Michael Douglas Reveals the Unexpected Way He Used His Father’s Gift
Andrew Powell · Oct 9, 2026 · 2 min read
Michael Douglas says his famous father, Kirk Douglas, gave him $10,000 when he was 21 and considered the matter settled — even though the young actor still had two years of college to finish.
According to Fox News, the “Basic Instinct” star shared the story Thursday during an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” where he discussed his new memoir, “One Helluva Ride.”
Host Jimmy Kimmel pointed out that Kirk had appeared on the program 19 years earlier while promoting one of his own memoirs.
Michael recalled receiving a check from his father along with a blunt message about becoming independent.
“I was 21 years old. He said, ‘Son,’ and he wrote me a check, $10,000. He said, ‘Okay, you’re on your own,’” Michael said.
The actor explained that he tried to remind his father that he still had tuition bills to pay. He appreciated the money, but the gift did not cover the remaining costs of his education.
Years later, Kirk used the exchange as an example when speaking to his younger sons, Michael recalled. His father would tell them that Michael had received the $10,000 and never asked him for anything else.
Michael eventually let his brothers in on another detail about his relationship with their father — one involving a Christmas present that proved useful for a very different reason.
Kirk had given him two Italian leather suitcases. While attending college, Michael discovered that each could hold “22 kilos of marijuana.”
“I always felt bad about that. I could have got a loan, I guess, but that was how I brought them back to New York,” Michael said.
After being praised for his independence for years, Michael finally revealed the suitcase story to his brothers.
Kirk, born Issur Danielovitch, was one of Hollywood’s best-known stars, appearing in films such as “Spartacus,” “Lust for Life” and “Paths of Glory.” He died Feb. 5, 2020, at age 103.
He had four sons: Michael and Joel with his first wife, Diana Dill, and Peter and Eric with his second wife, Anne Buydens. Eric died in 2004.
Michael went on to establish his own successful Hollywood career. He won an Academy Award for playing Gordon Gekko in “Wall Street” and produced “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” which won the Oscar for best picture. His other well-known films include “Fatal Attraction,” “Basic Instinct,” and “Romancing the Stone.”