Ever wondered if Tom Hanks is getting rich from all those Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurants you see around? I mean, he did play Forrest Gump, who started the fictional company in the movie Let’s dive into the real story behind this seafood empire and find out if Tom’s getting a piece of that shrimpy pie!
The Short Answer
Nope, Tom Hanks doesn’t own Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and doesn’t make a single penny from its success. Surprising, right? Despite playing the character who created the fictional company, Hanks has no financial stake in the real-world restaurant chain.
How Bubba Gump Went from Movie Magic to Real Restaurant
The Movie Connection
- Released in 1994, “Forrest Gump” was a massive hit
- The film shows Forrest starting a shrimp business to honor his friend Bubba
- Initially just a movie prop painted on a boat
- Film won 6 Academy Awards and made shrimping look pretty darn cool!
Birth of the Real Restaurant
- Viacom Consumer Products bought rights in 1996
- Partnered with restaurant owner Robert Earl
- First location: Universal CityWalk, Los Angeles
- Currently has over 40 locations worldwide
- Makes approximately $400 million yearly in sales
Why Doesn’t Tom Hanks Own Any Part of It?
Here’s the deal:
- Paramount Pictures (owned by Viacom) produced Forrest Gump
- Viacom kept all commercial rights to the movie’s brands
- When they licensed Bubba Gump, the cast wasn’t included in the deal
- Hanks joked that his only profit comes from eating there!
The Restaurant’s Success Without Hanks
The chain has grown into quite the business:
- Present in 10 different countries
- Locations include:
- United States
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Mexico
- China
- Japan
- Indonesia
- Qatar
Fun Fact: Chris Pratt’s Bubba Gump Connection
Here’s a cool tidbit – before he was Star-Lord, Chris Pratt was actually a waiter at Bubba Gump in Hawaii! He was living in his van at 19 when he got discovered by actress Rae Dawn Chong while serving tables. Talk about a Hollywood story!
How the Restaurant Uses the Movie Connection
Even without Hanks getting any money, the restaurants heavily use the Forrest Gump connection:
- Movie memorabilia everywhere
- Menu items named after characters
- Themed decorations
- Quotes from the movie on walls
- Staff trained to answer movie trivia
The Real Owners
Currently, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co is owned by
- Landry’s Inc. (bought in 2010)
- Headquarters: Houston, Texas
- Operating as a subsidiary
While Tom Hanks doesn’t own or profit from Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. the restaurant chain has become super successful on its own. It’s kinda ironic – just like in the movie where Forrest accidentally becomes a millionaire, the restaurant based on his fictional company became a real-world success story without him!
But hey, next time you’re enjoying some Lieutenant Dan’s Drunken Shrimp or Forrest’s Seafood Feast, remember – you’re not putting any money in Tom Hanks’ pocket. Though I bet he’s doing just fine with his movie earnings!
P.S. If you’re wondering about Hanks’ actual earnings from the movie Forrest Gump – he made around $60 million through a smart contract that gave him a percentage of the box office. Not too shabby for missing out on the shrimp business!
Would you like me to explain any part of this article in more detail?
Bubba Gump Shrimp Started As A Fictional Company
Bubba Gump Shrimp began as a fictional company from Forrest Gump, but in 1995, Anthony Zolezzi bought the rights to the name Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. from Paramount Pictures. Zolezzi hoped to use the name to revive his struggling seafood company, Meridian Products. At first, the newly named Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. sold prepackaged shrimp in supermarkets. However, after a friend in the restaurant business approached Zolezzi about using the name, he opened the first Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant.
Since the first Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant opened in 1996, the company has franchised and spread across the globe. In 2010, Landrys Inc. bought the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and continued expansion of the franchise. Bubba Gump Shrimp now has 34 restaurants worldwide, serving dishes named after characters from Forrest Gump. The restaurants themselves are Forrest Gump themed, sporting all kinds of Forrest Gump-related decorations and tributes. They often celebrate the best Forrest Gump quotes with things like “Stop, Forrest, Stop” signs to signal employees.
“I Just Kept Going” – Mykelti Williamson on Creating Bubba’s Shrimp List
FAQ
Who is the real owner of Bubba Gump Shrimp?
In November 2010, Landry’s, Inc. acquired Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Does Tom Hanks have anything to do with Bubba Gump?
Tom Hanks had absolutely nothing to do with the coming up with the concept of Bubba Gump. That honour would go to Winston Groom who wrote the novel the movie is based upon.
Why did Tom Hanks not get paid for Forrest Gump?
Why wasn’t Tom Hanks paid for Forrest Gump? As others have noted on this thread, Hanks got paid out of the film’s gross receipts. The one who complained about not getting paid was Winston Groom, who wrote the novel the film was based upon.
Who owns the rights to Forrest Gump?
FORREST GUMP Trademark of Paramount Pictures Corporation – Registration Number 4789137 – Serial Number 86460679 :: Justia Trademarks.
Why is Bubba Gump Shrimp so popular?
Forrest Gump has become an iconic film, despite Tom Hanks thinking Forrest Gump was going to flop, and the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company has taken advantage of that by using the film to promote the business. The name Bubba Gump Shrimp alone is enough to excite the interest of the legions of Forrest Gump fans.
Does Tom Hanks have anything to do with Bubba Gumps?
Tom Hanks’ former bank is now a Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Many years later, after Hanks had amassed a $350 million fortune, the bank was converted into a restaurant inspired by his blockbuster hit Forrest Gump. “The bigger thing about that, that was from a chemical bank,” Hanks said.
Who owns Bubba Gump Shrimp?
Related: Forrest Gump Soundtrack: Every Song & Where To Listen Bubba Gump Shrimp began as a fictional company from Forrest Gump, but in 1995, Anthony Zolezzi bought the rights to the name Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. from Paramount Pictures. Zolezzi hoped to use the name to revive his struggling seafood company, Meridian Products.
Does Forrest Gump have a shrimp business?
In the 1994 classic Forrest Gump, Forrest started a shrimping company called Bubba Gump Shrimp, which has become a real business. Throughout Forrest Gump, Forrest constantly stumbles into success, as he does with Bubba Gump Shrimp.
Is Bubba Gump a restaurant?
The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company is an American seafood restaurant chain inspired by the 1994 film Forrest Gump, based in Houston, Texas, and a division of Landry’s Restaurants since 2010.
How many Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurants are there?
Since the first Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant opened in 1996, the company has franchised and spread across the globe. In 2010, Landry’s Inc. bought the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and continued expansion of the franchise. Bubba Gump Shrimp now has 34 restaurants worldwide, serving dishes named after characters from Forrest Gump.