Actor Rupert Grint has recently opened up about how he’s used his Harry Potter fortune to pursue a rather unexpected childhood dream.
Before Grint, along with his co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, became household names through their roles in the film adaptation of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series, they were just ordinary kids.
But by the time they turned 18, they were all guaranteed millionaires, thanks to the massive success of the Harry Potter series.
The money they earned from the films has provided them with financial security for life.
Grint, now 35, may be the lowest earner among the ‘golden trio,’ but that doesn’t mean he’s strapped for cash.
Estimates of his earnings from the eight films vary, but it’s believed he pocketed around $49 million for his portrayal of Ron Weasley. And that’s just the start.
According to Cosmopolitan, Grint, Radcliffe, and Watson continue to earn royalties from the Harry Potter franchise, which provides a nice, steady top-up to their already substantial wealth.
So, what does someone do with tens of millions of dollars?
Grint chose to indulge in a childhood dream that’s quite different from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.
You might think an actor with that kind of money would buy a mansion, a fancy car, or perhaps invest in a business. But not Grint.
He decided to buy an ice-cream van—a rather unique purchase inspired by his childhood dream job.
In a 2014 interview with the Daily Mail, Grint revealed this surprising detail about his life.
He explained that, as a kid, he had always dreamed of driving an ice-cream van. So, after making his fortune, he decided to make that dream a reality.
However, his first experience as an ice-cream man didn’t go quite as planned.
“Not long after I first got it, I pulled into a pub to do a U-turn, and there were eight kids with their pocket money out, hoping to buy a 99 or whatever,” Grint recalled.
“But I had nothing to give them. I’ve learnt my lesson since then.”
Determined not to disappoint again, Grint now keeps his van ‘well stocked’ with a machine that dispenses Mr. Whippy ice cream, along with a variety of ice lollies.
He even shared a bit more about his ice-cream adventures, saying:
“I tend to avoid July and August, but the rest of the year, I’ll drive around the local villages, and if I see some kids looking like they’re in need of ice creams, I’ll pull over and dish them out for free.
“They’ll say, ‘Ain’t you Ron Weasley?’ And I’ll say, ‘It’s strange, I get asked that a lot.’”
So, if you ever spot an ice-cream van in your local park, there’s a chance you might be getting your treat from Rupert Grint himself.
Although, he might be a bit busy these days, as he recently welcomed his first child, a baby daughter, with Georgia Groome, known for her role in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging.
