George Clooney Explains Why He Gave US$1 Mil To 14 Of His Best Friends In 2013

George Clooney gave US$1 million (S$1.34 mil) to 14 of his friends in 2013 because he credits his success to them.

The Monuments Men star gave a number of his closest pals the hefty amount of money several years ago as a thank you for supporting him through the ups and downs.

Speaking to GQ magazine, he said: "Amal and I had just met, but we weren’t dating at all. I was a single guy. All of us were ageing. I was 52 or something. And most of my friends are older than me. [With Gravity], because they didn’t want to pay us, they gave us percentages of the movie, ’cause they thought it was gonna be a flop, and that ended up being a very good deal. And I thought, what I do have are these guys who’ve all, over a period of 35 years, helped me in one way or another.

"I’ve slept on their couches when I was broke. They loaned me money when I was broke. They helped me when I needed help over the years. And I’ve helped them over the years. We’re all good friends. And I thought, you know, without them I don’t have any of this. And we’re all really close, and I just thought basically if I get hit by a bus, they’re all in the will. So why the f*** am I waiting to get hit by a bus?'"

Even though George didn’t reveal who the recipients were in the interview, it’s speculated that they were his groomsmen: former model-turned businessman Rande Gerber (Cindy Crawford's husband), actor Richard Kind, retired actor Tommy Hinkley, actor-director Grant Heslov, Friends director Ben Weiss, actor Thom Mathews, make-up artist Waldo Sanchez, executive David Sagal (brother of Sons of Anarchy actress Katey Sagal), John Lambros (husband of model Karen Duffy), actor Matt Adler, Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, and Robocop actor Miguel Ferrer.

And the 59-year-old actor and filmmaker recalls himself telling the story to a "really rich a******", who thought it was a bad idea.

George added: "I remember talking to one really rich a****** who I ran into in a hotel in Vegas — certainly a lot richer than I am. And I remember the story had come out, and he was like, ‘Why would you do that?' And I was like, ‘Why wouldn’t you do that, you schmuck?'"

— BANG

Photo: TPG News/Click Photos