Sylvester Stallone Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Sylvester Stallone’s Net Worth and Salary Overview

Sylvester Stallone, an American actor, screenwriter, producer, and director, boasts a net worth of $400 million. He stands out as one of the most iconic and cherished action stars throughout cinematic history. Remarkably, Stallone is the only actor to have headlined box office #1 films over six successive decades in American cinema.

Achieving superstar fame with “Rocky,” Stallone emerged as one of the highest-paid action heroes during the 1980s and 1990s. He has crafted and produced several remarkably successful franchises, such as “Rocky,” “Rambo,” and “The Expendables.” As of now, Stallone’s films have amassed over $4 billion in worldwide earnings. Unlike the majority of Hollywood actors, Stallone has taken on writing, producing, and/or directing roles in many of his significant franchise films.

Among Stallone’s highest-grossing films are “Rocky IV” (1985), which pulled in $300 million, “Rambo: First Blood Part II” (1985) also at $300 million, and “Creed” (2015), grossing $173 million. Overall, his films have achieved a cumulative total of more than $4.5 billion globally. This impressive figure ranks Stallone among the top-grossing actors ever, alongside other major stars like Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, and Robert Downey Jr. In comparison, Arnold Schwarzenegger, another legendary action star, has a box office total of about $4.4 billion, slightly less than Stallone.

Highlights of Stallone’s Salary

From the 1970s to 2012, specifically from the films we will mention… not covering every Stallone movie in that timeframe or the subsequent 10+ years… he earned around $300 million in base film salaries alone. When adjusted for inflation, these earnings from this period would be approximately worth $500 million in today’s economy.

After penning the screenplay for “Rocky” in merely three days, Stallone garnered interest for his project from various studios. United Artists led the pack, though they wished to cast Robert Redford or James Caan. He persistently persuaded the film’s producers, Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, to let him take the starring role. Ultimately, he settled for a reduced salary of $23,000 for the film, which is roughly equivalent to about $110,000 today. The film went on to earn $225 million against a mere $1 million budget.

• For “Rocky II,” Stallone received a paycheck of $75,000
• His base salary for “Rocky III” was $120,000
• In “Rocky V,” he made $15 million
• For both “Creed” and “Creed II,” his base salary was set at $10 million

In 1982, Stallone earned $3.5 million for “First Blood.” The next year, he pocketed $10 million, equivalent to about $25 million today, alongside earning his initial Producer credit for “Staying Alive.”

He received $4 million and his second Producer credit for “Rhinestone” in 1984. The subsequent year brought him $12 million and another Producer credit for “Rocky IV.” Similarly, he earned $12 million for “Over the Top.” For “Rambo III,” his earnings were $16 million.

For each of the following films, Stallone was paid 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”

For “Daylight,” Stallone earned $17.5 million, followed by $20 million for “Driven,” and another $20 million for “Eye See You.”

Early Life

On July 6, 1946, Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone was born in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan. He is the older son of Francesco “Frank” Stallone Sr., a hairdresser from Italy, and Jackie Stallone, who works as an astrologer and dancer. He has a younger brother, Frank Stallone, who is an actor and musician. Due to complications during his birth, the lower left side of Sylvester’s face was paralyzed, resulting in his now-famous “snarling” expression and slightly slurred speech.

Due to the tumultuous relationship of his parents, Stallone spent part of his early childhood in foster care. The couple eventually divorced. Following their separation, he lived for a while with his father in Maryland.

Stallone pursued drama studies at the American College in Switzerland and later attended the University of Miami. However, he left college before finishing his degree to chase his acting ambitions in New York City.

Career

Stallone’s acting career began with a starring role in the softcore adult film “The Party at Kitty and Stud’s.” He later revealed that he accepted the role out of necessity after being evicted from his apartment, earning $200 for two days of work.

His early appearances in films were mostly minor, such as an uncredited role in Woody Allen’s 1971 movie “Bananas.” He secured a part in the 1973 film “Rebel,” and in 1974, he received early acclaim for his performance in “The Lords of Flatbush.”

In the mid-1970s, Stallone made the decision to relocate to Los Angeles. During his spare time, he began writing screenplays. Inspired by the fight between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner, he crafted a story about a struggling underdog with dreams of becoming a professional boxer. Stallone was adamant about not selling the script unless he could star in the film himself. Eventually, he found producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, who agreed to let him portray Rocky Balboa, a name he chose because he lived just two blocks from Balboa Avenue in LA.

The film “Rocky” debuted in 1976. Although it initially received mixed reviews during test screenings, it became a worldwide sensation, skyrocketing Stallone to immediate A-list status and global fame. It was both critically acclaimed and financially successful, grossing $117 million against a modest budget of
“`

With a budget of $1 million, it garnered ten Academy Award nominations. Competing for Best Picture alongside now-renowned classics like “All the President’s Men,” “Network,” and “Taxi Driver,” “Rocky” astonishingly took the top honor. Additionally, it won awards for Best Directing and Best Film Editing. The release of “Rocky II” followed in 1979, along with two more sequels in the ’80s, and Stallone continued to see great success at the box office.

In 1982, Sylvester made a significant impact once again with the action film “Rambo: First Blood,” where he portrayed John Rambo. Following the success of the first film, there were three additional sequels. To prepare for his roles as Rocky and Rambo, Stallone committed to a demanding training regimen, engaging in two workouts daily, six days a week, while adding extra exercise sessions in the evening. He even achieved a remarkable body fat percentage of just 2.8% during the filming of the third “Rocky.”

