Michael Douglas Recounts Kirk Douglas's $10,000 Gift at Age 21

Michael Douglas recently shared an anecdote about his father, Kirk Douglas, giving him $10,000 when he turned 21 and telling him he was on his own. The actor discussed this pivotal moment during an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," where he also spoke about his new memoir, "One Helluva Ride."

Douglas recalled that his father presented him with a check for $10,000, stating, "Okay, you’re on your own." Douglas, who was still in college at the time, expressed his gratitude but also noted his remaining tuition costs. He later learned that Kirk would reference this event when speaking to his other sons, highlighting Michael's self-reliance.

Further illustrating his father's approach to financial independence, Douglas also recounted a Christmas gift from Kirk: two Italian leather suitcases. During his college years, Michael realized these suitcases were suitable for transporting marijuana and used them to bring it back to New York, a detail he later shared with his brothers. Kirk Douglas, known for films such as "Spartacus" and "Paths of Glory," died in 2020 at the age of 103. His son Michael followed in his footsteps, achieving acclaim for his roles in "Wall Street" and "Basic Instinct," and producing the Academy Award-winning film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest."