Today, Will Smith is the definition of a Hollywood giant. He is not just an acclaimed actor with a staggering $350 million net worth, but he has also made a name for himself with his success in the music world. However, his transition from music to acting was not as smooth as it may seem. On the surface, his story seems simple enough- rap success, recognition, and then a hit TV show. But what a lot of people do not know is that Smith had to take some pretty unconventional, and somewhat sneaky steps to land his biggest break in acting.

Will Smith recently opened up about his old-school networking tricks that helped him score his first big acting role.

In a chat on the Vice docuseries Black Comedy in America, Will Smith shared a behind-the-scenes story from his time hanging out at The Arsenio Hall Show's backstage, which was the hot spot back in the day. It was actually Smith's then-girlfriend's idea to mingle with all the famous folks backstage, which he called “the greatest greenroom ever,” all in the hopes of catching some clout. And that was where he bumped into record executive Benny Medina- the guy whose life story would go on to inspire The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

That random run-in turned out to be a life-changing event for Smith. He was pitched the idea for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Medina handed him his big break. This could not have come at a better time, especially since, after the success of his first rap hit with DJ Jazzy Jeff, things were not exactly going smoothly. His second music project flopped harder than ever, and he found himself knee-deep in debt.

Will Smith's financial rollercoaster during that time was also explored in the biography, Will Smith: A Biography. 

Will Smith got his start in music with major success, even a Grammy award. And all that sudden fame came with some bad decisions. Soon, he started splurging on all sorts of expensive stuff. Before he knew it, he was millions of dollars in debt. In Will Smith: A Biography, author Lisa Iannucci shared that Smith was close to declaring bankruptcy before moving to LA and landing The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

It was also shared that during the first three seasons of the sitcom, the IRS was taking 70% of his paycheck. According to Complex, Smith’s financial issues were mostly a result of his wild spending habits- something he still has not completely got over, evident from his $2.5 million motorhome. But the big difference now is that Smith is one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, with a net worth in the millions.

What do you think of Will Smith’s journey to landing The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!