TOM CRUISE

Enneagram Type 3 (The Achiever) with a 4 Wing


MTV Live, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Why we think Tom Cruise is a Type 3

  • Maximizing his potential for success. Cruise is known for pre-screening his movies to audiences to gather feedback, tweaking them to ensure maximum appeal and success. More so than other actors, he is also deeply involved in the marketing and promotional strategies for his films.

  • Constant orientation towards future achievements. When asked about what lies ahead for him following the debut of one of his Mission Impossible films, he told the audience, “I’m thinking for future always, thinking, ‘What’s the next and what’s the next.'” His response demonstrated his constant pursuit of forward momentum and for the next accomplishment.  

  • Body language. Even though he is not tall by Hollywood standards, his posture and the way he presents himself make him appear confident and strong. His upright stance, broad shoulders, the way he moves with purpose, and the enthusiasm he exudes, especially when discussing his projects, all contribute to this image. 

  • Professionalism and work ethic. In interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, colleagues and co-stars frequently comment on Cruise's professionalism and dedication. He's known to be meticulous, fully committed to his roles, and often goes above and beyond, as evidenced by his insistence on performing many of his own stunts, which allows him to stand out from the crowd. 

  • Polished image. Over the years, Cruise has exhibited a refined sense of style. Whether he's on the red carpet or attending an event, he typically looks elegant and polished, donning well-fitted suits and carrying himself with a sense of grace (which is also indicative of his 4 Wing).

  • Competitiveness. Cruise's drive to perform his own stunts and frequently outdo his previous ones stem from a deep-seated competitiveness. In response to a question about why he does his own stunts, he replied, “I always thought there’s something that I can do and I wanted to push the art form, I thought, ‘How can I immerse an audience into a movie with this kind of action? …What can I do?'” As another example, In this scene, Cruise's character, John Anderton, is running to escape. Cruise, being known for his intense sprinting scenes, performed take after take, clocking up nearly 10 km of hard sprints. And he achieved this despite having injured himself earlier and being in considerable pain - a testament to his dedication and competitive drive on set.

  • Jerry Maguire. The titular role Cruise played in this film is a quintessential Type 3. Jerry's struggle with balancing authenticity and the drive for success, culminating in his iconic "Show me the money!" scene, is a narrative many Type 3s can identify with. Cruise's portrayal was deeply resonant, suggesting a strong personal connection to the material. Although this doesn’t prove that Tom Cruise is a Type 3, the overlap between the gifts and challenges of Tom Cruise in real life and the character in the film, is worth mentioning.

Tom Cruise quotes that show he is a Type 3

  • “Preparation is everything. Even if you throw it away, it doesn’t matter. I don’t want people to see the work behind it. They don’t know the work behind it. And I don’t want them to see it.”

  • "I've gotten very good at scheduling my life, scheduling the scene and preparing myself for knowing, saving the energy, consuming the energy, and knowing when to go for it."

  • “I go without sleep, I just go hard.”

  • “I make movies for the big screen.”

  • "Making a movie is like a chess game. It's about constantly changing patterns, adapting to new things. It's not just black and white…"

  • “I'm an all-or-nothing kind of person, and when I become interested in something, I give it my all.”

  • "I love what I do. I take great pride in what I do. And I can't do something halfway, three-quarters, nine-tenths. If I'm going to do something, I go all the way."

  • "I disagree with people who think you learn more from getting beat up than you do from winning."