Morgan Freeman Unveils the Deeper Meaning Behind His Gold Hoop Earrings

Within the pantheon of beloved movie stars who have stood the tests of time and relevance, there are few that shine as brightly as Morgan Freeman.

The 86-year-old actor has experienced and accomplished it all during his 50 years in the entertainment industry, amassing a considerable fan base along the way.

In fact, Freeman seems to have achieved the exceptionally rare feat of being virtually universally loved. He has checks sheet no scandals to his name, he’s known for his hard work ethic and standout performances in some of the best films ever made, and, of course, he boasts a soothing voice quite unlike any other around. The star of “The Shawshank Redemption” has embodied the roles of numerous characters over the years, but there’s one thing fans have noticed that he likes to keep the same—his trademark golden earrings.

If you consider yourself a Morgan Freeman fan, you’re likely familiar with the pair of golden earrings he wears when he’s out and about.

And it turns out there’s a special reason why he hasn’t traded them in.

According to reports, Freeman initially began wearing them as a young man, and they’ve been along for the ride through all the ups and downs of his long and illustrious career.

Though today he’s one of the most beloved celebrities on the planet, Morgan Freeman actually struggled to catch a break in the beginning, at least in terms of his profession.

Unlike most other male superstars in the film industry today, Freeman didn’t get his start as a child or even as a young man. Instead, the actor had to wait until he was almost 50 years old before he got his chance. The 1986 film “Street Smart” would prove to be the launching pad for his career, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Since then, Freeman has gone from strength to strength on the big screen. He won an Oscar in 2005 for his role in “Million Dollar Baby” and earned Academy Award nominations for his work in films such as the aforementioned “Street Smart” (1986), “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994), and “Invictus” (2014).

All in all, Morgan Freeman’s late-blooming career has reportedly amassed him a $250 million (£199 million) fortune (according to Celebrity Net Worth). Yet, the veteran actor has consistently sported the same set of gold earrings.

After much speculation, he recently revealed to fans the reason he chooses to wear the hoops. In an Instagram post, he stated, “These earrings. I get asked all the time about them. The truth is, these are worth just enough for someone to buy me a coffin if I die in a strange place. That’s why sailors used to wear them and that’s why I do.”

Furthermore, Freeman told Fox News in 2016 that he was also inspired after seeing Burt Lancaster don a pair of golden earrings in the 1952 film “The Crimson Pirate.”

“I thought that was sexy. Then I learned that sailors wore gold earrings to pay for funerals if they died in foreign lands. I’m a sailor, so that nailed it,” Freeman said.

Well, I certainly never knew that! Did you?