How to save $350,000 and lose $30 billion. A lesson from 20th Century Fox🦊

In 1976, Fox studio bosses considered themselves negotiation geniuses. Young director George Lucas was asking for a fee of $500,000 to shoot 'Star Wars'. For a studio on the verge of bankruptcy, that was very expensive.
Then Lucas proposed a strange idea:

'Okay, pay me only $150,000. But write in the contract that the rights to merchandising (toys, t-shirts) and rights to any sequels remain with me.'

Fox lawyers popped champagne🍾

In the 70s, movie toys didn't sell. They thought they had fooled the naive director by fobbing him off with air instead of real money. Saved the budget)

💸We all know the outcome.
Star Wars became a religion. Lucas became a billionaire from selling plastic figurines and sequel rights. The studio signed away the most profitable franchise in the history of the universe with its own hands.