Meryl Streep Doubled Her Salary Demand for 'Devil Wears Prada,' Ready to Retire if Refused

Meryl Streep revealed she turned down the initial offer for 'The Devil Wears Prada' in 2006, demanding double her salary and was prepared to retire entirely if the studio refused. At over 50 years old with substantial wealth and two Oscars, Streep felt she had nothing to lose and knew the film would be a hit. The gamble paid off: the film grossed over $326 million, earned her a 14th Oscar nomination, and launched one of her career's biggest chapters.
Meryl Streep disclosed in a recent Today interview that when offered the role of Miranda Priestly in 'The Devil Wears Prada,' she rejected the initial offer and demanded double the salary, prepared to walk away from acting entirely if the studio declined. At that point in her career—in her mid-50s with an estimated $100 million net worth and two Academy Awards—Streep felt she understood her market value and had the financial security to retire. She recognized the script's potential as a hit and leveraged that knowledge in negotiations. The studio immediately agreed to her doubled ask. The original film went on to gross over $326 million worldwide and earn Streep her 14th Oscar nomination, while the recent sequel has grossed $660 million. Rather than retiring, Streep continued her career with major successes including 'Mamma Mia!,' 'Julie & Julia,' and 'The Iron Lady,' which won her a third Oscar.
What different sources said
- FortuneCenter
Meryl Streep says she was ‘ready to retire’ when the call for ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ came—so she demanded they double her salary or nothing
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