Robert Downey Jr. Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Robert Downey, Jr.’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $300 million, Robert Downey Jr. is not only an American actor but also a producer and singer. He is predominantly recognized for his portrayal of “Iron Man” in the Marvel cinematic universe. As detailed in the upcoming section, his role as Iron Man significantly contributed to his wealth, placing him among the highest-paid actors in Hollywood history.

Throughout his personal and professional journey, Robert Downey Jr. has experienced remarkable highs and lows. While an immensely talented actor, he also struggled with excessive partying and a troublesome affinity for alcohol and drugs. Unfortunately, these choices negatively impacted his career. After serving jail time and undergoing multiple rehabilitation stints, he successfully turned his life around. Over the past decade, he has risen to the forefront of Hollywood’s elite, featuring in successful projects such as the “Sherlock Holmes” franchise, the “Iron Man” series, “The Soloist,” “Tropic Thunder,” the surprising indie hit, “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,” and “Kiss Kiss Bang, Bang,” amongst many others. Notably, on March 10, 2024, he received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film “Oppenheimer.”

How much did Robert Downey, Jr. Make Playing Iron Man?

For his appearance in the first “Iron Man,” which premiered in 2008, Robert famously earned “just” $500,000. His co-star, Terrence Howard, later disclosed details about how Robert secured the role and the reason for his modest salary. Initially, Terrence was the first lead actor cast for the film and had a three-movie Marvel contract that would have compensated him $4.5 million for his first film, $8 million for his second, and $12 million for his third. Terrence revealed that he discovered early on that the producers considered offering the role of Iron Man to Clive Owen. Seeking assistance, Robert contacted Terrence, asking for help with securing an audition. According to Howard, producers were initially reluctant to consider Downey due to the high costs of insuring him, stemming from past controversies in his personal life. To assist, Howard offered to reduce his salary by $1 million, allocating $500,000 to Downey’s paycheck and using the other half to cover insurance costs. The rest is history.

Following the massive success of the 2010 sequel, Robert astutely negotiated future salary terms for upcoming Marvel films. This agreement allows him to receive a substantial share of profits whenever he appears as Tony Stark or Iron Man in ANY Marvel movie. For his role in the 2012 film “The Avengers,” he earned $50 million, significantly surpassing the salaries of his A-list co-stars by 10-20 times. Even for a brief appearance in 2017’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” Robert was compensated $15 million for merely three days of shooting. Furthermore, he received $75 million for his role in the third “Iron Man” film in 2013. That same year, GQ Magazine inquired

Regarding Robert’s substantial earnings from Iron Man, he shared his thoughts:

GQ: “Is that number [$50 million] about right?”

RDJ: “Yeah.” He smiles, adding, “Isn’t that crazy? They’re so pissed. I can’t believe it. I’m what’s known as a strategic cost.”

Here’s a detailed overview of Robert Downey Jr.’s compensation and total earnings within the Marvel Universe:

• “Iron Man 1” (2008): $500,000
• “Iron Man 2” (2010): $10 million
• “Iron Man 3” (2013): $75 million
• “The Avengers” (2012): $10 million base + $40 million backend bonus = $50 million
• “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015): $40 million
• “Captain America: Civil War” (2016): $40 million
• “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017): $15 million
• “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018): $75 million
• “Avengers: Endgame” (2019): $75 million

Total: $380.5 million

Doctor Doom Payday

It was disclosed in a surprising announcement at Comic Con in San Diego that Robert is set to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the antagonist Doctor Doom in July 2024. To entice RDJ back into the MCU, Marvel offered him $100 million to appear in at least two films. The studio also promised RDJ various benefits, including private jet travel, backend profit sharing, a dedicated security team, and a “trailer encampment” for his use while on set.

Early Life

Born on April 4, 1965, in New York City, Robert Downey, Jr. is the son of Robert Downey Sr., a writer, actor, and director. His mother, Elsie Ann Downey, was an actress who featured in numerous films directed by her husband. Downey Jr. has an older sister named Allyson, and the family resided in Greenwich Village. Robert Sr. struggled with drug addiction and permitted his son to try marijuana at just six years old.

The surname “Downey” originates from Robert Sr.’s stepfather. Initially named Robert John Elias, Jr., Robert Sr. adopted the name “Downey” after his mother’s marriage to James Downey following his parents’ divorce. It was not until the early 1950s, when he faced the challenge of enlisting in the Army while underage, that he used “Robert Downey,” hoping to mask his actual age. This tactic succeeded, and he continued to be known as “Robert Downey.” At that time, he was still using his birth name “Elias.” It was after the birth of his own son, which he named “Robert Downey,” in 1965, that he became known as “Robert Downey Sr.”

In 1975, when Robert was nine years old, his parents divorced. Following the separation, he relocated to California with his father. He attended Santa Monica High School, where he crossed paths with future actors such as Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, Holly Robinson-Peete, Ramon Estevez, Renee Estevez, and Dean Cain. In 1982, Downey chose to dropout of high school, returning to New York City to follow an acting career.

