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 a notable American actor, producer, and singer. He is perhaps best known today for portraying “Iron Man” in the Marvel cinematic universe. In the following section, we discuss how playing Iron Man not only brought Robert immense wealth but also ranked him among the highest-paid actors in Hollywood history.

Robert Downey Jr. has experienced significant highs and lows throughout his personal and professional life. Although always celebrated for his exceptional acting skills, he struggled with excessive partying and a damaging reliance on alcohol and drugs. Unfortunately, this lifestyle eventually derailed his career, leading to time in jail and several rehab stints. Fortunately, he managed to turn his life around. Over the past decade, he has soared to the pinnacle of A-list status in Hollywood, starring in blockbuster projects such as the “Sherlock Holmes” series, the “Iron Man” trilogy, “The Soloist,” “Tropic Thunder,” the indie sensation “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,” and “Kiss Kiss Bang, Bang,” among numerous others. On March 10, 2024, he received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his brilliant performance in the film “Oppenheimer.”

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

Robert famously received a salary of “just” $500,000 for his appearance in the original “Iron Man,” which debuted in 2008. Terrence Howard, his co-star, later shed light on how Robert secured the role and the reasons behind his surprisingly low pay. Terrence was the first lead actor signed for the film, under a three-picture Marvel agreement that guaranteed him $4.5 million for the first, $8 million for the second, and $12 million for the third film. Terrence claims he discovered early on that producers considered casting Clive Owen as Iron Man. In a bid for the role, Robert reached out to Terrence for assistance in securing an audition. According to Howard, producers initially dismissed Downey due to high insurance costs stemming from his past controversies. Terrence offered to reduce his salary by $1 million, splitting the savings to help cover Downey’s paycheck and insurance. Hence, the history was made.

Following the massive success of the 2010 sequel, Robert astutely negotiated a crucial salary clause for any future Marvel films. This agreement allows him to earn a substantial share of profits whenever he appears as Tony Stark or Iron Man in ANY Marvel film. For his role in 2012’s “The Avengers,” he earned $50 million, significantly surpassing the salaries of his A-list co-stars by 10-20 times. Even for his relatively brief appearance in 2017’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” Robert earned $15 million for a total of just three days of work. In 2013, he made $75 million for his part in the third “Iron Man.” That year, GQ Magazine asked…

Robert discussed his substantial earnings from Iron Man. Here’s his perspective:

GQ: Is that number [$50 million] accurate?

RDJ: “Yeah,” he smiles. “It’s wild, isn’t it? They’re so angry. I’m what you’d call a strategic cost.”

The following is a summary of Robert Downey Jr.’s salary and overall income from his roles in 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 announced in July 2024 during a surprise event at Comic Con in San Diego that Robert would reprise his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom. To entice RDJ back to the MCU, Marvel offered him $100 million for at least two films, along with various perks such as private jet travel, backend profit sharing, a dedicated security team, and a “trailer encampment” for when he is filming.

Early Life

Born on April 4, 1965, in New York City, Robert Downey Jr.’s father, Robert Downey Sr., was a writer, director, and actor while his mother, Elsie Ann Downey, also acted, frequently appearing in her husband’s movies. Robert Jr. has an older sister named Allyson, and the family resided in Greenwich Village. Downey Sr. struggled with drug addiction, allowing his son to experiment with marijuana at the early age of six.

The surname “Downey” comes from Robert Sr.’s stepfather. Originally named Robert John Elias, Jr., Robert Sr. adopted the name Downey after his mother remarried James Downey following her divorce. Although he continued to use his birth name for some time, he revised it to “Robert Downey” in the early 1950s when he attempted to enlist in the Army at the underage age. This adjustment successfully concealed his true age, and from that point onward, he was known as “Robert Downey.” However, as his legal last name remained “Elias,” he wasn’t recognized as “Robert Downey, Jr.” until he named his own son “Robert Downey” upon his birth in 1965.

In 1975, Robert Downey Sr. and Elise Ann divorced when Robert was just nine. Following the separation, Robert moved to California with his father and attended Santa Monica High School concurrently with future stars such as Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, Holly Robinson-Peete, Ramon Estevez, Renee Estevez, and Dean Cain. He dropped out of high school in 1982, returning to New York City to chase an acting career.

