Mila Ross
You’ll Never Guess What These 20 Celebs Bought With Their First Big Checks
First big paychecks hit different, especially when they unlock long delayed dreams.
Some celebs went practical, others went pure joy, and a few zigzagged between giving back and treating themselves.
You will see family first moments, unapologetic flexes, and purchases so oddly specific they feel cinematic.
Ready to peek inside those first big buys and the stories behind them?
1. Matt Damon: A Car for His Brother and PhD Help for His Mom
Long before he was the guy you associate with blockbuster franchises and prestige films, the “made it” feeling hit in a very family-first way.
In a Hollywood Reporter “first big paycheck” moment, Damon shared that one of his earliest major checks was about $25,000, and he didn’t use it to upgrade his own lifestyle.
Instead, he bought his brother a car and helped put his mother through her Ph.D. program, which is the kind of flex that’s quietly powerful.
It’s also one of those purchases that stays meaningful, because it isn’t tied to a trend or a fleeting mood.
For someone suddenly earning real money, paying for mobility and education is basically purchasing stability, and that’s a much more lasting kind of luxury.
2. Cillian Murphy: A Record Player or Sound System
Instead of a showy purchase, Murphy’s first big-check memory leans almost charmingly simple and very on-brand for someone known for being low-key off-screen.
In the same Hollywood Reporter context, he recalled spending his first real paycheck on a record player or a sound system, noting that record players weren’t as trendy back then as they are now.
It’s a small detail, but it says a lot: when money finally loosened up, the “treat” wasn’t status, it was atmosphere.
A sound system is the kind of thing you buy because you want your home to feel like yours, not because you want strangers to notice.
It’s the purchase of comfort, routine, and the ability to enjoy your own space a little more.
3. Brad Pitt: A Craftsman Chair, a Frank Lloyd Wright–Style Lamp, and Then a Stereo
The first paycheck glow can lead to impulsive choices, but Pitt’s version was surprisingly curated.
In an Architectural Digest interview, he said that when he received his first paycheck from his “now known day job,” he spent it on a period Craftsman chair and a Frank Lloyd Wright–wannabe lamp, then used his second paycheck to buy a stereo.
It’s a reminder that “splurging” doesn’t have to mean loud; sometimes it’s buying the kind of objects you’ve admired for years but never imagined you’d own.
Furniture and lighting are also deeply personal purchases because you live with them every day, and they shape how your home feels.
It reads like someone who wanted a life that looked calmer, more grounded, and more designed than the one he had before.
4. Lil Nas X: Took the Whole Family Bowling
Some first big paycheck stories sound like a movie montage, but his is sweet in the most normal way.
In an interview with Insider, Lil Nas X said he spent his first major paycheck by taking his whole family bowling, and he emphasized that it wasn’t just a small group.
That’s not a luxury splurge in the traditional sense, yet it’s the kind of choice that marks a real turning point: for the first time, money isn’t just survival, it’s the ability to create a memory for everyone at once.
Bowling also feels symbolic because it’s such a classic, accessible “we’re celebrating” activity, and it’s easy to imagine how good it must feel to cover the bill without stress.
Fame can be surreal, but paying for a family night out makes it tangible fast.
5. Nicole Kidman: A Washing Machine for Her Parents, Then Cool Boots for Herself
The most unexpectedly wholesome flex might be buying an appliance, but Kidman has said that’s exactly what she did.
In a Time interview, she described using her first big paycheck to buy her mom and dad a washing machine, then later treating herself to a pair of boots that felt like the coolest thing she’d ever seen.
It’s such a clean snapshot of priorities: start by improving daily life for the people who supported you, then allow yourself one personal “I earned this” moment.
A washing machine is not glamorous, but it’s a serious upgrade if you’ve lived without convenience, and it’s something that quietly saves time, effort, and stress.
The boots, meanwhile, are the emotional reward, the item that lets you feel the win.
6. Jennifer Lopez: Bought a Mercedes After Booking a Regular Series
There’s a reason the “first nice car” is a classic milestone, and Lopez’s story fits that category in a very specific way.
She told The Hollywood Reporter that she had been driving a Honda hatchback to auditions, and once she landed steadier work, she bought herself a Mercedes.
It wasn’t just transportation, it was a signal that her life had shifted from scraping by to having real stability.
Cars are also deeply tied to independence, especially in a place like L.A., where getting to work is part of the grind.
Buying a Mercedes as that first major upgrade reads like someone taking control of her narrative, investing in reliability, and letting herself feel proud of something visible.
For many people, a car purchase is the first time success feels real, because you literally drive it around.
7. Kirsten Dunst: College Fund First, and “Probably” a House for Her Mom
Child stars often have a very different relationship with money, and Dunst’s answer reflects that.
