“American Pie” remains a classic, grossing $235 million at the box office back in 1999. With a $10 million budget, one might assume the main cast earned substantial sums. However, Seann William Scott, who portrayed the iconic Steve Stifler, shared how much he actually made.
Filmed between July and September 1998, the movie hit theatres in October 1999. Despite its success, Scott’s earnings were modest, forcing him to work at the LA Zoo as a ‘churro guy’ while awaiting the film’s release.
Before revealing his initial pay, let’s discuss his earnings from “American Reunion,” released in 2012, 13 years later. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Scott earned $5 million for his role, while co-stars Alyson Hannigan and Eugene Levy each received around $3 million. Other cast members were paid between $500,000 and $750,000.
Seann William Scott was only paid $8k for playing Stifler in ‘AMERICAN PIE’.
“I ended up having to work at the LA Zoo as a churro guy, so maybe it was even less than $8k.”
The film earned $235M worldwide. pic.twitter.com/5oE79fg0rj
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) July 29, 2023
Scott’s first appearance in “American Pie” earned him less than 0.25 percent of his later paycheck. During a Celebrity True or False segment on The Rich Eisen Show, the 46-year-old actor confirmed earning just $8,000 for his role in the original movie.
He recounted buying a used Thunderbird for $5,000 or $6,000, jokingly unsure about the fate of the remaining $2,000. Despite the modest sum, Scott viewed $8,000 as significant at the time.
Besides “American Pie,” Scott featured in other popular films like “Dude, Where’s My Car?” and “The Dukes of Hazzard.”
What Other Media Are Saying
- The Independent article discusses Seann William Scott’s revelation about his low pay for playing Steve Stifler in American Pie, which grossed $235m at the box office.(read more)
- Nypost reports that Seann William Scott was paid a meager $8,000 for his iconic role as Stifler in ‘American Pie,’ despite the film’s massive $235 million box office success.(read more)
- Seann William Scott reveals how much money he earned for playing Stifler in ‘American Pie’ discusses the low salary Scott received for the first film compared to the significant earnings from subsequent films, highlighting the disparity in pay during the Hollywood strike.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
How much did American Pie make at the box office?
What was the budget for American Pie?
How much did Seann William Scott earn for his role in American Pie?
What job did Seann William Scott take after filming American Pie?
He worked as a ‘churro guy’ at the LA Zoo.