Val Kilmer’s iconic role as Iceman in the Top Gun franchise has earned him some serious paycheck — here is how much Val Kilmer earned for each Top Gun movie. The 1986 Top Gun became a classic action movie and was a huge success, even still it took 36 years for its sequel, Top Gun: Maverick to be made. Within that time, Tom Cruise went from an up-and-comer to a full-blown movie star and the success of Top Gun is a huge reason for that. Top Gun’s success meant its sequel was always going to garner excitement, even with the delay, and Cruise returning to his famous role as Maverick only made it more enticing.
Cruise was not the only one to return to his role, as Val Kilmer was part of the Top Gun: Maverick cast as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, Maverick’s former rival. Kilmer’s role was not as large in Maverick as it was in Top Gun, but the reunion between him and Maverick was still emotional. Iceman has risen through the ranks in Maverick, becoming a four-star admiral and placing him in a very strong position. Despite his key role in Top Gun, Kilmer was not always meant to appear in Top Gun: Maverick, and he was not officially confirmed to return until 2018.
Val Kilmer Was Paid $800,000-$2 million For Both Top Gun Movies
Thankfully, Val Kilmer did return as Iceman for Top Gun: Maverick, partly because of his own lobbying for his character’s return. However, his pay is disputed among reports. His 1986 appearance in Top Gun reportedly provided him with a $400,000 paycheck compared to Tom Cruises $2 million. It may have been significantly lower than Cruise’s reported salary, but Kilmer’s role as Iceman shot him into some serious fame and was his break into mainstream movies.
Kilmer’s pay for Top Gun: Maverick is unclear, with reports ranging from $400,000 and £2 million. Showbiz Galore reported Kilmer made $400,000 which seems low compared to the other actors all having paid above $1 million. However, other sources claim Kilmer received $2 million for his role as Iceman, which does fit in with the weight of his return and the other cast members’ pay. However, Iceman’s return was only a small cameo, and one that Kilmer was very keen for, so it would be unsurprising if he took a lower pay just so he could return.
Val Kilmer’s Net Worth In 2023 Explained
A smaller paycheck would not be too problematic to Val Kilmer, as he has an estimated net worth of $25 million. Kilmer’s excellent filmography outside of Top Gun includes Batman Forever, The Saint, Willow, Tombstone, and The Doors to name a few. The list would most likely be longer, but sadly, Kilmer battled throat cancer which, although he is cancer-free now, affected his voice and stalled his acting career. That said, Top Gun: Maverick was able to incorporate Iceman in an emotional scene featuring Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise.
However, Kilmer has other projects beyond film and television, which earn him money and add to his net worth. In 2020, Kilmer wrote and released the book I’m Your Huckleberry: A Memoir which became a New York Times bestseller. Also, Parade reported Kilmer sold the majority of his 5,300-acre ranch (only keeping 14 acres for himself) for $18.5 million. Kilmer’s Top Gun salaries for both movies may seem relatively low, but they are just a small part of the whopping career and net worth that Kilmer has acquired for himself.