That's been well known for years. Elizabeth Taylor once told the story of how that came about.
Said she was soaking in the bathtub and husband Eddie Fisher answered the phone. He told her that the producers at 20th Century Fox were offering her the lead in 'Cleopatra'. Liz had no interrest & sarcastically said..."Tell them I'll do it for a million dollars." Assuming that would put an end to the offer right there.
A few minutes later Eddie came back and told her they said ok.
All there was left to do was sign the contract...and the rest as they say...is history.
Apple
With such management style by Fox, no wonder they almost went bankrupt over that movie.
