Margot Robbie, an Australian actress, revealed in a recent interview that her mother used to take money out of their house mortgage to help fund her daughter's career; and Robbie said it was important for her to pay that back when she was able to afford it. “Everything I owed my mom, I had written down. One day, when I made enough money, I just paid that whole mortgage off completely. I was like, ‘Mom, don’t even worry about that mortgage anymore. It doesn’t exist anymore’,” she said.
Matt Damon’s first ‘big pay cheque’ was used to help his mother and brother. When actor Johnny Depp received his first pay cheque in a major role, he bought his mother a house.
Here’s how some other famous people spent their first pay cheques:
‘I felt like a superhero’
When I received my first real pay cheque while working in the United States, I felt like a super-hero. The majority of it was spent on long-overdue rent and expenses, while the remainder was spent on gifts for my family. My nieces and nephews received two suitcases full of toys, chocolates, and clothes.
— Anupam Mittal, founder and CEO of People Group and Shaadi.com
‘I can still see the joy in her eyes’
Before starting medical school, I received a Coromandel Scholarship worth rs 1,000 while pursuing B.Sc Agriculture. I used it to buy a saree for my mother. I can still see the joy in her eyes when I handed her the saree. Although it was not my first pay cheque, it was my first scholarship money. When I later became a doctor, the first salary I received was from Sancheti Orthopedic Hospital in Pune. I purchased a saree for my wife.
— Dr A. V. Gurava Reddy,
Orthopaedic Surgeon and MD, Sunshine Hospitals
Precious bounty
I still remember how much money I got for acting for the first time. In Guwahati, I performed in a play called Miss Beautiful with Makrandesh Pandey’s Anjtheta group. I was sitting in a bus when Makrand handed me Rs 5,000 in cash. I can’t tell you how it felt! I guarded those notes like nobody’s business! I remember spending the money very sparingly. Next, I received rs 1 lakh or so for my first film, which came six months later. It was Suraj, a Rajshri Productions film. I recall giving that money to my parents and telling them, “It’s nothing but for you.”
— Akshay Oberoi, actor
Timeless gratitude
When I got my first pay cheque, I wanted to thank the three incredible men who were instrumental in my success: my father, my husband, and my father-in-law. I decided to give them timepieces, not as a material possession, but as a symbol of my eternal love and respect for them. The watch symbolises the priceless moments we’ve shared together and serves as a reminder of their profound influence on my life. Their belief in me, their unwavering faith, and the wisdom they shared helped shape me into the person I am today. I hope they understand that with each passing second, minute, and hour, I carry their love and support with me, cherishing every moment we have spent together.
— Pratiksha Prashant, chief Architect, Prime City Spaces
‘I was inspired by the spirit of giving’
When I got my first pay cheque, I realised the importance of financial independence. It was a time of thanksgiving and accountability. I chose to donate my first earnings to charity because I was inspired by the spirit of giving. I felt a profound sense of fulfilment, knowing that my small contribution could make a difference in the lives of others. This act of kindness sparked a lifelong interest in philanthropy in me, reminding me that true wealth is found not in what we accumulate, but in the positive change we bring to the lives of others.”
— Anuj Sawhney, MD, Swiss Military
‘Token of appreciation for my first gurus’
My starting salary was Rs 1,800. I come from a family where the virtues of charity and spirituality were instilled in all of us. My parents lost everything during Partition and had to start over in refugee camps in Mumbai. They had been through the worst of times for a long time. So, it was only natural for me to give my entire first salary to them, as my first gurus. In all of my mentoring sessions with students, juniors and children, I have always emphasised that if one’s beliefs and value systems are properly ingrained from an early age, no matter what level we are at, we can make a significant contribution and positively impact society. For me, ISR (individual social responsibility) precedes any form of CSR activity.
— Niranjan Gidwani, Consultant Director, Charter Member TiE Dubai
