“I have no money because I invested all the money I borrowed to create Megalopolis,” Coppola said on the “Tetragrammaton” podcast. “It’s pretty much gone. I think it will come back in 15 or 20 years.”
Indeed, one of the benefits of Coppola self-financing the film is that he will benefit from all revenue generated in perpetuity. Unfortunately, with the box office on increasingly uncertain ground, theatrical re-releases are unlikely to be of much help. A streaming agreement, a physical release, a VOD, etc. will be used to make up the difference.
More recently, Coppola has taken financial steps to recoup some of the losses. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he recently sold his private island in Belize for $1.8 million. He had already sold stakes in several wine estates to help finance “Mégalopolis”.
In October, the New York Times reported that Coppola was auctioning off several expensive watches from his personal collection, including a custom prototype dubbed FFC, made in collaboration with FP Journe in 2014. The watch is expected to fetch at least $1 million at the auction in December.
“I need money to keep the ship afloat,” Coppola told the Times of the decision to sell his watches. He also sells two Patek Philippes, a Blancpain Minute Repeater, an IWC Chronograph, another FP Journe and a Breguet Classique. Values vary wildly, ranging from $3,000 to $240,000.
“My children, without exception, have wonderful careers without fortune. We’re fine. It doesn’t matter,” Coppola said at Cannes in 2024 (per THR). “All of you here: money doesn’t matter.” It’s a nice message, but in 2025 it clearly needs money.
