Keanu Reeves has donated 70 percent of the money he earned from his hugely popular movie “The Matrix” to leukemia research, according to a new report.
Reeves, one of the few humble stars in Hollywood, is known to have given away huge portions of his multimillion-dollar salaries to charitable causes over the years.
The actor was reportedly paid $10 million upfront for the original 1999 sci-fi flick “The Matrix.”
However, he went on to earn a further $35 million from the movie after it became a global box office blockbuster.
And now it has emerged that Reeves quietly donated 70% of the money — a whopping $31.5 million — to leukemia research, according to Lad Bible.
He reportedly made the donation to leukemia research in honor of his little sister Kim, who had been diagnosed with the disease in 1991.
Reeves did more than just donate money during his sister’s fight against the form of cancer.
He also stepped up to become Kim’s primary caregiver, even going so far as to sell his home so he could move in with her to help out with her recovery, according to the Daily Mail.
Kim was fortunate enough to go into remission, but not before Reeves reportedly spent $5 million for her years of treatment.
Keanu Reeves has remarked that his sister was there for him when he was a struggling young actor.
“She was always there for me, you know. I will always be here for her,” he said.
The John Wick star also launched a foundation in 2009 aimed at curing leukemia, as well.
“I don’t like to attach my name to it, I just let the foundation do what it does,” he said of the group.
In fact, Reeves rarely mentions any of the donations, with most of it only ever being discovered years later.
Reeves has not donated only to cancer research.
According to a 2001 report by the Wall Street Journal, the actor also gave most of his earnings for the second and third Matrix films to the special effects and costume design teams.
Reeves reportedly said the behind-the-scenes artists were what made the successful films what they are, and they deserved more recognition for their work.
In other news, last year, Reeves was said to have gifted expensive watches to four stuntmen from the upcoming film John Wick 4.
Reeves gave the men each a $9,150 Rolex Submariner as a wrap gift upon completion of their work.
John Wick: Chapter 4, is now set for a March 2023 release, after being pushed back nearly a year from its initial May 2022 release time.