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Career

Before securing a role in the new, younger cast of “Saturday Night Live” during the mid-1980s, Downey had performed in various theatre productions. He joined a lineup that included Joan Cusack, Nora Dunn, Anthony Michael Hall, Jon Lovitz, Dennis Miller, Randy Quaid, Terry Sweeney, and Danita Vance. Unfortunately, the 1985-1986 “SNL” season experienced poor ratings, leading to the dismissal of all new cast members recruited that year. In 1985, Downey Jr. portrayed a high school bully in John Hughes’ “Weird Science.” The following year, he took on the role of Julian Wells, a drug-addicted affluent teenager in “Less Than Zero.” Subsequently, he starred in “Chances Are” alongside Cybill Shepherd in 1989, followed by “Air America” with Mel Gibson in 1990, and “Soapdish” featuring Sally Field, Whoopi Goldberg, and Kevin Kline in 1991. Downey also played Charlie Chaplin in the 1992 film “Chaplin,” for which he received a nomination for the Best Actor Oscar.

Drug Issues

Downey’s professional journey faced significant challenges due to uncontrollable drug use. Between 1996 and 2001, he encountered multiple arrests on drug-related charges, having been found with cocaine, heroin, and marijuana at different times. Despite entering various drug rehabilitation programs, he suffered relapses repeatedly. In April 1996, while speeding on Sunset Boulevard, he was pulled over, where authorities discovered him in possession of heroin, cocaine, and an unloaded .357 Magnum handgun, leading to his arrest. Shortly after being released on parole, Downey, under the influence, entered a neighbor’s home uninvited and fell asleep in one of their beds. He was subsequently placed on three years probation, required to submit to drug testing. In 1997, he missed one of these court-mandated drug tests and was sentenced to six months in L.A. County jail. Two years later, another missed drug test resulted in his arrests again, leading to a three-year prison sentence at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison. He spent close to a year there, managed to post a $5,000 bail, and became eligible for early release.

Shortly after being released from prison, he joined the cast of “Ally McBeal,” earning a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a mini-series or television movie for his performance. However, during the Thanksgiving weekend of 2000, Downey’s struggles continued as he was arrested while intoxicated with cocaine and Valium in his possession. In April 2001, LAPD officers found him wandering barefoot in Culver City, leading to his arrest on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance. Although he tested positive for cocaine, he was released a few hours later. This incident resulted in his termination from “Ally McBeal,” and he was again sent to drug rehabilitation and placed on a three-year probation.

Career Comeback

Reestablishing his career after overcoming addiction was a formidable task for Downey. His employability diminished due to insurance companies charging prohibitively high rates to productions for Downey’s coverage, which filmmakers were reluctant to pay. It was Mel Gibson, who had been a friend to Downey since their work on “Air America,” who played a crucial role in reviving Downey’s career by personally covering his insurance bond.

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While working on “The Singing Detective,” Downey finished the film without any complications, which led other filmmakers eager to hire him once more.

In 2007, he received what would become a defining role when he was cast as Tony Stark in “Iron Man.” The inaugural Iron Man film premiered in Spring 2008, earning Downey critical acclaim for his portrayal. He reprised his role in the two “Iron Man” sequels released in 2010 and 2013, as well as in other films like “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).

He also showcased his comedic talent in “Tropic Thunder,” which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Additionally, he took on another iconic character when he portrayed Sherlock Holmes in the 2009 film of the same name. Downey reprised this role in 2011’s “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” and is set to return for a third installment. In 2020, he played Dr. John Dolittle in “Dolittle.”

In 2023, he took part in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” His performance in this film was later acknowledged on March 11, 2024, when he received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Personal Life

Following a brief courtship of 42 days, Downey wed actress and singer Deborah Falconer on May 29, 1992. Unfortunately, the marriage ended in 2001 due to Downey’s struggles with drug use and multiple rehab stints. Falconer left with their son Indio, born in 1993. By 2004, Downey and Falconer were officially divorced.

In 2003, while working on “Gothika,” Downey met film executive Susan Levin, who initially declined his invitation for a date on two occasions. Eventually, the chemistry between them became undeniable. Downey proposed to Levin the night before her 30th birthday in November 2003, and they married in 2005. Their son Exton was born in February 2012, followed by the birth of their daughter Avri in November 2014.

Since July 2003, Downey has maintained sobriety regarding drugs and alcohol, attributing much of his success to the support of his wife, Susan. He is also an active member of 12-step recovery programs.

Real Estate

Robert possesses numerous residences in the Los Angeles region, with his real estate portfolio estimated to be valued at $40 to $50 million. He acquired a property in Santa Monica, California, for $4 million in 2012. A year earlier, he purchased a seven-acre estate in Malibu featuring equestrian amenities for $13.44 million. Additionally, he bought another Malibu home in 2017 for $4 million. His properties also include several residential and commercial spaces in Venice, California, a $2.5 million residence in Pacific Palisades, and a beachfront home in Manhattan Beach.