How much did Disney pay Robin Williams?

The Truth Behind Robin Williams' Paycheck for Aladdin

When Disney released Aladdin in 1992, Robin Williams' unforgettable performance as the Genie became an instant classic, propelling the animated feature to over $500 million at the global box office. However, many fans are surprised to learn that the legendary actor was paid just $75,000 for his iconic role—a fraction of his usual multimillion-dollar fee at the time.

This dramatic pay cut was not a oversight by his agent, but rather a deliberate choice by Williams. As a favor to Disney for previous projects like Good Morning, Vietnam, he agreed to work for SAG scale pay. However, his bargain came with strict conditions: Williams asked that his voice and likeness not be used to sell commercial merchandise, and that the Genie occupy no more than 25% of the promotional materials, primarily to avoid overshadowing his upcoming film, Toys.

The real controversy erupted when Disney breached that agreement. Driven by early buzz, the studio heavily featured the Genie in marketing campaigns and tied his voice to various corporate sponsorships. Although Disney later attempted to smooth things over by sending Williams a original Picasso painting worth around $1 million, the breach of trust created a rift between the actor and the studio that lasted for years until a public apology was made.