When it comes to depicting the world of celebrities and the kind of money they have, Robert Downey Jr. is a name that doesn’t await anyone’s introduction. Although his personal life has gone on a roller coaster, his professional life has only seen growth and peaks.
Known for his role as Iron Man in the Marvel franchise, Robert Downey Jr. is one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood right now. His initial life was muddled with a lot of personal setbacks, which affected his career but he is the epitome of resilience, and that reflects through his career graph.
This article will explore everything that you potentially need to know about Robert Downey Jr., his early life, career trajectory, and net worth.
Quick Facts
| Full Name |
Robert John Downey Jr.
|
| Birth Date | April 4, 1965 |
| Age | 58 |
| Profession | Actor |
| Country of Origin | Lithuania |
| Nationality | American |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse |
Susan Downey
|
| Net Worth (as of 2024) | $300 million |
| Last Updated: | Feb 5, 2024 |
| Social Media | Instagram |
Early Life
Robert Downey Jr. was born on April 14, 1965. He was born in New York City, United States and his parents’ names are Robert Downey Sr. and Elsie Ann Downey. Robert’s father was a famous actor, writer, and director while his mother was a renowned actress of her time.
When it comes to talking about Robert Downey Jr.’s childhood, it was muddled with a lot of neglect. Reports suggest that his father was an addict and even forced RDJ to smoke marijuana when he was just six years old.
Despite such harsh behavior and wrong parenting, when RDJ’s parents separated in 1987, he ended up relocating to Los Angeles, California, with his father. During that time, he completed his school education at Santa Monica High School.
However, being the rebel that he is, RDJ ended up quitting his high school in the middle and instead relocated to New York to try and make it an actor.
Personal Life
RDJ married singer Deborah Falconer in 1992 and while they did have a good start to their marriage and even had a song together, things soon took a tumble when he was arrested. The couple separated in 2002 and finalized their divorce in 2004.
Later, RDJ married Susan Levin in 2005 and the couple have two children together. He credits his wife, Susan, as the one who helped him overcome his battle with addiction.
Career
After relocating to New York, RDJ had a hard time finding good acting gigs and roles that paid him well. So, instead of chasing big productions and films, he started small and took up acting gigs in the theatre.
However, one of the first big breakthroughs for RDJ came when he was cast in Saturday Night Live. While SNL is one of the most popular shows now, things weren’t the same back in the 1985s. Due to poor reception and ratings, the show was canceled and the entire cast, including RDJ, was fired.
Later, he started auditioning for different roles and landed supporting actor roles in projects like Weird Science, Less than Zero, Chances Are, Air America, Soapdish, etc.
But, the biggest acting breakthrough for RDJ came when he was cast as “Charlie Chaplin” in the movie “Chaplin.” He even bagged a nomination for Best Actor Oscar. However, his high school came crashing down when his drug issues caught up to him and was imprisoned after he was caught by the police while had heroin, cocaine, and an unloaded .357 Magnum handgun with him.
Despite experiencing a rough few years, RDJ made his big comeback in 2007 as Iron Man. Since then, his career and his fanbase have grown exponentially.
Net Worth
Being one of the highest-paid Hollywood actors, Robert Downey Jr. has amassed a net worth of $300 million. Not only does he earn from his movie roles, but he also earns a significant amount of money from brand endorsements. Reports suggest that he has made over $300 million just from the Marvel franchise movies.