One time, George Clooney reportedly gathered 14 of his closest friends to his home and gave each a designer suitcase filled with $1 million, presented in $20 bills. He also told the gathering he had paid their taxes for a year. George Clooney, it seems, is a very good friend.
This story was recounted Wednesday by Rande Gerber, Clooney's friend and Casamigos partner (and Cindy Crawford's husband), on MSNBC's Headliners, ET reports.
"There’s a group of guys we call 'The Boys,'" Gerber said. "George had called me and 'The Boys' and said, 'Hey, mark September 27th, 2013, on your calendar. Everyone’s going to come to my house for dinner.'"
"The Boys" included both wealthy men and men who fit more under the "struggling artist" category, as Clooney once did, Gerber said.
He recalled Clooney telling "The Boys," "I came to L.A., I slept on your couch. I'm so fortunate in my life to have all of you and I couldn't be where I am today without all of you. So, it was really important to me that while we’re still all here together, that I give back."
And then the entire frat house bought a keg and partied all night.
Not really. Clooney intended for "The Boys" to use the cash to get their kids into school, pay their mortgages, or just get them through tough times. Gerber said he donated his own share to charity.
It's useful to note that this bestowing of wealth happened before Clooney and his now-wife Amal started dating officially. Had they been more serious, we can only assume she would have suggested he give those spare millions to a more worldly cause. Perhaps a donation made in each of "The Boys'" names? Or at least an investment in bitcoin.
So what have we learned here? I'm not sure. It's good to have friends. But apparently, it's better when they're George Clooney.
Sarah Rense is the Lifestyle Editor at Esquire, where she covers tech, food, drinks, home, and more.
