Rupert Grint has shared how acting in the Harry Potter films helped him fulfill a surprising childhood dream.
Before Rupert Grint, alongside his fellow actors Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, gained fame through their roles in the film adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, they were just regular kids.
However, by the time they reached 18, the success of the Harry Potter series ensured that they were all millionaires.
The wealth they accumulated from the movies has given them financial security for their entire lives.
At 35, Rupert Grint might be the lowest earner among the “golden trio,” but he’s far from being short on money.
While estimates of his earnings from the eight Harry Potter films differ, it is believed that he earned about $49 million for his role as Ron Weasley. And that’s just the beginning.
According to Cosmopolitan, Grint, along with Radcliffe and Watson, continues to receive royalties from the Harry Potter franchise, which provides a regular boost to their already significant wealth.
So, with tens of millions of dollars, what does someone do?
Grint opted to pursue a childhood dream that is quite different from the dazzling world of Hollywood.
You might expect an actor with that kind of wealth to buy a mansion, a luxury car, or even invest in a business. But not Grint.
Instead, he chose to buy an ice-cream van—a rather unusual purchase inspired by his childhood dream job.
In a 2014 interview with the Daily Mail, Rupert Grint shared an unexpected detail about his life.
He revealed that as a child, he had always fantasized about driving an ice-cream van. So, after earning his fortune, he made that dream come true.
However, Grint’s initial experience as an ice-cream vendor didn’t go exactly as he had hoped.
“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 let anyone down again, Grint now ensures his van is “well stocked” with a machine that serves Mr. Whippy ice cream, along with a selection of ice lollies.
He even shared 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 happen to see an ice-cream van in your local park, there’s a chance Rupert Grint might be the one serving you your treat.
However, he might be a bit occupied these days since he recently welcomed his first child, a baby daughter, with Georgia Groome, who is known for her role in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging.