Becoming a millionaire overnight is the dream of every teenager. But when Disney offered 2 million dollars to 13-year-old Jason Weaver ( Jason Weaver ) to sing for the young Simba in “The Lion King,” his mother refused.
In an interview with VladTV in 2019, Weaver said, "When they proposed that plan, what they really wanted was for me to take that money and leave." This interview has now become popular on social media. "I think they knew, and they also anticipated, that they would make a fortune from it."
For a child from Chicago, this is a huge sum of money. Weaver said that before this, the largest amount he had ever received for an acting role was about $80,000, which he earned for playing a young version of Michael Jackson. “For an average middle-class family in Chicago in the early 1990s… that’s no small amount,” he said.
But his mother and agent, Marilyn “Kitty” Haywood ( Marilyn “Kitty” Haywood ), was not impressed by this money.
She then turned to discuss the royalties and a upfront payment of about $100,000. More than thirty years later, the now 47-year-old performer of “I Just Can ’t Wait to Be King” continues to receive payments, and the money he has earned since then has surpassed the $2 million he initially refused.
"If she hadn't done that at the time, it would have been one of the biggest mistakes of my career," he added.
Why Weaver's mother rejected Disney's offer of $2 million for "The Lion King"?
As the saying goes, good things take time. Weaver's mother believes that a one-time check might be the last money he will receive from this film. She noticed something: Disney has repeatedly brought back old classics, a practice that began with the re-release of "Snow White" in 1944. She also saw that Disney was in a period of great success at that time; this casting decision came not long after the successes of "Aladdin" and "Beauty and the Beast."
Weaver recalled, "She was able to see the whole situation clearly, and then she said, 'Wait a minute, this film is going to make a lot of money for a long time. But what will happen when my son turns 40? Will he still be able to receive checks when they release this film again in the future?' It turned out that she was completely right."
At that time, such a requirement carried significant risks. Weaver mentioned that Disney did not sign royalty agreements with newcomers; only “already famous big-name pop singers” received such agreements. However, Haywood was not a newcomer to the entertainment industry. She had performed alongside the Chicago group Kitty & the Haywoods, and she had also provided backing vocals for Aretha Franklin (Aretha Franklin). She knew that the first offer made was often not the final one. If Disney was willing to pay $2 million from the start, then the value of this film was clearly much more than that amount.
She was right in her judgment. Since then, this film has been developed into theme parks, dolls, T-shirts, video games, and more. Weaver said that in comparison, 2 million dollars seems very small. “This series of works has generated hundreds of millions, or even if not billions, of dollars in revenue,” he said.
If I had just taken cash back then, I would have missed all of this.
Moreover, her bet not only outperformed Disney's initial offer but also provided Weaver—a man who admits he would probably have spent that money all by his teens—with a source of income that continues to pay to this day. Entrusting two million dollars to a 13-year-old child could mean the money is gone before they even reach the age to drive. “At that time, I had no concept of an investment portfolio or diversification,” Weaver said.
What has Jason Weaver done since “The Lion King,” and what is his current net worth?
After providing his voice for Disney, Weaver appeared in two sitcoms, "Thea" (1993-94) and "Smart Guy" (1997-99), where he played the role of Marcus Henderson. He also starred in films such as "Drumline", "The Ladykillers", and "ATL", and more recently has appeared in "The Chi" and "Sistas".
He also continued to sing. In 1995, his first album " Love Ambition " was released by Motown; in 2004, he participated in " One Call Away " by Chingy, and this song reached the 2nd place on the top 100 list of Billboard Hot.
Weaver has not disclosed his net worth, nor has he revealed how much remuneration “The Lion King” still pays him today. However, he said that these royalties will continue to be paid to him regardless of whether he has a job or not.
"The Lion King" subsequently generated nearly $1 billion in box office revenue, while the 2019 remake grossed over $1.6 billion. Meanwhile, external estimates place Weaver's net worth between $4 million and $7 million. Even at a lower estimate, it is roughly twice the $2 million that his mother refused back then.
Not only according to his own statements, but the money he earned has already exceeded Disney's initial offer, and he is still amazed by the high returns he has seen years later.
“When I received my first royalty check, both my mother and I thought there must be some mistake,” he said. Thirty-two years have passed, and the checks continue to arrive, not just for his generation: Weaver agrees that these royalties can be passed on to his children, and their children as well.
“To be honest, that kind of income, that kind of sustainable income – brother, that’s really helpful,” he added. “Even now, when I receive a check, I still think… that’s great!”
