Sylvester Stallone Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Sylvester Stallone’s Net Worth and Salary?

An American actor, screenwriter, producer, and director, Sylvester Stallone boasts a net worth of $400 million. Renowned as one of the most iconic and cherished action stars in cinematic history, he stands out in American cinema for being the sole actor to feature in box office #1 films for six consecutive decades.

Stallone ascended to superstar status with “Rocky,” leading him to become one of the highest-paid action actors during the 1980s and 1990s. He has crafted and produced several successful franchises like “Rocky,” “Rambo,” and “The Expendables.” As of now, the global revenue from Stallone’s films surpasses $4 billion. Distinctively, unlike many Hollywood celebrities, he has written, produced, and/or directed a considerable number of his major franchise titles.

Among Stallone’s most lucrative films by box office results are “Rocky IV” (1985), which grossed $300 million, “Rambo: First Blood Part II” (1985), also with $300 million, and “Creed” (2015), which earned $173 million. To this day, his films have collectively realized over $4.5 billion worldwide. This remarkable figure places Stallone among the all-time highest-grossing actors, joining the ranks of other prominent stars like Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, and Robert Downey Jr. In comparison, fellow action superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger has a box office total close to $4.4 billion globally, slightly lesser than Stallone’s achievement.

Salary Highlights

From the 1970s to 2012, and only accounting for the films mentioned next—this doesn’t include all Stallone films from that era or the subsequent 10+ years—he amassed a total of $300 million purely in base salaries for movies. When adjusting for inflation, this earning translates to approximately $500 million in current economic terms.

After crafting the screenplay for “Rocky” in merely three days, interest surged from several studios. United Artists emerged as the leading contender yet desired to feature either Robert Redford or James Caan in the lead role. Stallone tirelessly urged the film’s producers, Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, to let him take the lead role. He agreed to a substantial pay cut, receiving $23,000 for his performance in the film, equivalent to about $110,000 today. Ultimately, the film grossed $225 million against a budget of $1 million.

• For “Rocky II,” Sylvester received a payment of $75,000.
• His base salary for “Rocky III” was $120,000.
• In “Rocky V,” he earned $15 million.
• He received base salaries of $10 million for both “Creed” and “Creed II.”

In 1982, Sylvester earned $3.5 million from “First Blood.” The subsequent year, he made $10 million, which corresponds to the inflation-adjusted value of $25 million and received his inaugural Producer credit for “Staying Alive.”

He garnered $4 million and his second Producer credit for “Rhinestone” in 1984. The following year, his income reached $12 million, alongside another Producer credit for “Rocky IV.” An additional $12 million came his way for “Over the Top.” Lastly, he earned $16 million for “Rambo III.”

For each of the films listed below, Stallone received either $15 million or $16 million:

• “Lock Up”
• “Tango & Cash”
• “Rocky V”
• “Oscar”
• “Demolition Man”
• “Judge Dredd”
• “Assassins”
• “The Specialist”
• “The Expendables”
• “The Expendables II”

He secured $17.5 million for “Daylight,” $20 million for “Driven,” and an additional $20 million for “Eye See You.”

Early Life

Born Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone on July 6, 1946, in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, Sylvester is the firstborn son of Francesco “Frank” Stallone Sr, who was a hairdresser of Italian descent, and Jackie Stallone, an astrologer and dancer. He has a younger brother named Frank Stallone, who pursues a career as an actor and musician. During childbirth, complications led to paralysis on the lower left side of Sylvester’s face, resulting in his signature “snarling” appearance and a slight speech impediment.

Due to his parents’ tumultuous relationship, Stallone spent part of his early life in foster care until their eventual divorce. Following the separation, he lived for a time in Maryland with his father.

Stallone initially studied drama at the American College in Switzerland before transferring to the University of Miami. He left before finishing his degree to chase his acting dreams in New York City.

Career

Stallone’s debut leading role was in the adult film “The Party at Kitty and Stud’s.” He would later reveal that he took the role out of necessity after being thrown out of his apartment and earned $200 for two days of work.

His early film appearances were generally minor, which included an uncredited part in Woody Allen’s 1971 movie “Bananas.” In 1973, Stallone featured in “Rebel,” and he gained early critical acclaim for his performance in “The Lords of Flatbush” in 1974.

In the mid-1970s, Stallone made the decision to relocate to Los Angeles. In his spare time, he focused on writing screenplays. After witnessing a boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner, he was inspired to craft a story about a struggling underdog with aspirations of becoming a professional boxer. Stallone was adamant about not selling the script unless he could portray the lead character. He held out until he met Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, two producers who agreed to let him star as Rocky Balboa, a name that was inspired by the proximity of his LA apartment to Balboa Avenue.

“Rocky” premiered in 1976 and, despite some initial mixed reviews, it went on to be a global success, launching Stallone into the A-list and granting him worldwide fame. The film not only became a critical success but also a box office triumph, grossing $117 million off a modest budget of
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With a $1 million budget, the film earned ten Academy Award nominations. Competing for Best Picture against other now-classic movies like “All the President’s Men,” “Network,” and “Taxi Driver,” “Rocky” surprisingly emerged victorious. It also secured wins for Best Directing and Best Film Editing. The release of “Rocky II” came in 1979, followed by two additional sequels in the ’80s, during which Stallone continued to achieve box office success.

