Here’s how Robert Downey Jr. spends his $435 million as Iron Man

He was paid $2.5 million to star in “Iron Man” in 2008.

Robert Downey Jr. as “Iron Man” in “Iron Man” by Marvel Studios.

In 2008’s “Iron Man,” despite being an Oscar-nominated actor, Robert Downey Jr. did not begin his Marvel career with a large paycheck.

Because, by that time, he was publicly addressing substance abuse. However, Marvel took a bet on the actor and pays him $2.5 million for the starring part.

It would signal the beginning of one of Hollywood’s most successful franchises and a career revival for RDJ.

By the time “The Avengers” was released in 2012, Downey Jr. had been paid $50 million.

The Avenger’s

Disney

Four years later, RDJ finds himself in a totally different position.

He is not only a star again, but now the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a series whose “Iron Man” films have become box-office hits.

In 2012, the MCU was going for broke with the release of “The Avengers,” which would unite the most popular Marvel characters on the big screen.

But Marvel did not pay peanuts for Downey Jr. The actor was compensated $50 million in addition to a portion of the film’s profits.

With $75 million in 2013, he would rank first on Forbes’ annual list of the highest-paid actors.

RDJ’s wealth is beginning to increase.

Getty/Mike Marsland

Being The Avengers’ public face has its advantages.

With the film grossing over $1.5 billion at the global box office, RDJ made more money than ever before in his career.

In 2013, he topped the Forbes list of highest-paid actors with $75 million.

He would again top the Forbes list in 2014 with an additional $75 million.

And it continued increasing.

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As a result of the film’s success, “Iron Man 3” in 2013 generated backend earnings as well as a substantial initial profit.

All of this culminated in Downey Jr. reclaiming his position as the highest-paid actor on Forbes’ list, with $75 million.

And topped the list for the third consecutive year in 2015 with $80 million.

And expanding.

NBC/Getty Images’s Theo Wargo

According to Forbes, in 2015 he earned $80 million. He topped the list of highest-paid actors for the third consecutive year.

The majority of “Avengers: Age of Ultron” earnings came from base salary and backend.

In 2016, RDJ lost the top slot to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, but the face of the MCU still earned $33 million.

Starring in “Captain America: Civil War” contributed significantly to this income.

Marvel Studios

Downey Jr. was ultimately dethroned as the highest-paid actor on the Forbes list in 2016. Johnson was the one who defeated him.

Due to “Captain America: Civil War,” RDJ was able to earn $33 million that year, allowing his money train to continue rolling.

In 2017, he earned 48 million dollars.

2017 Robert Downey, Jr.

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With $48 million, one could have believed in 2017 that the MCU party was over and RDJ had reached a plateau.

You are in error.

The following year, RDJ earned $81 million thanks to a $15 million paycheck for “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and much more for “Avengers: Infinity War.”

The cash continues to flow in.

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

In 2018, Robert Downey Jr. had a phenomenal year because to his roles in “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and “Avengers: Infinity War.”

Forbes estimated him to be worth $81 million, RDJ’s biggest annual salary to date.

In “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” Downey Jr. earned $15 million for his role as Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) father figure.

Then, as a result of “Infinity War’s” global popularity and $2 billion gross, RDJ received a massive salary plus bonuses.

To appear in the 2019 film “Avengers: Endgame,” RDJ was compensated $75 million.

Ending the era with a massive profit.

Marvel Studios

RDJ received the highest compensation for his role in one of the highest-grossing films of all time.

Since filming the first “Iron Man” film, Downey Jr.’s salary and backend have increased due to a contract with Marvel. But the budget for “Endgame” was exorbitant.

According to Forbes, the actor’s basic salary for the film was $20 million. Due to the film’s enormous box office success, he received an additional $55 million in residuals.

RDJ reportedly received over $435 million for his roles in MCU films, and the money continues to flow owing to residuals.

Almost certainly Marvel received its money’s worth.

Marvel Studios

Downey Jr.’s path through the MCU is one of Hollywood’s biggest actor success stories.

According to Comic Book Resources’ breakdown of the actor’s stated earnings for each Marvel film he starred in, RDJ earned approximately $435 million in total.

However, this figure may be inflated by what he earned through backend deals. In addition, performers receive residuals, which are annual payments for when their films or television programs are distributed on home entertainment or air on television networks.

This means that Downey Jr. is likely still cashing large Marvel payments to this day.

Over the years, he has also secured sponsorship deals that have netted him millions of dollars.

The money keeps pouring in.

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In 2013, Downey Jr. reportedly signed a two-year contract paying him $12 million to be the face of HTC’s global advertising campaign.

Then, in 2019, he secured a one-year endorsement contract with Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus. This advertising was limited to Asia. It is unknown how much he was paid for that, but given Marvel’s global prominence, OnePlus presumably sent him a large check.

RDJ’s watch collection is worth millions of dollars.

That is a lot for a watch.

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Downey Jr. enjoys wearing ostentatious timepieces.

The celebrity owns a $25,000 Rolex GMT Master II Ghost watch, a $125,000 pink gold Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX3 Tourbillon watch, and a $605,000 Greubel Forsey GMT Tourbillon watch.

He spends his free time in luxurious Malibu and Hamptons houses.

Robert Downey Jr. in the year 2022.

Amy Sussman/Getty

Obviously, the actor who portrayed Tony Stark would reside in some incredible homes.

He owns a Windmill House — yes, literally a house with a windmill — that costs approximately $11.9 million in New York’s wealthy Hamptons.

In beachy Malibu, California, he has a $3.8 million property.

The three-bedroom, three-bathroom, 3,384-square-foot midcentury modern home is situated on a cliff and features a pool, a hot tub, a fire pit, an entertainment area, and a mini-golf putting green.

He is also a sneakerhead. Reportedly, he attended his 50th birthday party wearing a pair of shoes worth $2,000 each.

Robert Downey Jr. is a huge fan of kicks.

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Robert Downey Jr. has a shoe obsession that rivals that of any Hollywood celebrity.

His “Avengers” co-star Scarlett Johansson once remarked, “He has a greater shoe collection than me!”

At his 50th birthday party in 2015, RDJ wore a pair of Givenchy Tyson wedged sneakers, which retail for $1,945 at Barney’s New York.

The Italian-made checkerboard woven leather high-tops have a round toe, padded tongue and collar, and a sturdy outsole with a Velcro ankle strap.