Hollywood actor Michael Douglas has revealed that he once transported 44 kilograms of marijuana in two Italian leather suitcases to finance his college expenses after his legendary father, Kirk Douglas, told him to become financially independent.
The 82-year-old actor shared the surprising story during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience on October 14, 2026, while promoting his memoir, One Hell of a Ride.
Douglas explained that the incident began when he turned 21 and was in his second year at the University of California, Santa Barbara. According to him, his father gave him a cheque for $10,000 and made it clear that he would have to manage his finances independently from then on.
“When I turned 21, and I was just my sophomore year in college. My dad said, ‘You’re 21. Okay, here you go.’ He took a checkbook, he wrote a check, and he gave me $10,000,” Douglas recalled.
He said he was grateful for the money but still had two more years of tuition and other expenses to cover. The situation became particularly uncomfortable because his younger brothers reportedly faced criticism from their father, who repeatedly praised Douglas for supposedly never asking him for financial assistance again.
Douglas said the situation continued for approximately 30 years before he eventually decided to tell his father the truth.
According to the actor, Kirk Douglas had once given him two beautiful Italian leather suitcases as a Christmas present. However, the gift eventually became part of an unconventional way of raising money.
Recalling the conversation with his father, Douglas explained that each suitcase could accommodate 22 kilograms of marijuana, allowing him to transport a total of 44 kilograms during each trip.
“When I would go back, like at Christmas time from school and go see my mother back east, each suitcase could fit 22 kilos of marijuana. And I used to go back with just the clothes on my back and 44 kilos,” he said.
Douglas explained that he purchased the marijuana in California and transported it to the East Coast, where he sold it to generate money for his education and living expenses.
During the conversation, he admitted that he had participated in the illegal business on a couple of occasions and that the proceeds helped him complete his studies without requesting additional financial support from his father.
The actor eventually confessed to Kirk Douglas because he felt uncomfortable watching his younger brothers being repeatedly criticised over money while their father held him up as an example of independence.
He recalled explaining that his apparent financial independence had been supported by his marijuana-selling activities rather than simply his ability to manage the original $10,000.
Douglas’s revelation forms part of the candid personal stories explored in his memoir, which reflects on his upbringing, Hollywood career, family relationships and experiences during the late 1960s.
Best known for films including Wall Street, Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct, Douglas has enjoyed a decades-long career as an actor and producer. His father, Kirk Douglas, was also one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors.
The admission offers a striking glimpse into the younger Douglas’s life before he became an established Hollywood star, revealing an unexpected chapter in the story behind his college years.
