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Robert Downey Jr.’s rise to fame is the ultimate Hollywood glow-up. In his early career, of course, he was the charming, talented actor in films likeLess Than ZeroandChaplin, but his personal life was a bit of a mess. His struggles with addiction and legal issues kept him in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, and his paycheck didn’t match his potential.
Yes, he wasn’t exactly swimming in cash beforeIron Man, making decent money but nothing that screamed “superstar.”
Then cameIron Manin 2008, and that’s when everything changed. Downey Jr. didn’t just play Tony Stark, he literally became Tony Stark. His snarky, charismatic performance turned him into a box-office magnet, and suddenly, he was Hollywood’s golden boy. The salary that once barely scraped the surface? Gone.
AfterIron Man, Downey Jr. was pulling in millions per film, making him one of the highest-paid actors in the world. It’s wild to think that a single role transformed his career, but it did. From a struggling actor to a Marvel legend, Downey Jr. went from earning just a fraction of what he makes today to absolutely crushing it at the box office.
Robert Downey Jr.’s salary before Iron Man
BeforeRobert Downey Jr.became the mega-star we know today, his salary was a far cry from the jaw-dropping millions he pulls in now. In the ’90s, Downey was still working his way up, and his paychecks were modest at best.
In 1995, for his role inRichard III, he earned a mere $50,000, which was pretty standard for a smaller role at the time. By 1996, he made $500,000 forDanger Zone, still a decent amount, but nowhere near the blockbuster paydays he’d eventually score. (viaThe Richest).
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As the 2000s rolled in, Downey’s salary started climbing, but he was still a long way from hisIron Mandays. In 2009, when he starred inSherlock Holmes, he earned a cool $9 million, showing he was getting a solid foothold in Hollywood. But it wasn’t until 2011’sSherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadowsthat he saw a significant jump: $15 million for the role of the famous detective.
Fast forward to 2019, and Downey scored a massive $20 million for his role as Dr. Dolittle inThe Voyage of Dr. Dolittle, but it was really hisIron Manand MCU fame that catapulted him to the stratosphere, with paychecks only getting bigger from there. His early salaries were a sign of the steady rise to superstardom.
Robert Downey Jr.’s salary after Iron Man
AfterIron Man, Robert Downey Jr.’s salary went through the roof. By the timeAvengers: Endgamecame out in 2019, Downey was raking in a massive $75 million, including back-end earnings. That’s the kind of money that makes you wonder if superheroes get paid in gold bars. And he wasn’t just pocketing that for showing up, his presence in the MCU was a major money-maker.
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ForAvengers: Infinity Warthe year before, he earned the same amount. But when he joinedOppenheimer, he took a significant pay cut, earning just $4 million for his role, as perVariety. Compared to his usual multi-million dollar deals, it seems like a small paycheck. But he didn’t mind. The chance to work with Christopher Nolan on such a high-profile project was too good to pass up.
And with the film making nearly $1 billion at the box office, Downey’s back-end earnings will likely make up for the difference. Plus, he got an Oscar nomination for his role. Seems like taking a pay cut was totally worth it.
Robert Downey Jr’s salary for Avengers: Doomsday
Hold onto your capes because Robert Downey Jr. is back in the MCU, but not as the genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist we know and love. This time, he’s flipping the script as the menacing Doctor Doom inAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars. And while the shiny Iron Man suit may be retired, Downey’s paycheck is anything but. For this villainous venture, the actor is reportedly raking in over $100 million, as perVariety.
This isn’t Downey’s first jaw-dropping payday in the MCU. Back in 2008, he earned a modest $500,000 for the firstIron Man, but boy, did that change fast. ByThe Avengers(2012), he pulled in $50 million. ForIron Man 3(2013), he pocketed a cool $75 million, andAvengers: Endgame(2019) saw him hit another $75 million jackpot. Even smaller roles, like his cameo inSpider-Man: Homecoming(2017), earned him $15 million. It’s no wonder Forbes crowned him the highest-paid actor for three consecutive years.
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Now, under the Russo Brothers’ direction, Downey’s Doctor Doom promises a supervillain performance that’s worth every penny, and then some. Can Downey’s Doom outshine his Stark legacy? One thing’s for sure, with a salary that big, it’s bound to be epic.
Samridhi Goel
Content Writer
Articles Published :375
Samridhi breathes HOLLYWOOD. A seasoned professional content writer boasting three years of experience. Her expertise shines in the realm of entertainment, where she skillfully craft narratives that breathe life into movies, music, and pop culture. She has completed her Masters in Commerce but her obsession with Hollywood lead her to curate content for the same.