She’s recalled that because she started acting so young, her money mostly went into a college fund, and she added that she probably bought her mom a house.
The phrasing is casual, but the meaning is big: when work begins early, the “first fat paycheck” isn’t always about one splashy purchase, it’s about long-term planning and family security.
Putting money into a college fund is the kind of move adults applaud, but it also hints at how serious things can feel when you’re earning at an age where most kids are just thinking about toys.
Helping her mom with a home fits the pattern too, because stability becomes the goal when your life has been busy and public from the start.
8. George Clooney: Bought a TV With a Remote for a Friend’s Grandmother
Not all generosity looks like paying off a mortgage, and Clooney’s first-paycheck story is generous in a way that’s oddly intimate.
He told PopSugar that when he was living in a friend’s apartment, the friend’s grandmother lived there too, and with his first check he bought her a TV with a remote so she wouldn’t have to keep getting up to change the channel.
That’s such a specific kind of kindness that it feels more touching than a grand gesture.
It’s also proof that the best “I finally have money” moment sometimes comes from noticing a small daily inconvenience and being able to fix it.
A remote control isn’t glamorous, but dignity and ease absolutely are, especially if you’ve ever watched an older relative struggle with everyday tasks.
9. Oprah Winfrey: From “I Can’t Afford That Yet” to Ralph Lauren Towels
Long before she was synonymous with wealth, one of Oprah’s most telling money moments was actually about hesitation.
She once recalled shopping at Crate & Barrel for her first Chicago apartment, spotting a flatware set priced at $49.95, and walking away because she still didn’t feel secure enough to spend it.
That kind of “budget alarm” is painfully relatable when you’re newly earning but still thinking like you’re one emergency away from broke.
Later, when she finally had enough income to cover rent and still breathe, she said her first real splurge was Ralph Lauren towels.
The shift is subtle but powerful: she moved from fear-based restraint to investing in everyday comfort.
Instead of a flashy status symbol, she chose the soft, private luxury of feeling safe at home.
10. Margot Robbie: Paid Off Her Mom’s Mortgage
Many celebrities talk about “taking care of family,” but Robbie’s version is beautifully direct.
She has recalled keeping track of what she owed her mother and then paying off her mom’s mortgage with her first big paycheck, telling her not to worry about the mortgage anymore because it basically didn’t exist.
That’s the kind of moment that turns success into relief, not just excitement, because a paid-off mortgage changes someone’s daily stress level in a lasting way.
It also reads like gratitude with receipts, where the first priority isn’t upgrading your own lifestyle but returning support to the person who carried you through the early, uncertain years.
There’s something emotionally satisfying about the idea that the first “big money” move wasn’t about looking rich, but about making home feel safer for someone else.
11. Chris Pratt: Blew His First $75,000 Fast, Mostly on Travel
The “first big check” can make you feel invincible, and Pratt has been candid about how quickly that feeling can turn into a lesson.
He revealed that his first major acting paycheck was $75,000 and that he blew through it, spending on travel and acting like the money would never run out.
The story is funny now, but it’s also a very human reaction if you’ve ever gone from broke to comfortable too quickly, especially without anyone teaching you financial literacy.
He’s described quitting his waiting job and splurging on trips, and it’s easy to see how that would feel like reclaiming the time and experiences you couldn’t afford before.
It’s also a reminder that windfalls aren’t the same as wealth, and the first “fat paycheck” can disappear fast if you treat it like forever money.
12. Ja’Marr Chase: A Maserati for His Mom, Plus Shoes and Jewelry
When athletes talk about their first big money moves, “buy mom a car” is almost a tradition, and Chase did it with serious style.
In GQ’s “My First Million,” he said the first thing he bought after signing his deal was a car for his mom, describing a Maserati around $65K, and he also detailed spending heavily on clothes, shoes, and jewelry.
It’s an interesting mix because it blends responsibility with celebration, where one purchase is gratitude and another is self-reward.
For someone who grew up without much, buying the luxury items you once only saw on other people can feel like proof that the struggle wasn’t for nothing.
At the same time, his comments about saving what was left show he’s aware that the goal isn’t just spending, it’s security and longevity.
13. Donald Glover: Spent It on Gushers
Nothing captures the “inner child finally got a credit limit” vibe like this one.
Glover has admitted that he didn’t spend his first paycheck well and basically splurged on Gushers, the fruit-snack candy he wasn’t allowed to have growing up.
It sounds silly until you remember how powerful a small forbidden treat can feel when you’re a kid, and how money can turn that old “no” into a satisfying “yes” overnight.
A lot of first-paycheck splurges are about proving something to other people, but this one is private and nostalgic.
