John Boyega said he had £45 in his bank account when J.J. Abrams asked him to come to a meeting about Star Wars. The “about $60” figure is a rounded dollar rendering of that amount—not a measure of Boyega’s net worth.
What did John Boyega say he had in his account?
Recounting the story at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, Boyega said: “At the time I had £45 in my account. It took £33 and 83p to get to J.J. Do the math.” Variety reported the anecdote on April 15, 2025.
The reported amounts imply a difference of £11.17 after the trip, but that is simply the subtraction of the two figures Boyega gave. It is not a separately confirmed balance.
Why “worth $60” is misleading
A bank-account balance is not the same as net worth. Net worth accounts for a person’s assets and liabilities; the reported anecdote establishes neither Boyega’s total wealth nor his debts, other assets, or income at the time. The accurate takeaway is that he recalled having £45 in his account before traveling to meet Abrams.
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How the meeting led to Finn
Boyega offered to audition again when he met Abrams. As Boyega recounted it, Abrams replied, “You’re [in ‘Star Wars’].” Variety’s account identifies the film as Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Boyega was offered the role of Finn in 2014 after a seven-month audition process, according to The Guardian’s 2018 profile. His earlier lead film role was in Attack the Block, as noted in The Guardian’s 2015 profile.
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Why accounts of the travel cost differ
The 2025 Variety report gives Boyega’s later recollection of a £33.83 trip. A 2015 Guardian profile described an earlier version of the story with a £70 cab fare and a different description of the moment Abrams told him he was the new Star Wars star. Those are distinct reported accounts; the fares should not be combined.
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