raising adventure to unwrap just in time for Christmas.

It sees the return of everyone's favorite blue hedgehog, along with his faithful sidekicks, Knuckles and Tails, as the dynamic trio experience their most thrilling adventure yet.

It also stars Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba, Keanu Reeves and Colleen O'Shaughnessey.