Margot Robbie’s journey in Hollywood began steadily in 2008, as she dedicated herself to smaller projects and steadily built her résumé. Her perseverance and strong performances soon began to catch the attention of directors and casting agents, pushing her career forward with each role she accepted. This dedication eventually led to her breakthrough performance in Martin Scorsese’s film, The Wolf of Wall Street, which was a significant turning point, making her one of the most recognized actresses in the industry.
While Robbie later gained fame as a producer with the success of Barbie, her role as Naomi Lapaglia in The Wolf of Wall Street marked an essential milestone. Despite her success in the film, her earnings for the role highlight the stark pay gap present at the time for rising stars compared to established actors in Hollywood. For many fans, learning about the details of Margot Robbie Wolf of Wall Street salary provides insight into how early career pay doesn’t always match the eventual industry impact of an actor.
Salary Disparity Among The Wolf of Wall Street Cast
In The Wolf of Wall Street, Robbie played Naomi Lapaglia opposite Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Jordan Belfort. Although she had accumulated valuable acting experience, Robbie was not yet widely known, which impacted her compensation for the role. According to reports, Margot Robbie received a salary of $347,000 for her part in the film, a figure that stands in sharp contrast to the earnings of her co-stars.
Leonardo DiCaprio, a long-established figure in Hollywood, initially secured a $25 million package for his combined acting and producer duties. Due to the film’s production running over budget, DiCaprio eventually agreed to reduce his fee to $10 million, according to information from Parade. Jonah Hill, who portrayed Donnie Azoff, was also paid less, reportedly earning $60,000 for his contribution to the movie. The movie itself became a box office success, earning more than $390 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.
Robbie’s Reflections on Acting and Career Advancement
Robbie’s perspective on her early career emerged during a 2014 interview with IndieWire, where she recounted her experiences before moving to the U.S. to pursue acting on a larger scale. At the time, she had spent three years working on Neighbours in Melbourne, gaining invaluable experience on set. Reflecting on her initial uncertainty regarding a sustainable career in acting, Robbie explained her evolving mindset:
Yes, well, when I was planning my move to America, I was living in Melbourne working on Neighbours. I worked on the show for three years, and it was probably a couple of months into it when I decided. Up until then, I had no idea that you could even do acting as a career, or that people could make a living out of it.
—Margot Robbie, Interview with IndieWire
It was just kind of like this fairy tale sort of life, so once I met people who were doing that as a career and could actually live off it, I started thinking, ‘Okay, what’s the next step?’ America’s really the furthest you could go, because there’s really a limited industry in Australia.
—Margot Robbie, Interview with IndieWire
Her candid comments reveal her gratitude and surprise at the realization that acting could be more than just a dream—especially for someone starting out in a smaller entertainment market like Australia.
The Long-Term Impact on Robbie’s Career
Following the release of The Wolf of Wall Street, Margot Robbie’s profile rose rapidly within Hollywood. The exposure and acclaim she gained from playing Naomi Lapaglia opened up numerous new opportunities, allowing her to command higher salaries in subsequent projects and even transition into producing blockbuster films like Barbie. Despite the initial pay gap, Robbie has gone on to earn significant recognition, including the Empire Award for Best Newcomer, and her continued success highlights the value of persistence and strategic career moves.
The difference in salaries between Robbie, DiCaprio, and others like Jonah Hill during The Wolf of Wall Street era underscores ongoing discussions about compensation equity in Hollywood. As discussions around pay disparity and recognition grow in the entertainment industry, Robbie’s experience stands as an example of how initial setbacks do not define one’s ultimate potential. Her story offers inspiration to emerging actors in Hollywood and beyond, illustrating how determination and talent can eventually lead to both critical and financial rewards.
