What Is Sylvester Stallone’s Net Worth and Salary?

Sylvester Stallone, with a net worth of $400 million, is an American actor, screenwriter, producer, and director widely known as one of the most famous and beloved action stars in history, having starred in box office #1 films across six consecutive decades in American cinema.

Having risen to superstardom with “Rocky,” Stallone emerged as one of the highest-paid action stars in the 1980s and 1990s. He is the mastermind behind successful franchises such as “Rocky,” “Rambo,” and “The Expendables.” As of now, Stallone’s movies have accumulated over $4 billion in global revenue. Unlike many Hollywood stars, Sylvester has been involved in writing, producing, and/or directing many of his major franchise films.

Some of Stallone’s highest-grossing films include “Rocky IV” (1985) with earnings of $300 million, “Rambo: First Blood Part II” (1985) generating $300 million, and “Creed” (2015) grossing $173 million. His total movie earnings worldwide exceed $4.5 billion, making Stallone one of the highest-grossing actors alongside stars like Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, and Robert Downey Jr. Arnold Schwarzenegger, another iconic action star, has a worldwide box office total of around $4.4 billion, slightly less than Stallone’s total.

Salary Highlights

Between the 1970s and 2012, Stallone accumulated $300 million in base film salaries alone from the movies we are about to mention—though not every Stallone film during that era or the subsequent 10+ years. Adjusting for inflation, his earnings from this period would equate to roughly $500 million in today’s dollars.

After penning the screenplay for “Rocky” in just three days, Stallone garnered interest from various studios. While United Artists was initially interested, they wanted Robert Redford or James Caan as the lead. Stallone persistently pushed the film’s producers, Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, to let him star in the movie. He agreed to a reduced salary of $23,000, equivalent to about $110,000 today. The movie went on to earn $225 million with a budget of $1 million.

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• For “Rocky II,” Stallone received a paycheck of $75,000
• For “Rocky III,” his base salary was $120,000
• For “Rocky V,” he earned $15 million
• For “Creed” and “Creed II,” he received $10 million base salaries

In 1982, Stallone earned $3.5 million for “First Blood.” The subsequent year, he earned $10 million, or $25 million adjusted for inflation, and obtained his first Producer credit for “Staying Alive.”

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Early Life

Sylvester Stallone, born Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone on July 6, 1946, in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, is the elder son of Francesco “Frank” Stallone Sr., an Italian-born hairdresser, and Jackie Stallone, an astrologer and dancer. Due to complications during his birth, the lower left side of Sylvester’s face was paralyzed, giving him his now-iconic “snarling” look and slightly slurred speech.

Stallone, due to his parent’s tumultuous relationship, spent part of his early years in foster care before their divorce. He later resided with his father in Maryland post the divorce.

Having studied drama at the American College in Switzerland, Stallone later moved on to the University of Miami. He left his studies incomplete and relocated to New York City to pursue acting as a career.

Career

Sylvester Stallone’s initial starring role was in “The Party at Kitty and Stud’s,” a softcore adult film. He later explained that he undertook the role out of desperation after his eviction, receiving $200 for two days’ work.

His early film roles were minor, including an uncredited part in Woody Allen’s 1971 film “Bananas.” In 1973, he appeared in a movie titled “Rebel,” followed by earning early critical acclaim in 1974 for his role in “The Lords of Flatbush.”

In the mid-1970s, Stallone made a move to Los Angeles while writing screenplays during his free time. Inspired by a Muhammad Ali versus Chuck Wepner fight he witnessed, he wrote a screenplay about a struggling underdog thug aspiring to be a professional boxer. Stallone insisted on starring unless he sold the script. He persisted until he found producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff willing to cast him as the lead role of Rocky Balboa, naming him “Balboa” as his LA apartment was nearby Balboa Avenue.

In 1976, the release of “Rocky” marked a turning point. Despite lukewarm test screenings, the movie became a global phenomenon, propelling Stallone to A-list status and global recognition. The film, both critically acclaimed and a box office success, earned $117 million with a $1 million budget, receiving ten Academy Award nominations. It triumphed for Best Picture against other now-classic films like “All the President’s Men,” “Network,” and “Taxi Driver.”

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