Tom Cruise’s recent stunt may have set new standards for breathtaking performances, but the cost will astonish you.
At 62, Cruise and his dedicated stunt team performed a jaw-dropping act at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games closing ceremony, swinging from the top of Stade de France and skydiving into the stadium, only to reappear seemingly above the Hollywood sign—all without charging a fee.
Casey Wasserman, president and chairman of LA28, which is organizing the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games, revealed this stunning fact during a panel in L.A. on September 10. The event, hosted by CNBC and Boardroom, also featured L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, Team USA managing director Grant Hill, and actress-entrepreneur Jessica Alba, a member of the LA28 Board of Directors.
Wasserman shared with The Hollywood Reporter, “The initial plan was to use a stunt double in the stadium. But about five minutes into the presentation, Cruise said, ‘I’m in. But only if I get to do everything myself.’”
Referring to the pre-recorded Hollywood sign segment, Wasserman humorously remarked, “It’s incredible how quickly he made it to L.A., isn’t it?”
Initially, there were doubts about whether his team could secure the Top Gun star for such a daring stunt. However, Wasserman revealed that “with each step of the project, he became increasingly involved and enthusiastic.”
In fact, fitting the Hollywood sign shoot into Tom Cruise’s schedule was a feat in itself. The actor-producer was wrapped up filming the latest installment of his Mission: Impossible series.
Wasserman recounted, “He wrapped up shooting Mission: Impossible in London at 6 p.m., hopped on a plane, and landed in L.A. at 4 a.m. He then filmed the scene where he jumps onto a military plane, and made two jumps because he wasn’t satisfied with the first one.”
The chairman continued, “Cruise then took a helicopter from Palmdale to the Hollywood sign, shot from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and flew back to Burbank Airport before returning to London.”
Cruise also found time to attend events at the Olympic Games, including watching Simone Biles and the U.S. women’s gymnastics team compete on July 28.
At the closing ceremony in Stade de France, he was honored to receive the Olympic flag from Biles, 27, and Bass, 70.
Wasserman praised France, stating, “They deserve a lot of credit for hosting a successful Summer Games. They reminded everyone why we fall in love with the Olympics… and they did it spectacularly.”