However, in 1987, Stallone began to experience a downturn in popularity, particularly after starring in “Over the Top,” which performed poorly at the box office and received negative reviews from critics. The 1990s brought the release of “Rocky V,” a film that failed to succeed commercially. His attempts to branch out into comedy resulted in unfortunate outcomes with early-nineties films like “Oscar” and “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.” A brief revival of his career came with “Cliffhanger” in 1993, which earned $170 million, along with 1996’s “Daylight,” though by the early 2000s, he found himself in a series of box office flops and critical failures.

After a three-year break, Stallone made a notable comeback in 2006 with the sixth installment of the “Rocky” series. He not only wrote and directed but also starred in the critically praised “Rocky Balboa,” which had a budget of $24 million and achieved $155.7 million in global box office revenue. He also reprised his role as Rambo in the series’ fourth movie, “Rambo.” In 2010, he wrote, directed, and starred in the blockbuster “The Expendables,” which immediately soared to the top of the box office during its opening weekend. A sequel followed in 2012, receiving similarly favorable reviews and maintaining a #1 box office position.

In 2015, Stallone contributed an additional segment to the “Rocky” saga with the spin-off movie “Creed.” Under the direction of Ryan Coogler, the film centered on Adonis Creed, portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, the son of Rocky’s adversary, Apollo Creed. Stallone earned both wide acclaim and his third Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance. “Creed II,” released in 2018, also received positive accolades and a strong $35.3 million opening weekend. The fifth installment of the “Rambo” franchise debuted on September 20, 2019, bringing in $91 million globally.

Stallone has additionally portrayed Stakar Ogord in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films and Dwight “The General” Manfredi in the “Tulsa King” series available on Paramount+. In 2023, Sylvester, together with his wife and their three daughters, appeared in the reality show “The Family Stallone,” which was quickly confirmed for a second season.

Other Ventures

In March 2018, Sylvester established Balboa Productions, a film production company, alongside Braden Aftergood. The studio boasts an impressive production roster, featuring “Creed II,” “Rambo V,” and “Expend4bles.” It is currently in development on a film that portrays the life of Jack “Galveston Giant” Johnson, famed as the first African-American heavyweight boxing champion.

Additionally, Stallone has provided vocals for numerous film soundtracks. He performed the “Gonna Fly Now” theme for the original Rocky and the song “Take Me Back” in Rocky IV. Beyond that, he has collaborated with Dolly Parton for duets in their 1984 film “Rhinestone.” Moreover, he is a boxing promoter and operates under the company name Tiger Eye Productions.

Personal Life

In 1974, Sylvester wed Sasha Czack, with whom he welcomed two sons: Sage Moonblood, who sadly passed away from heart disease at age 36, and Seargeoh. The couple divorced in 1985. Stallone was also briefly married to Brigitte Nielson from 1985 to 1987.

Sylvester tied the knot with Jennifer Flavin in 1997. TheyThree daughters—Sophie, Sistine, and Scarlet—would be born to the couple. On August 24, 2022, it was disclosed that Jennifer had filed for divorce from Sylvester in Palm Beach County, Florida. Ultimately, the two managed to reconcile.

Real Estate

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

For several decades now, his main residence has been a luxurious mansion located in the prestigious gated community of Beverly Park in Beverly Hills. The estate covers 3.5 acres and includes a 20,000-square-foot house. Notable nearby residents consist of Eddie Murphy, Mark Wahlberg, and Denzel Washington. Recent sales of comparable homes have ranged from $40 to $70 million. In January 2021, reports surfaced that Sylvester was putting this home on the market for an astonishing $130 million, which he subsequently reduced to $85 million by August 2021.

By December 2021, Sylvester accepted an offer of $58 million, with Adele as the buyer. This sale marked the highest price ever logged for a home in Beverly Park.

Here’s a video tour:

In January 2010, Sylvester and his wife Jennifer Flavin acquired a vacation getaway in La Quinta, California, for $4.5 million. They attempted to sell this property several times, beginning in 2014. By 2016, the price had been slashed to $3.625 million, yet a buyer was still not found. Ultimately, they sold the home in May 2020 for $3.1 million.

In December 2020, Sylvester purchased a property in Palm Beach, Florida, for $35.4 million, featuring a 1.5-acre lot and a 13,000 square-foot mansion. The sellers profited nearly $10 million from this transaction, having bought the property in 2018 for $26 million.

In February 2022, an estate of 2.26 acres in Hidden Hills, California, was acquired by Sylvester for $18.2 million. Regrettably, the property garnered negative press in August 2022 due to its excessive water usage. Monthly water allocation limits were surpassed significantly, with 195,000 gallons and 230,000 gallons overages recorded in May and June 2022, respectively. The Stallones defended their actions, stating that the property had over 500 mature trees that needed continuous watering to avoid becoming a major fire risk. If their consumption exceeded 150% of the allocation across four months, local authorities reserved the ability to restrict water access to the property.

Here’s a video tour from early 2022 when it was listed:

By December 2022, less than a year post-acquisition for $18.2 million, Sylvester put the property up for sale at $22.5 million. In October 2023, he sold the home to musician John Fogerty for $17 million, incurring a loss of $1.2 million compared to his initial purchase price in February 2022.