The 1987 awards season reached its fever pitch at the Golden Globes. The Beverly Hilton ballroom was packed with the old guard of Hollywood, but all eyes were on Table One—the Jones Firm headquarters.
The Double VictoryThe air was thick with tension as the presenters for the Best Actress categories took the stage. Because of the unique way the awards were structured, Cameron and Jennifer weren't just nominees; they were the frontrunners for two different honors.
When Cameron Diaz was announced as the winner for The Silver Horizon, the room erupted. She stood up, radiant in her gold gown, but before she walked to the stage, she leaned down and whispered to Anastasia: "This is yours as much as mine."
Less than an hour later, the impossible happened. Jennifer Grey was called as the winner for The Blue Hour. For the first time in the history of the ceremony, two actresses managed by the same seventeen-year-old girl took home the top honors on the same night.
Anastasia sat between them as they returned to the table, their trophies clinking together. She hadn't been nominated this year, but her heart was full. Watching her "Circle" succeed was a different kind of power—one that felt more permanent than a statue.
The Power ContractThe morning after the double win, the Granite Sanctuary was buzzing. Robin arrived with a contract that had been negotiated in the early hours of the morning. Rob Reiner and the studio were desperate to cast Anastasia as the lead in The Princess Bride.
"They aren't just offering you a part, Stasia," Robin said, laying the papers out in the sun-drenched study. "They're offering you a seat at the table."
The Princess Bride Contract Terms:
Upfront Salary: $2.5 Million. This was an unheard-of sum for a seventeen-year-old in 1987, placing her among the highest-paid stars in the world.
Profit Participation: 10% of the Gross Receipts. Anastasia hadn't just settled for "net" profits; she had secured a percentage of every dollar the movie made at the box office, in home video, and in merchandising.
Executive Producer Credit: Giving her final say over the marketing and a voice in the editing room.
"It's a record-breaker," Sarah noted, calculating the potential. "If the movie is the classic we think it is, that 10% could be worth tens of millions over the next decade."
The New LeadAnastasia looked at the script. She would be playing Buttercup opposite Cary Elwes. The story was a fairy tale, but with her "Unscripted" manifesto still echoing in the press, she knew she could bring a modern, sharp edge to the role.
"He wants me to be a princess," Anastasia said with a faint, knowing smile to Cameron and Jennifer.
"No," Cameron replied, leaning against the doorway. "He wants you to be the Princess. And with that contract, you're basically the studio's landlord."
The 1987 Ledger: The SurgeWith the new contract signed and the awards buzz driving the value of their other assets, the seventeen-year-old Anastasia was sitting on a mountain of wealth.
Asset / CompanyValue as of Spring 1987StatusApple (AAPL)$16.8 MillionCore holding.Oracle / Microsoft$19.7 MillionCombined tech software weight.The Princess Bride (Salary)$2.5 MillionNew Cash Injection.Management Fees$5.2 MillionFrom Cameron & Jennifer's record years.Pixar / Real Estate$11.2 MillionEquity and the Sanctuary.Total Firm Valuation: Approximately $55.4 Million (Plus 10% Gross of Princess Bride)
"We're going to England," Anastasia announced, her green eyes reflecting the bright California sun. "We're moving the fortress to the countryside for the summer. And we're going to show them that in our story, the princess doesn't just get rescued—she owns the castle."