How Much Has Robert Downey Jr. Earned from His Movies?

Robert Downey Jr. is a legend for a reason. Charismatic, versatile, and fabulous at what he does, he’s the man behind characters such as Tony Stark of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and Sherlock Holmes. But how much has this Hollywood favorite, who has been acting since childhood, made throughout his incredible career? The numbers are as mind-boggling as some of his on-screen moments.

This post takes an in-depth look at Robert Downey Jr.’s film earnings one hit at a time, breaking down his career highs and biggest payday roles and detailing why and how the actor became the industry’s highest-paid star.

Before Iron Man: Box Office Flops And Early Career Earnings

Before exploding into superstardom, Downey Jr. worked for years on his acting résumé. He began as a young actor in the 1980s with roles in movies such as Weird Science and Less Than Zero. While these films put him on the map, they weren’t massive box-office successes, nor did they carry the level of a paycheck he’d command later in his career.

A few noteworthy moments from his early career:

That Chaplin (1992), in which Downey received widespread praise for his portrayal of screen legend Charlie Chaplin and earned a $500,000 retainer, indicated that bankruptcy could still haul a tearaway hit across the line.

His return from his struggles with addiction was Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005). It was not a financial blockbuster, but it did help him find his way back into Hollywood’s good graces.

RDJ’s salary was quoted in the mid-six figures for most of his career at the time.

Taking Flight with Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr. did not take a radical change of direction in his career until the King of Surge in 2008’s Iron Man. RELATED: Here’s why Robert Downey Jr. Was Cast as Iron Man. Starring as Tony Stark in a still-do-young Marvel Studios enterprise, RDJ is the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His payoff? One of the most lucrative particular deals that, you know, Hollywood has ever, ever had.

Iron Man (2008): Robert took home $500,000 for his first go-around as Tony Stark. This may have looked modest in today’s era of superhero-dom, but Marvel had just promised him a share in the profits if the film succeeded. Luckily, Iron Man amassed more than $585 million worldwide; the rest is history.

Marvel Paydays Get Bigger

With Iron Man’s success, Marvel knew they couldn’t afford to let Downey Jr. go. His remaining deals had escalated base salaries, huge bonuses, and backend percentages based on box office grosses.

Avengers (2012): Kaching! RDJ earned a reported $50 million, partly due to his backend profit participation. The fiddle-faddle ensemble film was a worldwide hit, earning over $1.5 billion.

Iron Man 3 (2013): Downey Jr.’s paycheck skyrocketed to $75 million upfront, one of his richest paydays for a standalone film. The movie’s blockbuster status, taking in $1.2 billion, reaffirmed his earning power.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019): RDJ received around $75 million and a reported $100 million for his last MCU roles. Endgame earnings were a mix of base salary, box office bonuses, and merchandise cuts.

Total Marvel Earnings

Haha! That $ means RDJ’s reportedly been paid at least $435k for over 10 years as Marvel’s Iron Man, making him one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood history. He wasn’t just playing Iron Man; he was Iron Man, and Marvel was paying him accordingly.

Beyond Marvel

While Tony Stark may be his most famous character, Downey Jr. hasn’t depended solely on Marvel to make his career earnings. He’s also had leading roles in other blockbuster films that boosted his bank account.

Sherlock Holmes Franchise

Downey Jr. sported the detective’s famous coat on the big screen in the films Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011). Both were box office hits:

Sherlock Holmes (2009): Downey Jr. earned $9 million.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011): His paycheck was said to have climbed to $15 million.

A third movie in the series has long been rumored, and Downey Jr. would likely earn an even bigger paycheck if it were made.

Other Notable Projects

Dolittle (2020): Regardless of the poor reception, RDJ was paid and given a guarantee of $20 million for his part.

Projects like Due Date (2010) and The Judge (2014) were smaller side gigs that helped to diversify his portfolio, with expected paychecks in the $10M range for both.

Marvel has contributed significantly to his career earnings, but Downey Jr. hasn’t shied away from other lucrative roles.

8 Things That Make RDJ One of the Highest Grossing Actors in Hollywood

There are several reasons that Robert Downey Jr. has acted himself into what is undoubtedly the most lucrative role of his career:

• Tony Stark: RDJ’s time as Tony Stark was a pop culture spectacle that he could never have been without the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He is iconic.
• Backend Deals: His astuteness in brokering backend profit participation let him make astronomical sums if the films fared well.
• Box Office Power: DJ’s name sells tickets solo, so studios pay him a pretty penny to star in their movies.
• Brand Endorsements: In addition to films, his association with Marvel and other series has paved the way for brand endorsements, which also contribute to his income.

How Much Has RDJ Made Overall?

There is no real figure, but Robert Downey Jr.’s net worth is estimated at least $500 million, with most of it tied to his Marvel gigs. That makes him one of the wealthiest actors in history, and his net worth has only increased even after the MCU, with smart investments and production projects.

What Is Next for Robert Downey Jr.?

RDJ isn’t retiring from acting any time soon. While his stint as Tony Stark is over, he’s far from retired, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Upcoming major roles:

• Oppenheimer (2023), Hasman’s second collaboration with Christopher Nolan, in which he starred as Lewis Strauss.
• Developing projects through his production company, Team Downey.

And though the future will present new challenges, Robert Downey Jr.’s legacy as one of Hollywood’s most reliably bankable figures is in no danger of being put to rest.

Final Thoughts

He was one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, but Robert Downey Jr.’s journey from rags to riches is nothing short of inspiring, right? With well over $500 million in career earnings, he has set the bar for what it is to be the face of a franchise, a global superstar, and a savvy businessman.

Whether you love his overblown blockbusters or his lesser-known indie roles, you can’t deny that RDJ has uniquely impacted Hollywood. And with many more projects in the works, the best may still be ahead.