As of James Earl Jones’s death on Sept. 9, the voice actor known for his rich baritone and roles in The Lion King, Field of Dreams, and Star Wars had amassed a net worth of $40 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Though his acting prowess was widely recognized with two Emmys, a Golden Globe, Grammy, and two Tony Awards, the actor’s success did not come overnight. Jones was paid just $7,000 to voice the iconic villain Sith Lord Darth Vader, who struggled with inner turmoil while also wielding a red lightsaber and Force choke abilities in the first Star Wars film in 1977.
Film director and creator George Lucas was searching for a deep, authoritative voice for the role, which was physically played by David Prowse, an actor who embodied Vader’s intimidating stature, but not his deep tone. While Lucas considered American actor Orson Welles for the role, he feared his voice would be too recognizable, and contacted Jones’s agent instead.
