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Back in 2008, when Marvel took a big swing by casting Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in Iron Man, few could have guessed how massively that decision would pay off for the studio and the actor himself. At the time, Downey was considered a risk. But as the Marvel Cinematic Universe exploded in popularity, so did RDJ’s earnings, thanks to smart negotiations and back-end profit deals.
Even though his run as Iron Man came to an emotional close in Avengers: Endgame (2019), rumors of a return never really faded. And now, as of April 2025, there’s confirmation that Downey will be back as Doctor Doom. Whether he’s playing a hero or a villain, one thing’s clear: Marvel isn’t quite done with their golden boy. So, how much did RDJ actually earn for donning the Iron Man suit over the years? Let’s break it down film by film.
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During the making of Iron Man (2008), Robert Downey Jr. was far from a box office sure thing. His past struggles made insurers nervous, and his name wasn’t yet synonymous with superheroes. However, the makers still saw potential in the actor, and Downey reportedly agreed to take a relatively modest paycheck of $500,000, as retrieved via Celebrity Net Worth. As per the reports, RDJ finally made a total of $2 million, including the bonus he earned through the film’s success.
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The sequel, Iron Man 2 (2010), was rather fast-tracked, and Downey returned as Stark with a much bigger paycheck. He reportedly pulled in $10 million upfront, likely more once the profits were tallied. By the time The Avengers (2012) came around, Downey had already become the face of the MCU. RDJ scored him a massive payday, reportedly around $50 million, thanks to the film’s staggering $1.5 billion global box office haul.
Downey returned once again, this time for the biggest solo outing in the Iron Man trilogy. Iron Man 3 (2013) raked in $1.2 billion globally, making it his most successful solo film. RDJ reportedly made $75 million through this film. For the next Marvel film, Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Downey’s paycheck is estimated to be anywhere from $40 million. Similarly, Downey made another $ 40 million for his next MCU project, Captain America: Civil War.
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Despite being in the film for only about 10 minutes, RDJ made $15 million for his work in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). As Avengers: Infinity War (2018) hit theaters, Downey’s collaboration with Marvel paid off once again. With the movie pulling in over $2 billion worldwide, RDJ’s earnings reportedly hit the $75 million mark. Likewise, RDJ once again banked $75 million for his appearance in Avengers: Endgame, which was once believed to be his final appearance in the MCU.
So, how much did Robert Downey Jr. make in total through his MCU appearances? Well, as per the reports, the superstar made around $380 million to $421 million, including back-end bonuses. But this number will only go up as the actor gears up for his Marvel comeback under the disguise of his new antagonist character, Doctor Doom.
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