Net Worth: $300 Million
Robert Downey’s net worth of $300 million occurred against all odds. Before landing the role of a lifetime, Downey fought addiction that nearly destroyed his life. With a “good behavior” clause in his Disney contract, a deep desire to change his bad habits, along with what he says was major support from his wife, Susan Downey, RDJ turned his life around and brought us perhaps the most beloved Hollywood version of a superhero of all time.
Robert Downey Jr. Movie Highlights (Not From Marvel)
We know RDJ has earned a lot of money from the Marvel movies, but it’s not the only way he’s earned some sizeable paychecks.
In 1995 RDJ was just getting his footing when he earned $50,000 for his role in Richard III. He followed up that performance in 1996’s Danger Zone, where he earned a much more sizeable paycheck of $500,000.
In 2010, Downey Jr. starred in the movie Due Date, in which he earned $12 million. He followed up that role in 2011’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows which saw a sizeable increase in his salary to $15 million.
In 2017 it was revealed that Robert Downey Jr.’s net worth was increasing by $20 million. That was the pay he received for starring in the movie Dolittle.
In 2023 RDJ appeared as Lewis Strauss in the blockbuster hit Oppenheimer. Like other big names in the film Robert Downey Jr. took a significant reduction in his pay, earning $4 Million, according to Fortune.
Along the way, Robert Downey Jr.’s net worth also increased by an unknown sum thanks to his roles in “The Soloist,” “Tropic Thunder,” “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,” and “Kiss kiss, Ban Bang.”
How Much Did Robert Downey Jr. Get Paid For Playing Iron Man?
s_bukley / Depositphotos.comRobert Downey Jr.’s net worth saw a sizeable increase from the MCU, with CBR reporting earnings between $396 million to $435 million. That number will likely increase with future movie sales in the at-home market and any potential theatrical re-releases in the future.
While the actor started his journey with the MCU making just $2.5 million for his role in Iron Man, he eventually ended up making more than $75 million per movie as his phase in the Marvel franchise drew closer to its close.
| Movie | Pay | Total Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Man | $500,000 + $1.5 Million estimated backend | $2 Million |
| Iran Man 2 | $12 Million | $12 Million |
| The Avengers | $10 Million + $48 Million from Backend Deal | $58 Million |
| Iron Man 3 | $10 Million + $65 Million from Backend Deal | $75 Million |
| Avengers: Age of Ultron | Between $50 Million and $80 Million (Estimated) | $50 Million |
| Captain America: Civil War | $50 Million + Smaller backend deal + $5 million bonus for surpassing the previous Captain America movie’s box office | $63 Million (estimated) |
| Spider-Man: Homecoming | $10 Million to $15 Million | $10 Million |
| Avengers: Infinity War | At least $75 Million with his backend deal | $75 Million |
| Avengers: Endgame | At least $75 Million with his backend deal | $75 Million |
To put those salaries into perspective, if you look at the highest salaries of all time, Robert Downey Jr. lands on the top 10 list three times at spots eight, nine, and 10.
| Actor | Film | Year | Salary | Total income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keanu Reeves | The Matrix Reloaded The Matrix Revolutions | 2003 | $30,000,000 | $156,000,000 |
| Bruce Willis | The Sixth Sense | 1999 | $14,000,000 | $100,000,000 |
| Tom Cruise | Mission: Impossible 2 | 2000 | $100,000,000 | |
| Tom Cruise | War of the Worlds | 2005 | $100,000,000 | |
| Will Smith | Men in Black 3 | 2012 | $100,000,000 | |
| Tom Cruise | Top Gun: Maverick | 2022 | $12,500,000 | $100,000,000 |
| Robert Downey Jr. | Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 | $75,000,000+ | |
| Robert Downey Jr. | Iron Man 3 | 2013 | $75,000,000 | |
| Robert Downey Jr. | Avengers: Endgame | 2019 | $20,000,000 | $75,000,000 |
What’s equally as interesting is that RDJ was able to earn $10 million to $15 million even when only appearing as a side character in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
It’s undeniable that Robert Downey Jr.’s net worth was greatly improved thanks to his role as Iron Man, but he’s also made millions from other endeavors outside of movie roles.
Endorsement Deals
PopularImages / Depositphotos.comAt the height of his Marvel fame, Robert Downey Jr. worked with phone maker HTC in 2013. The company signed RDJ as a spokesperson for the company, and The Guardian reported that he was paid $12 million for his work with the mobile phone manufacturer.
Seven years later, in 2019, Robert Downey Jr. signed a contract with Chinese phone maker OnePlus. His work with the company was only focused on Asia, and his salary for his agreement was not made public. We assume given his global recognition, he earned millions more from his endorsement.
Robert Downey’s net worth is going to continue on its current path with five movies in the works, including Sherlock Holmes 3, That movie, in particular, could add a nice bump to his fortune if a backend deal is included in his contract.
