The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola is facing financial strain after losing most of his fortune on his long-awaited film Megalopolis. The 86-year-old filmmaker reportedly invested $120 million of his personal wealth into the movie, which earned just $14.3 million globally after its September 2024 release. Known for his bold artistic choices, Coppola has now turned to selling seven of his prized watches, including a custom timepiece worth more than $1 million, in an effort to stay financially afloat.
According to Fox News, the auction will be held in December at Phillips in New York City, a house renowned for its luxury watch collections. “I need to get some money to keep the ship afloat,” the Godfather director said, admitting that the project left him “broke.” The sale includes the one-of-a-kind F.P. Journe FFC Prototype, which Coppola co-designed with master watchmaker François-Paul Journe over eight years.
The Godfather Director’s Passion And Risk
The Godfather director has long been known for taking creative risks—traits that built his legendary career but have also cost him greatly. Megalopolis was his dream project, a film he wrote, directed, and produced with an ensemble cast that included Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, and Aubrey Plaza. Despite its ambition, the film divided critics, with some calling it visionary and others labeling it incoherent. Coppola’s refusal to compromise for commercial safety reflects the same boldness that defined The Godfather and Apocalypse Now.
Coppola compared his financial losses to those of French filmmaker Jacques Tati, who also went broke pursuing artistic innovation. Yet the Godfather director remains proud of his work. He told The New York Times that while the box office disappointed, he views Megalopolis as an “artistic victory.” His resilience mirrors his belief that filmmaking should challenge convention—even when it comes at a personal cost.
A Legacy Of Highs And Hard Lessons
This is not the first time the Godfather director has faced major setbacks. His 1982 film One from the Heart was a box-office failure that drove his Zoetrope Studios into bankruptcy. Still, Coppola recovered through years of determination, directing commercial projects and building a business empire that included successful wineries and resorts.
With Director Francis Ford Coppola and Al Pacino: Remnants of the Past/X
Even after selling his wine brand in a $650 million deal, Coppola used much of his profits and loans to fund Megalopolis, a testament to his enduring passion for cinema. Though the financial toll has been immense, his commitment to visionary filmmaking keeps him among Hollywood’s most respected figures. The Godfather director’s story stands as both a cautionary tale and a tribute to the price of creative freedom.