In 1982, Sylvester made a significant impact with his portrayal of John Rambo in the action hit “Rambo: First Blood.” Subsequent to the initial film, three sequels were produced. In preparation for both his iconic roles as Rocky and Rambo, he committed to an intense training regimen, working out twice daily, six days a week, and incorporating more exercise during the evenings. For the third “Rocky” film, he achieved a remarkable body fat percentage of only 2.8%.

However, in 1987, Stallone began to experience a dip in popularity, beginning with his role in “Over the Top,” which unfortunately became a box office failure and received negative reviews from critics. The 1990s saw the release of “Rocky V,” which also failed to perform well financially. He attempted to branch out into comedy with films like “Oscar” and “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot,” but both were met with disappointing critical and commercial outcomes. A brief resurgence occurred with “Cliffhanger” in 1993, which earned $170 million, along with 1996’s “Daylight,” but by the early 2000s, Stallone found himself in a streak of box office disappointments and critical failures.

After a three-year break, Stallone made a comeback in 2006 with the sixth installment of the “Rocky” series. He not only starred in but also wrote and directed the critically acclaimed “Rocky Balboa,” which had a budget of $24 million and grossed $155.7 million worldwide. He also reprised his role as Rambo in the fourth film of that series, named simply “Rambo.” In 2010, he wrote, directed, and starred in “The Expendables,” which immediately shot to #1 at the box office upon its opening weekend. A sequel followed in 2012, receiving similarly positive reviews and maintaining a #1 position at the box office.

In 2015, Stallone added another installment to the “Rocky” franchise with the spin-off film “Creed.” Directed by Ryan Coogler, it centered around Adonis Creed, portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, the son of Rocky’s rival, Apollo Creed. Stallone garnered widespread praise and received his third Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. “Creed II,” which premiered in 2018, was also favorably reviewed, achieving a $35.3 million opening weekend. The fifth “Rambo” installment came out on September 20, 2019, grossing $91 million globally.

Stallone has also taken on roles such as Stakar Ogord in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films and Dwight “The General” Manfredi in the “Tulsa King” series on Paramount+. In 2023, Sylvester, alongside his wife and their three daughters, starred in the reality series “The Family Stallone,” which was swiftly renewed for a second season.

Other Ventures

In March 2018, Sylvester co-founded Balboa Productions, a film production company, with Braden Aftergood. The company boasts a diverse production lineup, including projects like “Creed II,” “Rambo V,” and “Expend4bles.” Currently, the studio is engaged in a film project depicting the life of Jack “Galveston Giant” Johnson, the first African-American boxing heavyweight champion.

Moreover, Stallone has contributed vocals to soundtracks for various films. He recorded the iconic “Gonna Fly Now” theme for the original Rocky and also the song “Take Me Back” in Rocky IV. Additionally, he performed duets with Dolly Parton for their 1984 film “Rhinestone.” He is also active as a boxing promoter through his company, Tiger Eye Productions.

Personal Life

Sylvester’s first marriage was to Sasha Czack in 1974; they had two sons together, Sage Moonblood, who unfortunately passed away from heart disease at the age of 36, and Seargeoh. The couple divorced in 1985, and Stallone subsequently married Brigitte Nielson from 1985 until their divorce in 1987.

In 1997, Sylvester wed Jennifer Flavin. They…would eventually have three daughters: Sophie, Sistine, and Scarlet. On August 24, 2022, it came to light that Jennifer had filed for divorce from Sylvester. The divorce paperwork was submitted in Palm Beach County, Florida. Ultimately, the couple reconciled.

Real Estate

Sylvester sold a residence in Coconut Grove, Florida, in 1999 for $16 million.

For several decades, Sylvester’s main home has been a luxurious mansion located in Beverly Park, a prestigious gated community in Beverly Hills. His estate covers 3.5 acres and includes a 20,000-square-foot residence. Notable neighbors comprise Eddie Murphy, Mark Wahlberg, and Denzel Washington. Recently, similar properties have sold for between $40 and $70 million. In January 2021, it was reported that Sylvester listed this mansion for an astonishing $130 million. By August 2021, he had reduced the asking price to $85 million.

In December 2021, Sylvester accepted an offer of $58 million. The buyer was Adele, marking the highest sale price ever recorded for a home in Beverly Park.

Here’s a video tour:

Together with his wife, Jennifer Flavin, Sylvester purchased a vacation home in La Quinta, California, for $4.5 million in January 2010. They attempted to sell this property multiple times, starting in 2014, and by 2016 had reduced the price to $3.625 million, yet still failed to attract a buyer. They ultimately sold the house in May 2020 for $3.1 million.

In December 2020, Sylvester acquired a 1.5-acre estate with a 13,000-square-foot mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, for $35.4 million. The sellers made nearly $10 million in profits from the transaction, having purchased the property in 2018 for $26 million.

In February 2022, Sylvester purchased a 2.26-acre estate in Hidden Hills, California, for $18.2 million. Unfortunately, this property attracted negative media attention in August 2022 due to its excessive water usage. In May and June of 2022, the estate used 195,000 gallons and 230,000 gallons over the monthly water allowance, respectively. The Stallones contended that the property housed over 500 mature trees requiring continuous watering to prevent them from dying and presenting a significant fire hazard. If they exceeded their allocation by 150% over four months, local authorities retained the right to impose restrictions on the water supply to the estate.

Here’s a video tour from its early 2022 listing:

Less than a year after buying the property for $18.2 million, Sylvester listed it again in December 2022 for $22.5 million. By October 2023, he sold the home to musician John Fogerty for $17 million, resulting in a $1.2 million loss compared to his February 2022 purchase price.