How Much Money Did Mario Puzo Make For The Godfather?

Okay, let’s break down how Mario Puzo got paid for *The Godfather*.

Paramount Pictures was really excited about *The Godfather* even before it was finished. They gave Mario Puzo $12,500 to option the book for a film. This means they bought the rights to make a movie out of it, but they didn’t have to actually go through with it. They just had to pay Puzo the $12,500 to secure the rights.

But Paramount really wanted to make the movie, so they offered Puzo another $50,000 if they did. This was a big deal for Puzo, who was struggling financially at the time. It basically guaranteed him a good chunk of money, no matter what happened with the movie.

Now, here’s where things get interesting. This initial payment of $12,500 was just the beginning. Puzo also negotiated to get a percentage of the film’s profits. This was a smart move on his part, because *The Godfather* became a huge hit, making a lot of money for Paramount. Puzo’s share of those profits made him a wealthy man.

He also made money from the book sales, which were also very successful. So, all in all, *The Godfather* was a big win for Mario Puzo. He got a nice upfront payment, a percentage of the film’s profits, and his book became a bestseller.