Vinnie Jones reveals how he lost entire $1m payday - then rejected $2m ITV money

Vinnie Jones reveals how he lost entire $1m payday - then rejected $2m ITV money The footballer has enjoyed huge paydays since embarking on a second career outside football, but all is not as it seems Former Premier League footballer Vinnie Jones blew through an entire seven-figure TV payday after moving to Hollywood in an effort to break America. The Wales international landed roles in a number of films - starting with Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels in 1998 - but life was expensive for him out in the States. Jones would later accept an invitation to appear on Celebrity Big Brother in 2010, finishing third on a series won by mixed martial artist Alex Reid. The 61-year-old claims to have received $1m (£748,000) but says it was instantly swallowed up by the cost of living in California. "I did Big Brother for a million dollars, but I needed it," Jones told The Louis Theroux Podcast. "I had five houses at one point, and f***ing Bentleys and Rolls-Royces and f***ing BMWs, and they all need paying for. "[It] all depends on where you are in the pecking order. If you're 15, 20 mil, you're one of the leads, you're the one who puts bums on seats, and then it just drifts right the way down." Make sure you don't miss sport's biggest stories and breaking news by making the Daily Mirror one of your Google preferred sources. He continued: "You could be in a big franchise at 100 grand for the movie. You got the prestige of being in it, and is it going to help your career and this, that, and the other. Who knows? "This is the thing, though. Manager, 10%. Agent, 10%. Lawyer, 5%. Business manager, 5%. There's 30 to the taxman. I think this is why so many actors get into trouble." Jones also revealed he recently turned down a $2m payday to appear on I'm A Celebrity. It suggests he is in a better financial position than when he took a smaller sum for Big Brother, simply because he needed the money. "You go and do something, let's say for 300 grand. F***ing hell, won the lottery. But when you got f***ing flash cars and houses, I had five houses at one point, and f***ing Bentleys and Rolls-Royces and f***ing BMWs, and they all need paying for," he added. "You got to keep going, you know. The bags get heavy, and the wheel gets faster. You know what I mean? So there isn't real rhyme or reason to what you get. I swear to God, "I turned down $2million last year for I'm a Celebrity. Whereas before, f***ing hell, no way, I'd have, boom, I'd have jumped at it. I'd have jumped at it. "I did Big Brother for a million dollars, but I needed it. I had a tax bill. After everyone carved it up, I actually did it for nothing. Taxman this, you owe that. I ended up with zero." Join our WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.