It’s not about status; it’s about correcting a tiny childhood disappointment, which is surprisingly emotional when you think about it.
Also, as far as splurges go, a candy binge is cheap therapy compared to a sports car, and the story is infinitely more relatable.
14. Kelly Rowland: Grocery Store “Everything My Mom Said Was Too Expensive,” Then a Party
Rowland’s first-paycheck splurge is basically a short story about childhood longing.
She has recalled going to the grocery store and buying almost everything her mom used to tell her was too expensive, then having a party at her house where everyone ate it all.
It’s such a specific kind of joy, because it isn’t about designer labels or red carpets, it’s about walking down aisles and finally not having to put things back.
Food splurges are emotional, especially if you grew up hearing “we can’t” more often than “sure.” Turning it into a party makes it even sweeter, because she didn’t just buy the items, she bought the feeling of abundance and shared it immediately.
It’s also a reminder that what counts as “luxury” depends on what you lacked, and sometimes the most healing flex is a fridge full of the good stuff.
15. Kerry Washington: Hid Cash Under Her Mattress, Then Bought Her First Laptop
Some people celebrate with shopping, while others react to new money like it’s going to vanish if they blink.
Washington described receiving per diem cash while filming and literally hiding it under her mattress because she couldn’t believe someone was handing her money.
She later said she budgeted tightly and used the cash to buy her first laptop, which is both practical and symbolic because it’s a tool that can support your work and your future.
The mattress detail is what makes the story: it’s the behavior of someone who still feels the instability of starting out, even while success is arriving.
Then the laptop purchase turns that anxiety into momentum, because instead of just spending the money on a fleeting treat, she put it into something that helps her operate like a professional.
It’s cautious, smart, and very relatable if you’ve ever hoarded cash “just in case.”
16. Cindy Crawford: Spent Her First Paycheck on Wallpaper
If you ever wondered what an ’80s supermodel version of “treat yourself” looks like, Crawford’s answer is hilariously domestic.
She has said she remembers spending her first paycheck on wallpaper, which is the kind of home-decor choice that feels both extremely practical and extremely specific.
Wallpaper is also a commitment, because it’s not something you buy on a whim unless you’re really ready to transform your space.
In a way, it’s the ultimate “I’m settling into this life” purchase: you’re not just renting a room and passing through, you’re making a place look and feel like your taste.
It also hints at something deeper, because a lot of people use their first big earnings to create the home environment they never had growing up.
Not everyone buys a mansion first; some people start by making the walls prettier.
17. Rami Malek: Bought a Personal Espresso Machine
A personal espresso machine is one of those purchases that feels indulgent and responsible at the same time, and Malek has said he spent his first paycheck on exactly that.
He described buying his own espresso machine and joking that he “figured that” out, which is funny because it’s a splurge you can justify as saving money long-term if you’re the type who lives on coffee.
It’s also a very adult kind of treat, because it isn’t flashy, but it upgrades your daily life in a way you’ll notice every morning.
There’s something endearing about a celebrity choosing caffeine convenience over a luxury accessory, because it suggests their first instinct was to invest in comfort and routine.
Plus, coffee culture is its own kind of personality, and buying the machine is basically committing to who you are.
18. Tiffany Haddish: Opened a Checking Account, Then Bought a Mountain of Candy
Haddish’s first-paycheck story is equal parts responsible and chaotic in the best way.
She recalled that the first thing she did was go to the bank and open a checking account, and then she immediately bought a huge stash of candy, including Snickers and lollipops.
That combination makes perfect sense if you think about what a first real paycheck represents: the ability to participate in the adult world financially, while also finally saying yes to the small pleasures you were denied when money was tight.
A checking account is stability and legitimacy, and the candy is celebration and childhood.
It’s also a reminder that “financial maturity” doesn’t always arrive in one clean swoop; sometimes it shows up as a responsible errand followed by an unapologetic sugar binge.
Honestly, that’s a more accurate depiction of adulthood than most money advice columns.
19. Olivia Holt: Took $200 to Petco and Bought a Betta Fish
Not every first paycheck is massive, but the emotional impact can be huge anyway.
Holt has said that when she was around 8 or 9 and earned money from a commercial or early work, her parents gave her $200 from it, and she took that money straight to Petco to buy a Betta fish.
It’s the purest version of “I earned it, so I choose,” because the purchase isn’t strategic or impressive, it’s just joyful and personal.
Childhood paychecks are fascinating because they reveal what you value when no one is watching and you have no pressure to be sensible.
A Betta fish is also a surprisingly sweet choice because it comes with responsibility; it’s not a toy that gets tossed aside after a week, at least not if you’re doing it right.
In a tiny way, it’s a first taste of independence, caretaking, and pride.
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