Career

Before securing a spot in the new, younger cast of “Saturday Night Live” during the mid-1980s, Downey held various roles in theatre, collaborating with Joan Cusack, Nora Dunn, Anthony Michael Hall, Jon Lovitz, Dennis Miller, Randy Quaid, Terry Sweeney, and Danita Vance. Unfortunately, the “SNL” season of 1985-1986 experienced dismal ratings, leading to the dismissal of all new cast members from 1985. Downey Jr. portrayed a high school bully in John Hughes’ “Weird Science” that same year. Then, in 1987, he took on the role of Julian Wells, a drug-addicted wealthy character in “Less Than Zero.” His career progressed with leading roles in “Chances Are” alongside Cybill Shepherd in 1989, “Air America” opposite Mel Gibson in 1990, and “Soapdish” featuring Sally Field, Whoopi Goldberg, and Kevin Kline in 1991. In 1992, he starred as Charlie Chaplin in “Chaplin,” earning an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for that performance.

Drug Issues

Downey faced substantial challenges in his career as his drug abuse spiraled out of control. Between 1996 and 2001, he encountered numerous arrests relating to drug offenses, where substances such as cocaine, heroin, and marijuana were found in his possession. Despite participating in various drug rehabilitation programs, he encountered relapses. In April 1996, while speeding down Sunset Boulevard, he was stopped and discovered to be in possession of heroin, cocaine, and an unloaded .357 Magnum handgun, resulting in his arrest. A month later, while on parole, he entered a neighbor’s home while under the influence and fell asleep in one of their beds, leading to a sentence of three years probation with obligatory drug testing. Missing one court-ordered drug test in 1997 landed him a six-month sentence in L.A. County jail. Two years later, yet another missed drug test resulted in his arrest and a three-year prison sentence at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, where he spent nearly a year before posting $5,000 bail, making him eligible for early release.

Shortly after his release, he became part of the “Ally McBeal” cast, earning a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a mini-series or television film for his performance. However, during the 2000 Thanksgiving weekend, Downey was arrested again for being intoxicated while in possession of cocaine and Valium. In April 2001, an LAPD officer discovered him wandering barefoot in Culver City, leading to an arrest on suspicion of drug use. Although he tested positive for cocaine, he was released a few hours later. Following this incident, Downey was let go from “Ally McBeal,” subsequently entering rehab once more and receiving a three-year probation period.

Career Comeback

Restoring his career proved challenging for Downey after he eventually managed to overcome his drug issues. He found himself unhirable due to exorbitant insurance costs imposed by production companies, which filmmakers were unwilling to pay. However, it was fellow actor Mel Gibson, a longtime friend since their work on “Air America,” who played a crucial role in reviving Downey’s career. He personally covered Downey’s insurance bond, enabling him to return to the industry.

“The Singing Detective” marked a significant achievement for Downey, as he completed the film without encountering any issues, leading other filmmakers to eagerly seek his talent once more.

In 2007, he was offered the iconic role of Tony Stark in “Iron Man.” The inaugural Iron Man film debuted in Spring 2008, where Downey received critical acclaim for his portrayal. He continued to embody Tony Stark in the sequels released in 2010 and 2013, along with appearances in various other Marvel films, including “The Incredible Hulk” (2008), “The Avengers” (2012), “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015), “Captain America: Civil War” (2016), “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017), “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018), and “Avengers: Endgame” (2019).

Downey also showcased his comedic talent in “Tropic Thunder,” earning a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His portrayal of the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes in the 2009 film brought him further acclaim, leading to a reprise of the role in “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” (2011), with plans for a third film on the horizon. In 2020, he took on the character of Dr. John Dolittle in the film titled “Dolittle.”

In 2023, Downey appeared in Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed film “Oppenheimer.” His stellar performance was later celebrated with an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor on March 11, 2024.

Personal Life

Following a brief 42-day courtship, Downey married actress and singer Deborah Falconer on May 29, 1992. However, due to Downey’s struggles with drug abuse and multiple rehab stints, their marriage ended in 2001. Falconer took their son Indio (born in 1993) and left Downey, leading to their divorce in 2004.

While working on the set of “Gothika” in 2003, Downey met film executive Susan Levin, who initially declined his requests for a date on two occasions. Ultimately, the undeniable chemistry between them led Downey to propose to Levin on the eve of her 30th birthday in November 2003. They exchanged vows in 2005, and later welcomed their son Exton in February 2012 and their daughter Avri in November 2014.

Since July 2003, Downey has maintained sobriety from drugs and alcohol, attributing much of his success in overcoming addiction to his wife, Susan. He is also involved in 12-step recovery programs.

Real Estate

Downey possesses multiple properties within the Los Angeles area, with a portfolio valued at approximately $40-50 million. In 2012, he acquired a Santa Monica home for $4 million. His purchase of a seven-acre estate in Malibu, featuring equestrian facilities, set him back $13.44 million in 2009. In 2017, he secured another Malibu residence for $4 million. Additionally, he owns various residential and commercial real estate in Venice, a $2.5 million home in Pacific Palisades, and a beachfront property in Manhattan Beach.